Assessments, eligibility and support planning

What is an assessment?

An assessment means collecting information about you and your life and talking with you about the difficulties you have and how they affect your wellbeing. This helps us to understand your situation, what your needs are and how to plan for the future. It is a very important process and should not just be seen as a way to get care and support services; sometimes there are other ways to help you.

Listed below are some of the things we will look at during your assessment so before you contact us or complete an online self assessment, you might like to think about them. It might help to write things down.

• Who (if anyone) you would like to be involved in your assessment. If you have a carer then we will need to speak to them
• What you are finding difficult and how this is affecting you in your daily life
• Your daily routine and how you manage
• Your health and how it affects you, including medication, recent visits or contact with GP or hospital
• Looking after yourself (e.g. washing, dressing, meals, shopping, managing your home and finances)
• Things you enjoy doing
• Things that are important to you
• Support already available to you – what’s working well (e.g. help from family and friends, equipment and aids, paid carers)
• Anything that has worked well in the past
• If you are a carer, how your caring role affects you day to day
• What about things you do well?
• What would you like to achieve / do more of?

Who can have an assessment?

Any adult who may have needs for care and support can have an assessment.

Anyone who looks after another adult and may need help to enable them to continue to care can have a Carers Assessment.

What if I don't want an assessment?

You can refuse to have an assessment but we may still need to talk to you if we are concerned about your safety and wellbeing.

We can still give you information and advice about arranging your own support and accessing activities and groups in your community. If you are offered an assessment but refuse this time, you could still change your mind at a later date.

Before you decide whether to have an assessment or not, read further to find out more or download our printable guide to assessment and eligibility.