Anyone who feels they need help is entitled to some level of support. For some people this will be advice and information and for others it will be the provision of services or money to buy services.
An assessment of need can be carried out in these different ways;
- completing an online self assessment
- a supported self assessment where a family member, carer or advocate helps you
- an assessment carried out by a worker
In order to be eligible, a need must;
- arise from a physical or mental impairment or illness
- means you are unable to meet one or more of the outcomes listed below
- have a significant impact on your wellbeing
Your needs are only eligible if they meet all three of these conditions. It is important to remember that the impact a physical, mental impairment or illness has on an individual will be different from person to person. Therefore we need to understand how your impairment or illness affects you on an ongoing basis.
The specified outcomes we measure against are;
- managing and maintaining nutrition
- maintaining personal hygiene
- managing toilet needs
- being appropriately clothed
- being able to stay safe in your home
- maintaining a habitable home environment
- developing and maintaining family or other personal relationships
- accessing and engaging in work, training, education or volunteering
- making use of necessary facilities or services in the local community including public transport, and recreational facilities or services
- carrying out any caring responsibilities you have for a child
You will be regarded as unable achieve these outcomes if;
- you can't do it without help
- you can do it but it causes significant pain, distress or anxiety
- you can do it but only at significant risk to your health and safety or that of others
- you can do it but it takes significantly longer than would normally be expected
Carer's eligibility
When assessing whether a carer is eligible for support to maintain their caring role, we must consider the following;
- whether the care is unable to carry out one or more necessary caring tasks without help
- the carer can carry out the tasks but doing so causes them or the person they care for significant pain, distress or anxiety, or it endangers their health and safety or that of the cared for person
- whether the carer is able to achieve the outcome without assistance but doing so is likely to endanger the health or safety of the carer or any adults or children for whom the carer provides care
This means that;
- the carer's physical or mental health is deteriorating
- the carer cannot carry out some or all of their basic household activities
- the carer cannot carry out their caring responsibilities for a child
- the carer cannot provide care to other people for whom they provide care
- the carer cannot maintain family or other significant personal relationship
- the carer cannot maintain their home environment
- the carer cannot manage and maintain nutrition for them and their family
- the carer cannot engage in work, training, education or volunteering
- the carer cannot make use of necessary facilities or services in the community
- the carer cannot engage in recreational activities
Once the assessment has been completed, we will review the information and evaluate it against the eligibility threshold. You will be notified and given a copy of the decision made on whether you are eligible for care and support.