Needs assessment

What is an assessment?

An assessment is when we talk to you about how you manage your personal care and household tasks. We talk to you about what help, if any, you, your family, friends, district nurse and other people give you, and what extra support you may need. We will look at the choices you have to improve your situation.

We can assess you at home, at our offices or before you leave hospital. All our staff have identification cards including a photograph. We will tell you who we are and how you can contact us.

We will ask you to give permission if we need to involve other people.

If you find it easier to talk to us in another language, you can ask us to bring an interpreter when we see you. You may want a family member or friend to be with you.

Family and friends who are giving you planned care for 20 hours or more a week can ask for an assessment of their own needs. This is called a carers assessment.

Sometimes you might want to say things about your care but can’t do this yourself. You can ask an advocate to help you. An advocate is independent and does not work for social services.

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What happens after your assessment?

We have rules for deciding who receives services from us. The rules are called eligibility criteria. If we cannot help you we may be able to put you in touch with another organisation that can help you.

If we are able to help you we agree your care plan with you. Your care plan says what you need us to do, and how we will do it. We will send you a copy of your care plan to keep.

We will let you know:

What services we will provide
Who will provide your services
When they should start; and
If you need to pay

We have another look at what services you are getting from time to time to see if it is still what you need. This is called a review. If your needs change you can tell us at your review or you can contact us ask for a re-assessment.