What is a Online Social Care Self-Assessment?
A social care assessment is a conversation to talk about your care and support needs, and whether you would be eligible for support from the council. This can be completed as a self-assessment via our online portal
What is a social care assessment?
- A social care assessment is for adults (18+) who may need care and support because of illness, disability, or changes in circumstances.
- It is used to find out what support you may need and if you are eligible for help under the Care Act 2014, and if so, agree a care and support plan.
How do I complete an online self-assessment?
Access the online portal: Online Self-Assessment
You will need an email address to register and create an account. If you do not have one or do not want to use one, call Staffordshire Cares on 0300 111 8010. We can talk through your needs and start the process with you.
When completing an assessment online, you can fill out the information yourself or can have help from a family member or friend.
You can complete an online self-assessment at any time. You can save and revisit the assessment if you do not want to complete it all in one go
What happens after an online self-assessment?
Once you submit your online self-assessment, our First Contact Team will review your information. We may offer more advice and guidance or continue your assessment and consider eligibility for our services.
We will apply the Care Act 2014 criteria to see if you are eligible for support. To be eligible for support, your needs must relate to an impairment or illness and result in being unable to achieve two or more specified outcomes, with a significant impact on your wellbeing. If you are eligible, we will work with you to agree a care and support plan that sets out what support you need, who will provide it, and your personal goals.
A social care assessment is a conversation to talk about your care and support needs, and whether you would be eligible for support from the council. This can be completed as a self-assessment via our online portal.
We will speak to you again usually within 12 months, or sooner if things change, to review your plan to make sure it still meets your needs.If you are not eligible, we will provide information and advice about what support might be available to help you in your caring role.
You can come back to us at any time if your needs change by contacting Staffordshire Cares on 0300 111 8010.
Will I have to pay?
A social care assessment is free of charge, but any care and support that is needed is not free like NHS healthcare.
- How much you pay depends on your income, savings and some expenses.
- To work out what you need to pay, we will complete a financial assessment.
What should I include in my Online Self-Assessment?
The sections below give you an idea of what you might like to include in your online self-assessment. Some information may feel of a sensitive nature, but we
use this to ensure our support meets your needs, and so we can provide you with personalised information and advice.
Section 1: Personal Details
This section asks you to answer several questions regarding your personal information, such as who is completing the assessment, whether you are a UK citizen and who you would like to be listed as your Next of Kin / Emergency Contact.
Section 2: Tell us about you
The questions in this section allow you share with us aspects of your day-to-day life, identifying the areas that you may require support. These answers will form the basis for the overall assessment outcome.
Section 3: Your Day-to-Day Routines
This section will cover personal care, living well at home, eating and drinking, safety in the home and getting out and about.
It may help you by thinking about what an average day is like for you, and what makes a particularly ‘good day’ or a particularly ‘bad day’.
It is important to include what help, if any, that you currently receive. For example, a neighbour may do your weekly shopping for you, or a family member might support you to get washed and dressed each day.
Tell us the reason for the assessment, what is most important to you and what you would like to achieve? Think about your independence is there an impact on this? What is that impact and how can we support you?
What have you tried before to help you? This could be equipment you have purchased, technology that you have used, and people who have supported you in the past.
Section 3a: Living Well at Home
Washing
Think about having a bath or shower, washing yourself, brushing your teeth and hair, shaving, clipping your nails and anything else you do to keep clean.
- Do you need help you when getting washed or dried?
- Do you rely on equipment such as a shower seat or grab rails to make washing and drying easier?
- Can you wash and dry yourself properly and safely?
Appearance
Feeling clean and comfortable can be about more than washing. Looking after our hair, skin and nails can help us feel like ourselves.
- Can you look after your personal appearance in the way you like?
- Washing and changing your clothes regularly will help you feel clean, comfortable and fresh. Can you wash and dry your clothes, or is this household task becoming difficult or painful?
Using the toilet
Think about your experience of getting to the toilet in time.
- Can you get to your bathroom or toilet? Can you use the toilet?
- How do you manage when using the toilet? Do you rely on equipment such as a grab rail to get on or off the toilet? Or maybe someone else helps you to clean yourself properly?
- Do you feel in control of when you need to go to the toilet?
- Do you wear incontinence pads
- Does someone remind you to go to the toilet?
Contingency plans
There are also questions that ask you to think about whether you consider yourself deaf, visually impaired or deafblind and whether you have arrangements in place if something happens to you.
- What arrangements are in place in the event of a sudden change or emergency? For example, if your carer was to become ill.
- What plans are in place for your pets/house in the event of a hospital admission or provision of home care accommodation?
- Who are your emergency contacts?
- Who has keys to your house?
Section 3b: Eating and Drinking
Eating and Drinking
- How often do you have a drink throughout the day?
- Does your daily routine consist of 3 nutritional meals?
- Do you prefer to graze on snacks and eat less set meals?
Food Shopping
- Is it easy to check your fridge and cupboards for what you need?
- Can you write your own shopping list?
- You might find doing your shopping in person helps your physical and mental wellbeing. Or you may prefer the convenience of online shopping because it gives you more independence. Are you able to do your own shopping either in person or online? Do you require someone to do the shopping on your behalf?
Preparing meals
- Are you managing to prepare your own meals, drinks and snacks?
- Do you need support from a carer/family to help prepare meals?
- Does a local organisation deliver prepared meals to your home?
- Can you put healthy ready meals in the microwave safely?
Comfort whilst eating/drinking
- Think about how you find sitting down to eat or drink. Do you find it tricky to use your utensils, plates, bowls and cups?
- Could the right equipment make eating and drinking safer and more enjoyable?
- Do you have any health conditions that may impact your ability to eat and drink?
- Do you need regular reminders to eat and drink enough, or find the day just passes you by?
Section 3c: Staying Safe at Home
Leaving and Returning Home
The assessment will look at how you manage when you are leaving or returning home. This includes locking and unlocking doors and windows to keep your property secure.
- Can you enter and leave your home easily and safely?
- Are there any steps outside the property which you find difficult to manage?
Home Layout
- Can you move around your home easily and safely?
- How do you manage when getting in and out of bed? Or standing up from your armchair? Perhaps you rely on someone else or some equipment to help you get up. Equipment can includes things such (but not limited to) as a lifeline, key safe, perching stool, walking stick, grab rails, commode, raised toilet seat, chair raiser or specialist bed.
- Has your home been adapted in any way? This could include things such as a wet room, ramps, stair lift etc.
- Do you need any support or aids to help you move more safely?
Home appliances
- Can you use your home appliances safely and without risk of injury?
- Can you carry out essential home maintenance or arrange for someone else to do it for you?
Cleaning
A tidy un-cluttered home can improve your mood and help prevent trips and falls.
- Can you keep essential areas of your home clean and tidy?
Section 3d: Getting Out and About
Accessing Facilities
Using your local facilities and attending appointments depends on whether you can travel around your community. There are different transport options for getting out and about.
- Can you get to your local shops and leisure facilities?
- Can you do your own shopping or use your local recreational facilities?
- Do you need support when attending appointments?
Contributing Towards Society
Self-improvement and a feeling of contributing towards society can be achieved through work, training, study or volunteering.
- Is that something that appeals to you? If it is, there are various ways of finding out about the latest careers and courses.
- Do you know where to look for opportunities available to you?
Work or College
- Can you safely travel to and from your place of work or education?
- Do you need support to do your job or take part in training, education or volunteering activities?
Section 4: Health and Wellbeing
Relationships
- Can you meet up with family and friends? (at home, or out?)
- Can you meet new people and make friends?
- Can you use technology to stay in touch with family and friends?
Caring Responsibilities
- Do you provide support to others at home?
- Do you find it hard to keep your home clean and safe for everyone you live with?
- How do you feel about essential day-to-day caring role tasks?
- Do your own care needs make it difficult to undertake these tasks?
Health Conditions
- How do these conditions affect your day to day life?
- How do they prevent you from doing the things which you enjoy?
- What challenges do you have?
- How do your conditions have an impact on your day to day life?
- What would you like to do but you cannot because of your conditions?
Section 5: Your Money
This section asks questions around your finances, including managing household bills and budgeting, any assets or capital that you may have, and
details surrounding financial representatives, Lasting Power of Attorney, and deputyships.
Section 6: Additional Information
This final section provides a space for you to add any further information that you would like to share with us.
