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 a conversation 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 support plan. A social care assessment is completed by a social worker or social care assessor. They are professionals who work with individuals and families to address social care needs.
How is a social care assessment carried out?
We will talk with you by phone, video, or during a visit about what matters to you and what you find difficult in your day-to-day life. You can also complete an assessment via the online social care portal.
You are welcome to have someone with you during your assessment. This could be a family member, friend or advocate. An advocate, who is someone who can help you express your needs and wishes and make decisions. Please let us know if you need support during the assessment.
We apply the Care Act (2014) criteria, which means 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.
We will consider what you, your family, friends, and community can do, and where extra help might be useful.
With your permission, we will talk to other people involved in your life such as family, friends and professionals, such as GP or Occupational Therapist.
Some information that we ask about is 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; this is in line with our Privacy Notice.
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
How can I prepare for my social care assessment?
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’.
You could think about what you would like to be able to do, how you currently manage any difficulties, and any support you have in place.
You could also think about your eating habits (like how often you eat, and how you prepare meals), how any health conditions impact your daily life, how well you can look after your home, and if you can wash and dress yourself independently.
When does a social care assessment take place?
We aim to complete your assessment within 28 days, although it may take longer, and we will keep you updated.
If you are leaving hospital, we will aim to start your assessment within two days of being ready for discharge and will try to support you to return home wherever possible.
What happens after a social care assessment?
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. You will have another social care assessment 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.
