Get a Carer’s Assessment
A Carer’s Assessment is a free conversation about you, your caring role and how caring affects your life.
It is not a test of how well you care. It gives you an opportunity to talk about your wellbeing, day-to-day life, work, relationships and future plans, and what support could help you.
Your right to ask for a Carer’s Assessment is separate from any support the person you care for receives. They do not need to receive social care or have an assessment themselves.
Who can get a Carer’s Assessment?
If you are 18 or over and provide unpaid care for someone who could not manage without your support, you can ask for a Carer’s Assessment.
- You do not need to provide care every day or for a minimum number of hours.
- You do not need to live with the person you care for.
- The person you care for does not need to receive social care, funding or have an assessment themselves.
- Working full-time does not affect your right to ask for a Carer’s Assessment.
What happens in the assessment
We’ll talk with you about:
- your caring role and how it affects your day-to-day life
- your physical and mental wellbeing
- work, education or training
- your family life and relationships
- what is important to you
- planning for emergencies and the future
- what could help you continue caring safely and look after your own wellbeing
Depending on your needs, support may include:
- information and advice
- support to plan for emergencies
- help to take a break from caring
- community support
- equipment or technology
- advice about money and benefits
- support from Staffordshire Together for Carers
Eligibility and the Care Act
Having a Carer’s Assessment does not automatically mean you will receive funded support.
We use the Care Act 2014 to check if your needs meet the national rules for funded support. We look at whether:
- your needs arise because you provide necessary care for an adult
- caring is having a negative effect on your wellbeing or day‑to‑day outcomes
- as a result, there is (or is likely to be) a significant impact on your wellbeing
Even if you are not eligible for funded support, you can still get information, advice and preventative support to help you in your caring role.
Costs
- A Carer’s Assessment is free.
- Support from Staffordshire Together for Carers is free.
- If you are eligible for support, we may discuss a Carers Direct Payment with you. This is one possible type of support and will depend on your individual circumstances.
How to ask for an assessment
Contact the All Age Carers Team to ask for a Carer’s Assessment:
- Telephone: 0300 111 8010
- Email: firstcontactcarers@staffordshire.gov.uk
- Complete an online self‑assessment
Want to know more about carer’s assessments?
Read our Carer’s assessments factsheet to learn how a carer’s assessment works, what support may be available, and how to access help if you provide unpaid care for someone.
