Requesting a carer assessment

Your local council has produced a simple leaflet (see page 2) explaining how they will decide whether you are eligible for support as a carer following an assessment. 

We have also provided a bit more detail here about how decisions on eligibility are made:-

The criteria to be considered as part of the assessment

Following the assessment a carer will only be entitled to support if the following criteria have all been met:-

1. The carer's need for support arises because they are providing necessary care and support for another adult
   
   AND
   
   
2. The carer's own physical or mental health is deteriorating, or is at risk of deteriorating
   
   OR
   
   The carer is unable to achieve one or more 'outcomes' in their own life because of the effects of their caring role.
   (These 'outcomes' are the kinds of things which all of us might want to achieve in our lives, regardless of whether or not we are looking after another person. See below for more on what this means)
   
   AND
   
   
3. As a result of number 2 above there is, or is likely to be, a significant effect on the carer's own 'well-being' - 'well-being' is a word which covers things like health and happiness.

A carer will only be entitled to support if they meet all three of these conditions.

Outcomes to be considered as part of the assessment

The person completing the assessment with the carer will need to consider whether the carer can achieve the following outcomes alongside carrying out their caring role:

1. Carry out any additional caring responsibilities they have for a child, alongside their caring responsbilities for the adult. 
   The carer might, for example, be a grandparent with caring responsibilities for their grandchildren.  
   
   
2. Provide care to other people, as well as to the adult in question.
   For example some people find themselves providing care to both an elderly parent, and to another relative with a disability or health problem. 
   
   
3. Maintain a habitable (safe and hygienic) home environment, which does not present a risk to the carer's wellbeing.
   A habitable home should have essential amenities such as water, electricity and gas.
   
   
4. Manage and maintain a healthy, nutritious diet.
   The carer should have the time to do essential shopping and to prepare meals for themselves and their family
   
   
5. Develop and maintain family or other significant personal relationships. 
   
   Is the carer in a position where their caring role prevents them from maintaining key relationships with family and friends, or from developing new relationships?
   
   
6. Take part in work, training, education or volunteering.
   
   Is the carer  able to continue in their job, or take part in training course or education, or volunteer to help others, or  have the opportunity to get a job, if they are not already in employment?
   
   
7. Make use of necessary facilities or services in the local community.  
   Does the carer have opportunities to make use of the local community's services and, for example, have time to use recreational facilities such as gyms or swimming pools.
   
   
8. Join in recreational activities.
   
   Does the carer have leisure time? This might mean time to engage in an interest or hobby.

If the carer is unable to achieve any one of these outcomes then the council should then consider whether:

• The carer's needs and their inability to achieve the outcome(s) impact on an area of their wellbeing in a significant way

OR

• The impact on a number of the areas of wellbeing combine to have a significant impact on an carer's overall wellbeing.

If one of these two statements is true, and if the carer has also met both the other criteria described near the top of the page, then the carer will be entitled to support from the council in carrying out the caring role.