The Carer Assessment is simply a chat to find out what needs you may have as a carer and what support may be available for you. The person you care for does not need to be receiving help from Social Care in order for you to have a Carers Assessment. The time it takes to carry out your assessment will depend on the urgency of your situation.
The Carer Assessment is a supported process and your views and opinions will be considered throughout the assessment, which is aimed to be completed within 28 days.
Your worker will ask questions to understand the level of support you provide and whether this has an impact on your life. They will be aware that some areas that need to be discussed may cover delicate issues and this may well be a stressful experience. Please be assured that questions will be asked sensitively and the answers you give will be treated in the strictest confidence.
You will get a written copy of the Carer Assessment and a Carer Support Plan. This is a plan that shows how your needs identified in your Carer Assessment will be met. This will be reviewed annually to make sure your needs are still being met. The review can be online, over the phone, at a meeting place away from home or at your own home.
Getting an assessment
Middlesbrough carers can access an assessment through the Middlesbrough Adult Social Care Access Team- 01642 726004.
Redcar & Cleveland carers can get an assessment by speaking to Redcar & Cleveland Adult Social Care Access Team on 01642 065070.
If the person you care for lives in a different Local Authority Area from you, you will need to contact their Local Authority.
Young carers assessment
Young carers are children under 18 with caring responsibilities. Their rights to be assessed come mostly from the Children’s Act 1989 and the Children and Families Act 2014. As part of the whole family approach, if there is a disabled adult being cared for, then the local council has a duty to consider whether there are any children involved in providing that care and, if so, what the impact is on that child. Therefore a young carer's assessment is not a stand-alone process and comes as part of an assessment of the need for the person being cared for. However, the assessment must look at:
- whether or not the young carer wishes to continue caring
- whether it is appropriate for them to continue caring in relation to any education, training, work or recreational activities the young carer is or wishes to participate in.
Where a young carer’s eligible needs are identified as requiring support, local councils will have a duty to provide support directly to the young carer or demonstrate that the cared-for person's assessment has provided adequate care and support to prevent inappropriate care from being required from the young carer.
If you are a young carer and have not been involved in an assessment contact The Junction Foundation which can support you to ensure your needs are being met.
For young carers, contact The Junction Foundation- 01642 756000
