Need Social Care?

A Guide to Care Assessments

What happens next?
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Community Care Assessments

• Community Care Assessments are the arrangements for deciding whether we can provide care as defined by the 'NHS and Community Care Act 1990'.
• The purpose of Community Care is to enable you to remain in your own home with help and support such as home care, meals, personal care, equipment and adaptations.
• If it is not possible for you to stay at home, to help you find the most appropriate alternative place to live such as supported accommodation, sheltered housing, residential or nursing home care.
• The main aim of our work is to encourage and help people to remain as independent as possible, recognising differences in individual need by taking account of race, culture, religion, disability, gender, sexuality and age.
• In order to match your needs with the kind of help that can be arranged it will be necessary for you to be assessed. This will be an informal discussion with you about your needs. It may involve gathering information from other people who help care for you such as your family doctor (GP) or community nurse. Throughout your assessment you will have the opportunity to have your say.
• You will be assessed against eligibility criteria (this will be explained more fully later). This is to ensure that people in the greatest need receive our services.
• You may be helped if you wish by a relative, friend, interpreter or advocate.
• People who help you, for instance, family, friends or neighbours, whom we will refer to as carers, can also ask for an assessment themselves, in their own right, if they provide a substantial and regular amount of care.
• This will be carried out under the 'Carers Recognition and Services Act 1995' and the 'Carers and Disabled Children's Act 2000'.

For further information about the rights of carers please contact:

        Worcestershire Carers Unit
        Pierpoint House
        10 Pierpoint Street
        Worcester
        WR1 1TA

        Tel: 0800 389 2896

• Everyone has the right to ask for an initial assessment to talk about what help or support they need.
• If you have a permanent and substantial disability, you are automatically entitled to an assessment as defined by the 'Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986'.

How will this assessment happen?
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• This will require your participation as a partner in your assessment. This will be co-ordinated by a member of staff employed by Adult and Community Services or the Health Services.
• Other people involved in your care will be asked to contribute to the assessment.

What will we Want to Know?
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• We will require basic information, such as your name and address, and a brief description of your circumstances.
• We will ask about your general health and your ability to be independent with cooking, shopping, walking, having a bath or shower, dressing, eating and drinking. You will have the opportunity to talk about any other area of your life which might be causing you concern.
• We will take into account any worries expressed by members of your family or others involved in your care. Information provided by your carer will be included in your assessment.

Will my Assessment be Confidential?
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• Yes. Information necessary to arrange services or care will not be passed on to any other agency without your consent.
• Your rights are protected under various pieces of legislation such as the 'Data Protection Act 1998'.
• If the information you give us indicates you are at great risk or you are a risk to other people, then the information may be shared with statutory agencies for your own safety or that of others.

In Hospital
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• If you or the person who cares for you is admitted to hospital, the hospital staff must discuss with you any difficulties you face at home.
• If you are worried about returning home, ask to see the hospital social worker who can discuss what support you need. It is important that before you return home, you and your carers are happy with the arrangements that have been made.

At Home
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• If you need help at home, you or someone acting on your behalf can contact the local Adult and Community Services Office. This can be done by a personal visit, telephone call, letter or email.

What will Happen during my Assessment?
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• The discussions may show that your needs can be met by providing you with information and advice.
• If, after the initial assessment, you require further help, arrangements will be made to see you. You may wish to have someone with you at this meeting.
• Throughout your assessment we will listen to you and consider your views. By working together we aim to meet your needs.
• We have a set period of time in which to respond to you. These are as follows:

Category 1
Critical/High Priority

1. If there is critical need, which requires immediate action because of the risk of serious harm, we will start the assessment within 24 hours.
2. If you need services urgently before the full assessment is complete, we will provide these within 2 working days.

Category
Substantial/Medium Priority

3. If your needs appear to be substantial, we will start the initial assessment as soon as possible. Our target is to start within 5 working days.
4. If you need services urgently before the full assessment is complete, we will provide these as soon as possible. Our target is to provide these within 5 working days.

Hospital Discharge

5. If you are in hospital and are referred to us for an assessment before you are discharged from the hospital, we will respond within 3 days.
6. Our target is to complete the assessment within 10 working days, provided that you are well enough to take part in the assessment.

Category 3
Moderate/Low Priority

7. If your needs do not appear to be urgent, we will write to you within 10 working days either to let you know when your assessment will start or to let you know that you do not appear to be eligible for services.
8. We will start non-urgent assessments within four weeks of contacting you.

Assessment Process

9. We will complete an assessment and/or reach a decision about providing services within four weeks of starting an assessment.
10. Once the assessment is complete and a decision has been made, we will write to you to let you know the outcome within one week.
11. Once the decision has been made, we will provide services such as care packages within one week.

Category 4
Low/Refer to other Agencies

12. If you are within this category, we will, where appropriate, link you to services provided by other organisations.

What Happens After the Assessment?
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• At the end of the assessment you will be given a written copy, called a Statement of Need. We aim to do this within one working week.
• Any help offered will be fully discussed with you. Together we will decide what you need to make it easier to stay in your own home. It is possible that this help may be provided by a number of different people working together. The services may not necessarily be provided by Adult and Community Services.

Can I Remain Independent?
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• Yes, our aim is to enable you to live in your own home as independently as possible.
• If you can afford and choose to pay for your own care, you can make your own choices as to how care is provided. The assessment process will be able to offer you advice on how your needs can be met.
• We will work with other professionals to ensure that you are helped to remain living in your own home. This may mean providing extra care to begin with which will be reduced as you regain your independence. This is called rehabilitation or reablement.
• If we suggest that your care will be best met in a residential or nursing home, but you wish to stay in your own home, you can do so. However, we will explain the risks to you.
• You will only be offered help which does not cost more than the cost of a place in a residential or nursing home.
• Adult and Community Services is not able to provide any nursing care at home, but will work with your family doctor and other members of the primary Health Care Team to ensure that the appropriate help is offered to you.
• Yes, our aim is to enable you to live in your own home as independently as possible.

Can I go into a Home?
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Yes. If meeting your need for care requires a great deal of help every day you have a choice either to stay in your own home, or be assisted to move into more supported accommodation such as a sheltered housing complex

• If we decide together that a residential or nursing home will meet your needs, you will be provided with a list of homes that meet national standards. You will be able to find more detailed information about homes in Worcestershire with their inspection reports by contacting:
  
  CSCI,
  The Coach House,
  John Comyn Drive, Perdiswell Park,
  Droitwich Rd, Worcester WR3 7NW
  Tel: 01905 753910
  Fax: 01905 753956

If the home of your choice costs more than Adult and Community Services will pay, you can still go there if someone else can make up the difference. This is called a third party top-up.

What Will I Have to Pay?

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• All the work carried out to assess your needs will be free of charge
• If there is a cost for help and support arranged by Adult and Community Services it will be explained to you before being put into effect.
• Some services such as day care will cost a fixed amount. The cost of other services such as home care will vary according to your circumstances and the amount of help you receive.
• If you do require services to support you in your home you will be asked to contribute towards the costs according to your means. A financial assessment will be necessary. This assessment will also ensure you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to.
• If it is suggested that your care will be best met in a residential or nursing home, then you will be asked to contribute towards the cost.
• You will be informed about how much you will have to pay towards the cost of your care.
• You will be given information about charges for services.
• If the financial assessment shows that you are able to pay for your own care, you will be expected to do so.

Have I the Right to Complain?
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• Yes, if you do not agree with us, or you are not satisfied with the services you have been offered, you have the right to complain.
• We will give you information about how to make a complaint. There is information about the Complaints Procedure entitled Comments, Compliments and Complaints.

If you require further assistance with any aspect of your assessment or its resultant actions you can contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Citizen Advocacy organisation who can advise you on your rights.

Further information about the Acts of parliament mentioned in this document can be obtained through your local library or by contacting the Adult and Community Services Directorate.

More Information
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For more information about assessments, please contact our Access Centre.