Carers' Assessment

If you provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for another person aged 18 or over, the law says you have a right to an assessment. You may be the person's wife, husband, partner, son, daughter, sister, brother, parent, other relative, neighbour or friend. You do not have to live in the same household as the person you look after.

There is no reason for the person you care for to be present during the assessment.

If the person you care for is involved with mental health services you can ask for a Carers' Assessment. Contact the Social Care & Health Access Team, or your GP to start the process.

The purpose of a Carers' Assessment is to discuss with social services the support you need with caring. It will also help you to maintain your own health and care for your own needs.

As well as looking at the support you need, the assessment can be useful in:

• Exploring with how you feel about caring
• Giving you information on benefits and support, such as carers groups or advocacy
• Helping you decide if you want to stay at or return to work and how to make this happen
• Looking at how caring may affect you in the future and what help you might need

Some of the questions you may be asked at your assessment are:

• How long have you been a carer?
• How often do you give or monitor medication?
• Do you help with practical tasks (cooking, cleaning etc)?
• Do you give emotional support?
• do you have a deal with difficult behaviour?
• Do you have to manage finances?
• Do you need help and advice on what is available to you?
• To what extent are you involved in decisions about treatment and care?

Within two weeks of the assessment taking place, you should receive a copy of it. Should you not agree with its content, then it is your right to tell social services that you disagree and want to appeal.

Carers Benefits

Welfare Rights have produced a booklet, Benefits for Carers, which provides information on benefits that are available if you are caring for a friend or relative whose illness or disability means they need extra help. It is designed to explain the benefits that are available to you as the carer, rather than the person you are caring for.