Adult social care assessment

1 What is an assessment?

2 Assessment for people with social care needs

Self-assessment

Self-assessment is designed to help you think about your personal circumstances - what is working well and what needs to change.

If you would prefer to assess yourself you can complete a self-assessment form to help you plan and buy your own support. A friend, relative or carer can also complete the form on your behalf.

Although you do not have to, it can be useful to complete a self-assessment form just to help you think about your situation before contacting us to carry out an assessment for you. 

You can also download a copy of the form or ask us to send you a paper copy.

Whichever of the above options you choose you can either:

• complete and save the form to use when you contact us to request social care support
• submit or post it to us to provide background information about your personal circumstances.

One of our staff will contact you after you have submitted the form.

Assessment

You have the right to ask us to assess your needs if you think you need social care support. An assessment is free of charge.

When you contact us, we will talk with you about your circumstances or those of the person you are concerned about. If you have already completed a self-assessment form, we will look at what you have told us as part of your assessment.

We will:

• work with you to identify the goals or outcomes that you want to achieve
• look at your strengths and capabilities
• identify support that may be available in your local community that could help you remain as independent as possible and prevent or delay the development of your needs
• focus on the issues that are important in your circumstances.

3 Assessment for family and friend carers

Self-assessment

The self-assessment for family and friend carers is designed to help people who provide unpaid care to a relative, friend or neighbour. It aims to help you think about your personal circumstances - what is working well in your life and what needs to change.

Although you do not have to, it can be useful to complete a self-assessment form to help you think about your situation and before contacting us to ask about support.

You can also download a copy of the form or ask us to send you a paper copy.

Carers Support West Sussex will receive completed online and paper copies of self-assessments, as they carry out the majority of carers' assessments on our behalf. A member of their staff will contact you after you submit your form.

Assessment

If you provide unpaid care to a relative, friend or neighbour you are entitled to an assessment of your needs even if the person you care for has not been assessed, or is not receiving services from us. An assessment is free of charge.

If you have completed a carers' self-assessment, what you have told us will be included in your assessment.