If you provide regular and substantial care for someone, you are entitled to a ‘carer's assessment'. This is a chance for you to talk to us about your situation and find out whether there is any support you can get to make caring easier for you. It is not a test of your ability to look after someone.
You can have a carer's assessment even if the person you care for does not want a care assessment of their own or any care services.
How a carer's assessment can help you
The aim of a carer's assessment is to help you to carry on caring.
During your assessment we'll talk to you about the care you provide and the impact this has on your life. We'll look at the support you're getting already and whether there are any other services that could help you. For example, you may need a respite care service so that you can have a break from caring.
We'll also talk to you about whether your caring role affects your opportunities for work, education or leisure activities. We'll give you information and advice, such as about any benefits that you are entitled to or organisations that can help.
You may already have a good idea of what kind of help you need to make your caring role easier. But if you don't, the carer's assessment gives you a chance to think about this and talk through the options.
Your support plan
After the assessment you'll get a support plan that describes any support you need and who is going to provide this.
If you are entitled to services from us, such as home-based respite care, we will set them up or arrange for you to have direct payments so you can set them up yourself.
We'll review your support plan every year to make sure you are still getting the help you need.
Who is eligible
You are eligible for a care assessment if:
- you provide substantial and regular care for someone
- the person you care for is eligible for social care services.
You will not be entitled to a care assessment if you are a:
- volunteer who provides care as part of your work for a voluntary organisation
- personal assistant who is paid for providing care.
‘Substantial' and ‘regular' care
There is no legal definition of ‘substantial' and ‘regular' care. This is how we interpret them in East Sussex:
- Substantial – we decide whether your caring role is substantial by looking at the impact it has on your life. This can vary between individuals. For example, one hour of care per day will have a greater impact on someone with a lot of work and family commitments than on someone who has a lot of free time. A caring role involving heavy lifting will have a greater impact on someone who is physically frail than on someone who is fit and healthy.
- Regular – means that you care for someone repeatedly. It does not necessarily mean frequently or for a certain number of hours per week. For example, someone caring for a person with mental health problems may provide no care during some periods and a lot of care during others.
Above all we consider the impact of the caring role on your life and whether you will be able to carry on caring.
How to ask for an assessment
East Sussex County Council