Once you’ve had a conversation about your social care needs and an assessment has been completed, a copy of the assessment will be sent to you.
This will be a representation of your conversation and will explain how you might overcome any challenges you are facing.
We will talk with you about different solutions and make some suggestions to meet those needs.
We will work with you about what goals you need to achieve, to help your life move forward and promote your well-being.
The assessment will also explain if you are eligible for care and support services under the Care Act 2014.
What happens if I’m eligible for care and support services under The Care Act 2014?
If you are eligible for support we will work with you, and your carer as appropriate, to create a care and support plan.
This plan may say more about what your needs are and how they will be met by an arranged service, for example, care at home.
We always look at having a creative discussion with you about how your needs can be best met. This might be via:
- voluntary agencies
- carers
- neighbours
- special equipment and technology
- short term services such as care workers building your confidence after a period of ill health
- more longer-term services to support you, such a period in a residential home
Most people have to pay something towards the cost of their care and support from the day the paid service starts. However, you may only need services for a short period of time and our staff will talk to you about this.
See Paying for care for more information.
When the support plan is agreed we will have a clear idea of the care you need and how much this will cost. This figure is your personal budget. You can choose to manage your personal budget yourself to purchase your care through something called a Direct Payment.
What happens if I’m not eligible for care and support services under The Care Act 2014?
We will have a conversation with you about what needs you do have and how they can be met through a variety of different ways.
Often these solutions may be through services in your community, such as hot meals on wheels, shopping deliveries and other creative ideas.
Legally we do not have a duty to meet non-eligible needs, however, we have a variety of ideas about how you can support yourself, if you have other life goals you are working towards.
What happens if I don’t agree with the assessment?
We do look at improving, maintaining and increasing your independence wherever we can.
The assessment should always happen with you, through a conversation.
If you do not agree with the person working with you, please talk to them about how you feel. We always want to hear what you have to say.
We always focus on you being at the centre of our conversation, however differences of opinion may occur at times.
There is a section on the assessment to record any concerns that you may have.
If you are unable to reach an agreement and cannot resolve it together, then you or your representative will always be informed of your right to take this forward more formally.
You can find out more about eligibility criteria in: