|| Cornwall Rural Community Council (CRCC)
The Cornwall Carers Projects support people, free of charge, who look after an adult or child, who is frail, ill or disabled.Click here for more information and contact details
Carers
Every day, another six thousand people take on a caring responsibility. Carers are people who provide unpaid care for disabled, frail, elderly and sick relatives or friends, including those who are mentally ill, to help them live in the community. Some choose to care, others are forced by circumstances to care.
The term 'carer' is used to distinguish those who provide care for others on an unpaid basis, apart from those who are paid (care workers, home helps and people employed by someone with a disability).
- A Carer's assessment
Carers have a legal right to an assessment of their needs. It is your chance to discuss with social services what help you need with caring. You can also discuss any help that would maintain your own health and balance caring with other aspects of your life, like work and family. Social services use the assessment to decide what help to provide.
The law says you have a right to an assessment if you look after a friend or relative who cannot manage without your help, if you are aged over 16, your right to an assessment is not affected, even if the person you care for does not want to receive help from social services. You also have a right to an assessment if you intend to look after someone. For example: if your friend or relative is in hospital and you expect to look after them when they come back home If you look after a disabled child you also have a right to an assessment. You do not always have to be the child's parent, but must have parental responsibility for the child.
- What is the purpose of a carer's assessment?
The purpose of a carer's assessment is to discuss with social services the help you need with caring, plus help to maintain your own health and balance caring with your life, work and family commitments.
- How do I get an assessment?
You can ask for a carer's assessment from your social services department. You can also ask your GP or district nurse to contact social services for you.
- What will happen at the assessment?
Usually a social worker or a member of social services will carry out the assessment. The social worker should explore with you the support and services to help you to look after the person you care for. Social services can give help and support directly to you, or give help directly to the person you care for. If your caring situation is likely to continue for at least the foreseeable future, the social worker should set a date to review your needs and see if the help provided is working out.
- What will happen after the assessment?
It is important that you are able to make an informed choice about how much you do or want to take on in the future as a carer. When social services decide what help and services to provide they have to take into account the results of both your carer’s assessment and the community care assessment of the person you care for. They will summarise this in a care plan for the person you look after – a copy will be given to both of you.
- What happens if I am not satisfied with the outcome?
You may be unhappy with how your assessment was carried out. You may be dissatisfied with the decision about what services will be provided to you and the person you look after. Advice centres like the Citizens Advice Bureau or a disability organisation can help you make a complaint or give you details of lawyers able to advise on community care law.
Highlights