Surrey Heath Carers Support

Carers have a legal right to an assessment of their needs.  Assessments are carried out by the local Social Services department and it is an opportunity to discuss what help is needed with caring to maintain your own health and balance caring with other aspects of life, e.g. work and family.  Social Services will use the assessment to decide what help to provide.

You have a right to an assessment if you look after a friend or relative who cannot manage without help.  Carers over 16 years are entitled to an assessment even if the person they care for does not want to receive help from Social Services.  A parent carer or a carer with parental responsibility for a disabled child also has the right to have an assessment of their needs. 

The person carrying out the assessment should not assume you want to take on the caring role or continue caring.   The assessment should be a dialogue between you and the social worker NOT just filling in a form. They should ask if you are able and willing to carry out the tasks involved - you may find it hard to move someone in a wheelchair due to your own health problems or you may suffer from stress due to coping with the challenging behaviour of the person you care for. 

It will help to prepare a list before the assessment and, if possible, talk to the person you care for to discuss what points you want to raise.  You may both be involved in the assessment, but if there are aspects of your situation you would rather discuss in private with a social worker you are entitled to ask for a separate assessment on your own.  Some points you may want to raise could include:

Make sure you give the social worker a full account of your caring role - the practical AND emotional aspects, and if you have any queries about carers assessments, or need information or help with caring, please ring the support office on 01276 27390, Anne and Judith will be very pleased to help you.