You can have a carers assessment if you are looking after someone without being paid and the following applies:

• the person is over 18
• you are looking after them because they need help with their day-to-day life due to their age, disability, illness or long term condition

You can have an assessment even if the person you are looking after does not receive any care and support from the Council. You can also have an assessment if the person you are caring for does not want to have an assessment of their needs.

As a carer, you are entitled to an assessment in your own right.

The carer’s assessment is not a test of how well you are doing as a carer. It is your opportunity to tell someone about your experiences and the impact that caring is having on your daily life.

The assessment will let us know if you are eligible to have your needs met by the Council.

You can also read our guide to who qualifies for Adult Social Care Services  - Carers (PDF), which explains whether you are eligible for a service.

Preparing for the assessment

During the assessment, you will be asked about aspects of your life. You might want to think about these before the assessment and any other things that you would like to talk about, such as:

• the care and support you provide
• any other caring responsibilities, such as children, parents or other family members
• your own day-to-day living situation including any challenges you are facing
• the impact of caring on your family, social life or work
• the impact of caring on your own wellbeing
• any support you receive from others
• whether you can continue to provide care

Who will carry out the assessment?

You have a choice on who will carry out the assessment.

A worker from Adult Social Care can carry out the assessment at the same time that they are assessing the needs of the person you are caring for. Alternatively, your assessment can be carried out separately from the person who you are caring for.

You can ring the Adult Services Contact Team on 01234 267422 to see if you are eligible for an assessment.

Complete your own carer's assessment online

You can complete your own assessment online. The information is collected in confidence and passed on to the most suitable team, and they will contact you to discuss how best to meet your needs.

Carer's self assessment

How will my needs be met?

You can decide the best way to have your needs met and you might want to discuss this with the assessor. You can:

• use a direct payment to arrange your support and care. This is a popular choice among carers because it will offer you flexibility, choice and control about how your needs will be met
• have your needs met by the Council making arrangements for you, or;
• choose a combination of the two, if this is more suitable for your needs

If your needs as a carer change

If your needs or circumstances as a carer change, it could mean that you need more or a different type of help or support. Please contact Adult Social Care to let us know.

You will also have a review of your needs every year.

Do I have to pay for the service?

There is no charge for services that you receive as a carer.

Any person (adult or young person) who provides or intends to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis is entitled to a carer's assessment. 

The assessment is free. It is not about judging the way you are caring for someone.