Carer assessment

What happens during a carer assessment 

A carer assessment is a conversation with us about your caring role, not about how well you are caring for someone. 

The carer assessment will: 

• look at your caring role and the impact caring is having on you
• try to find ways to help you improve your health and wellbeing 
• confirm if you are eligible for support 

After the assessment, we will tell you about our decision and the reasons for that decision. We will also provide you with advice and tell you about the support that is available in the community from local charities or voluntary organisations.

We are experiencing high levels of demand, which means we may not be able to arrange an assessment as quickly as we would like. If you have contacted us and are waiting for a response, please be assured that we have received your information and will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

Those who can have a carer assessment 

As part of the Care Act 2014, we have a duty to meet the eligible needs of carers who are providing care and support for another adult who lives in the North Yorkshire area. A carer will have eligible needs if: 

• they provide necessary care and support to someone
• their physical or mental health is affected or at risk of deteriorating; and
• there is, or there is likely to be, a significant impact on their wellbeing 

As a carer, you are therefore entitled to have a free carer assessment regardless of:

• whether that person gets care or financial support from us 
• if you do or do not live with the person you are caring for 
• how much support you provide 

Support plan

If you have eligible needs, and want our help, we will then discuss a support plan with you. Your support plan contains:

• the things you want to achieve
• how you can achieve them
• what sort of support you might need

Preparing for your carer assessment 

After you have requested an assessment, you will be offered an appointment. Before the assessment, you should think about:  

• the help you give 
• the amount of help the person you care for receives and how well that supports you as a carer 
• whether you are able, or willing, to continue to care
• whether you need help to keep working or to get into work, education or leisure opportunities 
• the kind of support you need to care, or to continue to care 
• which parts of caring you find, or may find, difficult or stressful 

You may find it helpful to keep a diary for a week or two before an assessment.