Advice

Care Needs Assessment 

If someone you know needs help to cope day-to-day, the first step is to arrange a Care Needs Assessment from their local council. 

They will need to have this assessment before the council can recommend services such as: 

• equipment – like a walking frame or personal alarm 
• adaptations to their home – such as a walk-in shower 
• practical help from a paid carer 
• access to day centres and lunch clubs 
• moving to a care home 

The Care Needs Assessment is free and anyone who has an appearance of need for support is entitled to one regardless of their income, savings or level of need. Even if you as the carer are providing all the care the person needs, they are still entitled to an assessment.    

You can arrange a Care Needs Assessment on behalf of the person you care for, but they have to agree to the assessment (unless they don’t have the capacity to make or communicate that decision themselves).  

You can apply for a Care Needs Assessment by contacting your local council. If they live within City of York area you will find the contact details here. 

What does the Care Needs Assessment involve? 

A social care professional will talk with the person you care for to find out more about their situation and how they are managing everyday tasks such as washing, dressing and cooking. The cared for person must be involved in the assessment and their needs and wishes should be considered.  

The assessments are normally carried out face-to-face, usually at the home of the cared for person. They may be offered the assessment online or over the phone but only if the person you look after agrees to it.   

The assessment should consider the following:   

• Their care and support needs  
• The things that are important to them 
• Their choices and goals 
• The services, advice, information and resources that will stop or slow down any further needs developing  
• Their family’s needs

You can be involved in the assessment if the person you care for would like this.

How will it be decided if the person I care for is eligible for support? 

The person you look after will be eligible for support if all of the 3 following conditions apply: 

– The needs arise from, or are related to, a physical or mental impairment or illness 

– As a result of their needs, they are unable to achieve two or more of the specified outcomes below:  

• Prepare and eat food and drinks
• Maintain their personal hygiene 
• Manage their toilet needs  
• Dress appropriately  
• Keep their home safe  
• Maintain and develop relationships with friends and family  
• Take part in any work, education, training or volunteering they wish to  
• Participate in social activities and hobbies  
• Use public transport and local services  
• Look after any children they’re responsible for  

– The assessor must only look at what the person can do for themselves and ignore any support you or others give them. The person must be assessed as unable to achieve an outcome if they can’t do it at all without help, or if doing it causes a lot of pain or anxiety, puts their safety at risk, or takes a lot longer than normal. 

• As a consequence of being unable to achieve these outcomes there is, or there is likely to be, a significant impact on their wellbeing 

What happens after the Care Need Assessment? 

The local council will give the person you care for a copy of their Care Need Assessment. If they are eligible for support, the council must then draw up a care and support plan showing how these needs will be met.

If some of their eligible needs are already being met by you, as their carer, the council does not have to meet these needs but they cannot just assume that you will continue to provide the same level of care. It is important that you let them know what care and support you are able and willing to provide.  

If the person you care for does not qualify for support, the local council must still provide information and advice on what can be done to meet their needs now and how to prevent their needs getting worse in future.   

The local council will also undertake a financial assessment (or means test) for the person you care for. This will look at their income and capital to work out whether they need to contribute towards the cost of their care and how much their contribution will be. 

Disability equipment or minor adaptations up to the value of £1000 each and that assist with nursing at home or aid daily living are provided free by the local council. This could include handrails for the stairs, grab rails for the bathroom, ramps for wheelchair access, walking frames, perching stools, etc.

How might the local council meet their needs? 

What help they might get depends on their eligible need and might include:  

• Disability equipment or home adaptations  
• Help from a care worker with things such as washing, dressing or eating  
• Residential care   
• Access to day centres 

The council can either commission services or provide a direct payment so the person you care for can arrange their own care and support.

What to do if you are not happy with the outcome of the Care Needs Assessment 

In the first instance you should let the assessor know that you are not happy with the outcome assessment to see if they are able to resolve the issues. 

If you are still not satisfied you can raise a complaint with your local council. If the Care Need Assessment has been completed by City of York Council, you can raise a complaint through Have Your Say  

If you are unhappy with the way that the local council handle your complaint you can contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman