Assessment for adult social care
Statutory support
Local councils follow the Care Act 2014 to determine who qualifies for support. You may be eligible if you have a physical or mental condition that significantly impacts your well-being and makes it substantially difficult to carry out at least two of the following activities:
- eat, drink, or prepare meals
- wash, dress, or manage personal care
- get dressed appropriately
- move around your home safely
- look after your home
- stay connected with family and friends
- work, study, or volunteer
- use public transport and local services
- care for a child.
How we can support you
An assessor will speak with you to understand your situation and the type of support that would best meet your needs. This could include services in the community or a care needs assessment if required.
What we do not support
When you have an adult social care assessment, we look at your care and support needs. We do not provide:
- health care or nursing support
- hospital transport
- Meals on Wheels services
- housing services
- help with taking or remembering medication
- cleaning and shopping
You can find organisations that offer support with these services in our MyCare Directory.
Where you’ll be assessed
Your assessment can take place:
- over the phone
- at home (if a visit is necessary)
- by completing and returning a paper assessment form.
Having someone with you
You can have someone with you during your assessment, such as a carer, friend, or family member. If you find it difficult to understand or express yourself, we can arrange for an independent advocate. Visit our Advocacy page for more details.
What you’ll talk about
The assessment is about planning for your wellbeing. The assessor will ask about:
- your daily life and any challenges you face
- your friends, family, and support network
- any caring responsibilities you have.
They may also ask about your ability to:
- prepare and eat meals
- keep yourself and your clothes clean
- manage your toilet needs
- dress appropriately
- move around safely
- maintain your home
- stay socially connected
- take part in work, learning, or volunteering
- use local services like buses and shops.
You will also discuss how your care needs affect:
- your relationships with family and friends
- your physical and mental health
- your safety and security
- your financial situation
- your housing and living arrangements
- your ability to control your daily life.
Preparing for your adult social care assessment
Getting ready for an assessment can feel overwhelming. But knowing what to expect and being prepared can make the process easier.
Here’s how you can get ready:
Think about your daily routine
Make notes about what you do each day and where you need support. Be honest, even about your known strengths alongside small or occasional difficulties. Include both good and bad days.
You might want to think about how you manage:
- personal care – such as washing, dressing or using the toilet
- moving around – in your home or outside
- eating and drinking – including cooking or meal preparation
- housework – such as cleaning, shopping or paying bills
- social interaction – if you feel isolated, anxious or find it hard to connect with others
- mental health or memory – such as low mood, confusion or decision-making difficulties.
Bring medical information
Have the following ready if you can:
- details of any diagnoses or health conditions
- a list of medication you take
- contact details for your GP, specialists or therapists
- any letters or reports that explain how your condition affects daily life.
Have someone with you
You can ask a family member or friend to join your assessment. They can:
- help explain your situation
- remind you of anything you forget
- offer emotional support.
If you don’t have anyone to support you, you can ask for an advocate.
Think about what you want
Be clear about what would help improve your life. This might include:
- support at home
- equipment like grab rails or a shower chair
- help to go out or take part in activities
- a move to supported living.
Prepare questions
You may want to ask:
- what services are available in my area?
- will I have a financial assessment?
- can I get direct payments to arrange my own care?
Show your home (if the assessment is at home)
If your assessment takes place in your home, don’t worry about tidying up. It helps the assessor to see:
- how easily you can move around
- if your home needs any changes, like handrails or a stairlift.
Make a list
Write down your main challenges and anything you want to mention. You can:
- refer to it during the assessment
- give a copy to the assessor.
After your Care Needs Assessment
The person who does your assessment may give you advice, connect you with people, suggest helpful gadgets and home adaptations, and arrange any care and support that is in your agreed plan.
If your plan includes having care and support services, you might get help to pay for them. You will need to have a financial assessment to decide if you qualify and work out how much help you will get. If you don’t want to undertake a financial assessment, you will have to pay for all your care.
Find out more about:
Appeals
If you disagree with the outcome of your needs assessment, you can appeal and ask us to review your case. The best way to do this is by speaking to your social worker.
If you are still unhappy, you can make a formal complaint.
What if I disagree with the result of my financial assessment?
You can let us know if you think we’ve got it wrong. We’ll check the information the Visiting Officer collected when they came to see you.
You must let us know within 28 days of the date of our decision letter if you’d like us to look at your claim. Write to us, and we’ll let you know what we decide within another 28 days.
How do I report a change in my circumstances?
Contact us with details of the change, which can be a change in your circumstances, in your savings, or if you develop a need for more care. We’ll let you know if anything changes in the amount you have to pay.
What if I can’t pay?
Contact us as soon as you can if you are having trouble paying. We may be able to work out a new payment schedule with you or find another way to help. If you don’t pay and don’t tell us why, our legal team will have to contact you to recover the debt.
Representing someone who needs care
The way you can support or represent someone depends on whether they have mental capacity.
Find out how to check mental capacity
If they have mental capacity
Care decisions
If someone has the mental capacity to make their own decisions, we can only provide care or support if they agree to it.
If you contact us on their behalf, we will still need to:
- speak to them directly
- check they’re happy with any actions we take
- ask them to sign documents themselves.
If you’re thinking about the future, they can give you lasting power of attorney for health and welfare. This means you can make care decisions for them if they later lose mental capacity considering their views and wishes required by legislation.
Financial decisions and paying for care
If they want you to help manage their money or care costs, they can:
- fill in a nomination form with their social worker to authorise you to help (but they’ll still need to sign documents themselves)
- give you lasting power of attorney for property and financial affairs
- make you their appointee to manage their pensions and benefits.
If they do not have mental capacity
Care decisions
You can make decisions about their care if you:
- have power of attorney for health and welfare
- are their court-appointed deputy for health and welfare.
If you don’t have either, we’ll still act in the person’s best interests to make sure their care needs are met.
Financial decisions and paying for care
If someone does not have mental capacity, we cannot complete financial assessments or help them pay for care unless someone is legally allowed to act for them.
You can make financial decisions if you:
- have power of attorney for property and finances
- are their appointee (though you cannot manage property)
- are their deputy for property and finances
If you do not want to manage someone’s finances, try to find someone else who can - such as a solicitor. If there is no one else, the council may apply for appointeeship or deputyship on their behalf.
About appointees
An appointee is someone authorised to manage a person’s benefits and pensions.
- It’s free to apply
- You can have benefits paid into an account you manage for them.
However, being an appointee has limits:
- Not all banks will allow access to the person’s accounts
- Some private pension providers may not deal with you
- You cannot make decisions about any property they own.
About deputies
You can pay a fee to apply to become a deputy. This allows you to:
- make financial decisions
- access and manage their money.
You’ll still need to apply to become an appointee to manage any benefits they receive.
Find out how to become a deputy
Emergency deputyship
You can apply to the Court of Protection for an urgent or emergency order if someone’s:
- life or welfare is at risk
- care fees need to be paid urgently from their bank account.