Get a care assessment

To find out what sort of social care you need your council will carry out a care assessment.

• Can I have a care assessment?
• What happens at the care assessment?
• What say do I have?
• How will the council decide what care I receive?
• How much will I have to pay?

 Can I have a care assessment?

You have the right to a care assessment no matter what your ability is to pay for the care you may need. If you are not offered an assessment, you have a right to complain under the council's social services complaints procedure.

To get a care assessment you should contact your council.

Find the address and phone number of your local council on the DirectGov website.

You are also entitled to an assessment if you are a carer.

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What happens at the care assessment?

The care assessment will involve talking to you, your partner, relatives or friends to find out exactly what care you need.

You may want to ask for the help of an advocate. This is someone who is independent from the council who can speak on your behalf.

An advocate can be a member of your family or your friend or someone independent.

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What say do I have?

The assessment should take your personal wishes into account in deciding what sort of care you need.

If you would prefer to stay in your own home, the council should make every effort to make that happen.

If you need to be in a care home or other supported accommodation, the care assessment should take that into account.

Remember:

• nobody can force you to do anything you don't want
• you have the right to decide how to live your life, where you want to live and with whom

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How will the council decide what care I receive?

Your care assessment will show what level of care you need.

The council decide this by using a scale of:

• low
• moderate
• substantial
• critical

The care you are eligible to receive will depend on the outcome of your care assessment and where you live. If your needs are low or moderate, you may not be entitled to the free care that is available.

To find out what low, moderate, substantial and critical needs are:

• ask your council
• call the Department of Health customer service centre on 020 7210 4850

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How much will I have to pay?

If your needs match the level at which your council would be prepared to help, they will also want to carry out a financial assessment.

Find out how to pay for social care services

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