Carer's assessment
Carers have the right to have their own needs assessed under the Care Act 2014. This is called a Carer’s Assessment and is a legal duty upon the local authority in which the carer resides.
The assessment provides an opportunity to explore your needs to see what services could be provided to help you. Although for some services there will be financial eligibility criteria, all boroughs provide support you can access free of charge. The assessment will look at how caring affects your emotional and physical health, finances, work and relationships.
The assessment is your opportunity to sit down and explain what would make caring easier for you and what your own needs are. Services you may be offered include support to give you a break, emotional support, help with household tasks and help.
You can choose to have your needs assessed either jointly with the person you care for or separately. You can ask for an assessment even if the person you care for is refusing services.
If you want to have a Carer’s Assessment, visit your local borough website, talk to a member of Trust staff or your local Carers’ Centre about how to organise one.
For more information regarding carers assessments please see the links to the relevant borough:
- Kingston Support for Carers – www.kingston.gov.uk
- Merton Caring for family and friends : Information, advice and support for carers | Merton Council
- Richmond Available support for carers - London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
- Sutton Support for carers - Sutton Council
- Wandsworth Available support for carers - Wandsworth Borough Council
For further information regarding borough-based carers organisations please visit Support for Carers.