Adult Social Services, Assessment and Eligibility

For services for adults, Social Services has a duty to assess people who, if they either appear to have an illness or are disabled, may benefit from receiving community care services.

Carers also have a right to an assessment where they give substantial and regular care to a spouse, relative, friend or neighbour who, due to disability, frailty, illness or vulnerability, cannot manage alone.

As the demand for services is greater than the money available to provide them, not everyone will be eligible to receive a service.

Following an assessment, each type of need requiring Social Services' assistance is divided into the following bands:

• Critical
• Substantial
• Moderate
• Low

At present, a person is only eligible for social care services where, following assessment of their needs, an adult falls into the 'critical' or 'substantial' categories - and there is no-one else willing or able to assist.

Assessment of care needs for services for Adults

Whether you can get our help, and the type of support we can arrange, depends on your needs.  We carry out what we call an 'assessment' which helps us to understand your needs.

When you enquire about receiving our support you will be asked about your circumstances.  We will then discuss with you what options are available and agree the best course of action in your particular situation.  This may be giving you information or advice, or arranging for an assessment of your needs.

We recognise that many people only want information and advice from us, preferring to make arrangements for their own care.  In these circumstances you can always come back to us at a later stage if you feel you need further help or an assessment of your needs.

When we have worked out your needs with you, we will decide if you have priority needs. We do this by comparing the information gathered during your assessment with four types of social care needs:

• Health and safety
• Daily routines and home environment
• Family and social responsibilities
• Carer needs

Each type of need requiring Social Services assistance is then graded into the following bands, based on the risk to your independence and risks of harm or danger if your needs are not addressed either now or in the next few days:

Critical:

• life threatening harm or danger due to your physical or mental health or behaviour,
• inability to carry out most/all personal care, daily household chores causing a major risk to your independence. Inability to sustain most/all aspects of work/education/learning and family life causing a major risk to your independence,
• extensive loss of control over most/all aspects of your home environment causing a major risk to your independence,
• complete relationship breakdown between you and your carer.

Substantial - either now or in the next three months

• significant harm or danger due to your physical or mental health or behaviour,
• inability to carry out many personal care, daily household chores causing significant risks to your independence,
• inability to sustain many aspects of work/education/ learning/community and family life causing significant risks to your independence,
• loss of control over many aspects of your home environment causing significant risks to your independence,
• Significant risk of a relationship breakdown between you and your carer.

Moderate - either now or in the next 12 months

• inability to carry out some personal care, daily household chores and/or manage your home environment causing some risks to your independence,
• inability to sustain some aspects of work/education/ learning/community and family life causing some risks to your independence,
• Moderate risk to your carer's ability to sustain some aspects of their caring role.

Low - when you have

• one or two aspects of your personal care and daily household chores are difficult for you to manage,
• low risk to your carer's ability to sustain their caring role.

At present a person is only eligible for social care services where their needs are Critical or Substantial and there is no one else willing or able to assist.

After your assessment/review we will complete an Eligibility Criteria Checklist with you and your carer, if you have one. (People's needs and risks alter over time. Some interventions may only be required for a short time).

You will be offered a copy of the Checklist and one will also be kept on the Social Services file as a record of what was agreed.

How can we meet your eligible needs?

When we have decided that you have eligible needs we will consider what services would best meet your needs. For example, rehabilitation, home care, supported employment, equipment, carer support and so on. This process is known as 'care planning' and will take account of help from family and friends or support from other organisations.

We aim to:

• encourage you to find solutions to your own problems (if possible) by providing you with information and advice,
• consider the involvement of carers, families, friends and other organisations,
• provide short term help to enable you to become independent or give you time to arrange your own services,
• provide help so that you can live as independently as possible over the longer term,
• where you have eligible needs, consider the use of Direct Payments - you may be given the money to buy your own care within agreed limits,
• meet your eligible needs in the most cost effective way taking account of your cultural needs.