As a carer, you have the right to an assessment of your needs.
You have two options. Firstly, you can ask to have a carer’s assessment (carer’s health and wellbeing check), which will usually be done through Devon Carers. You can have this assessment even if the person you care for doesn’t have any care and support needs.
The person you care for doesn’t have to agree to you having this check or even need to know about it if this isn’t appropriate. If the person you’re caring for has a care needs assessment the two separate assessments can be aligned, if that is appropriate.
Alternatively, if the person you care for has a care needs assessment you can choose to have an assessment of your needs at the same time. Your needs are looked at together in one process as a combined assessment. A combined assessment will usually be done through social care services
All carer’s assessments will:
- give you a chance to talk about your health and wellbeing and the challenges of caring
- give you information about support and services, such as help to look after your own health while caring safely
- work out whether you have needs which are eligible for specific social care support
- give reassurance to you and the person you care for
To ask for an assessment phone Devon Carers on 0345 643 4435. If you can’t leave the person you look after, it may be possible to arrange care for them while you have the check.