After your assessment

Once you’ve had a conversation about your social care needs and an assessment has been completed, a copy of the assessment will be sent to you.  

This will be a representation of your conversation and will explain how you might overcome any challenges you are facing.  

We will talk with you about different solutions and make some suggestions to meet those needs.  

We will work with you about what goals you need to achieve, to help your life move forward and promote your wellbeing.  

The assessment will also explain if you are eligible for care and support services under The Care Act 2014. You can find out more about eligibility for adult social care and our policy here.

If you are eligible for care and support services 

If you are eligible for support we will work with you, and your carer as appropriate, to create a care and support plan.  

This plan may say more about what your needs are and how they will be met by an arranged service, for example, care at home.  

We always look at having a creative discussion with you about how your needs can be best met. This might be via:

• voluntary agencies  
• carers
• neighbours 
• special equipment and technology 
• short term services such as care workers building your confidence after a period of ill health
• more longer-term services to support you, such as a period in a residential home

If you need paid-for services

If you are assessed as needing paid-for services, either shorter or longer term, we will explore how much you need to pay towards this cost. This is called a financial assessment and you can find out more at Paying for care.

Most people have to pay something towards the cost of their care and support from the day the paid service starts. However, you may only need services for a short period of time and our staff will talk to you about this.

Self-directed support (including Direct Payments)

When the support plan is agreed we will have a clear idea of the care you need and how much this will cost. This figure is your personal budget. You can choose to manage your personal budget yourself to purchase your care through self-directed support process including direct payments.

If you are not eligible for care and support services

We will have a conversation with you about what needs you do have and how they can be met through a variety of different ways.  

Often these solutions may be through services in your community, such as hot meals on wheels, shopping deliveries and other creative ideas.  

Legally we do not have a duty to meet non-eligible needs, however, we have a variety of ideas about how you can support yourself, if you have other life goals you are working towards.  

If you don’t agree with the assessment

If you do not agree with the person working with you, please talk to them about how you feel. We always want to hear what you have to say.

We always focus on you being at the centre of our conversation, however, differences of opinion may occur at times.  

There is a section in the assessment where you can record any concerns you may have.  

If you are unable to reach an agreement and cannot resolve it together, then you or your representative will always be informed of your right to take this forward more formally.

You can find out more about eligibility criteria in:

• Section 13 of the Care Act 2014
• The Care and Support (Eligibility Criteria) Regulations 2014
• Section 6 of Care Act Statutory Guidance

Reviewing your care and support needs

Your care and support will be regularly reviewed and adjustments made as and when your need for support changes.

We will always continue to have conversations about how your needs can be met in creative and new ways, for example, using resources in your community rather than a paid service.

This easy read booklet about assessment reviews helps to explain when you might need a review, your personal budget and your rights.