Assessing your needs

You can ask us for advice about care and support or refer yourself or someone you know in Edinburgh through our Social Care Direct service.  If we need to meet with you to discuss your situation then, with your permission, Social Care Direct staff will pass your details on to your local social work team. 

Decisions about who can receive care and support are based on an assessment of need.  To make sure our decisions are fair, we use agreed criteria known as eligibility criteria.  We have to give priority to people who are at the greatest risk.  The criteria allow us to identify how serious the risk is of you losing their independence if your needs are not met.

Where the risks to your personal safety and maintaining your independence are high, for example, if you are unable to carry out essential personal care tasks, we will discuss with you what services you need and you will be a priority for providing care and support.

Where these risks are lower, for example if you are having some difficulties but are able to manage most aspects of daily living, we will give you information and advice.

You can read more about the agreed criteria and how we use them to take account of each person's circumstances. 

If we need to meet you to discuss your needs, your local social work team will organise an assessment meeting at your home or a venue which suits you.