Assessing your needs

On the phone

If you contact Social Care, one of our staff will ask you about your situation. They may be able to give you the advice and information you need over the phone.

An assessment meeting

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 to organise a meeting at your home or a venue which suits you.
The meeting will involve

• a social worker, or occupational therapist or community care assistant
• you, plus a friend or family member, if you wish someone else present
• your description of your situation and any difficulties you are having
• the worker writing down what has been discussed
• you signing the assessment to show you agree it is accurate and fair
• the worker will make sure that your views are written down alongside ours, if you do not agree with what has been written down
• you will be given a copy of your assessment.

This assessment meeting normally takes about one hour but we may need to make more than one visit.
We may ask your permission to contact other people such as your GP or a district nurse, so that we can get a complete picture of your needs.

After the meeting

• we will consider all the information we have and decide what  we can offer
• the member of staff who assessed your needs will inform you of our decision.
• we will then discuss your options with you.

We have to give priority to people who are at the greatest risk and use agreed criteria to make this decision. Further information is available about the categories of risk and criteria.

If you have a carer, we can also do an assessment of carer needs.

You may also be interested in understanding the cost of care and who needs to pay or arranging your own care and support by using Direct Payments.