Agreeing Needs, Making a Formal Record and Next Steps (Occupational Therapy)

Throughout the process of information gathering to establish needs you should talk to the person (or their representative) and others about the level of need apparent, endeavouring to reach an agreement about this as the process progresses.

See: Talking about Needs.

Whether or not an agreement about needs is reached, the Local Authority is responsible for making the final decision about the level of need that a person has in each area of need identified. As such, this is your responsibility as you are the Local Authority's representative.

When determining the level of need you must give regard to:

1. the views of the person about the level of need;
2. the impact of the need on the person's wellbeing;
3. the views of any carer about the level of the person's need; and
4. the views of anyone else consulted or involved in the assessment process.

The decision that you make about the level of need must be evidence based and robust. This means you must be able to demonstrate the information that you have used to reach a decision about need if challenged.

The decision you reach may be in line with the views of the person (and others) but equally it may not be if the evidence does not support that judgement. This is appropriate, as long as you have a clear rationale for your decision and have given regard to the person's views, their wellbeing and the views of others.

If you are unclear about the level of need a person has, you should consider the benefit in gathering any additional information or consulting with any other person. If you remain unclear about the level of need, you should seek advice from your line manager about how best to proceed.

All recording should be made in line with local requirements.

The Care Act does not specify a timeframe for making a formal record of a needs assessment only that this should be done in a timely way.

Timely recording will:

1. reduce the likelihood of inaccuracies;
2. prevent any unnecessary delays for the person; and
3. ensure that the duty to meet eligible needs is met as close to the need being identified as possible.

If the timeframe for assessment that you use leads to inaccuracies or a delay in meeting needs, then it is not timely.

The following information must be clearly recorded in all cases:

1. The identified areas of need that the person has;
2. The nature of needs that the person has in each area where needs exist;
3. The views of the person, any carer and any other person in relation to need (and how these have been regarded);
4. The views of the person, any carer and any other person in relation to how the need impacts on wellbeing (and how these have been regarded);
5. The evidence that has been used to reach a determination about the level of need;
6. How the impact of the decision on wellbeing has been considered;
7. The views of the person, any carer in relation to how their values, culture are impacted by need;
8. A proportionate record of the options explored to meet needs and achieve outcomes, clearly demonstrating a strengths-based approach;
9. A proportionate record of conversations about risk, clearly demonstrating a positive approach to risk;
10. A proportionate record of any general information and advice that has been given about adult care and support;
11. A proportionate record of the preventive measures that have been explored; and
12. A proportionate record of any actions and next steps agreed.

The following information should also be clearly recorded where relevant: 

1. The safeguarding concerns raised and action taken;
2. The Deprivation of Liberty concerns raised and action taken;
3. A proportionate record of specific information and advice given (for example, around finances or Lasting Power of Attorneys);
4. The evidence that has been used to demonstrate the level of fluctuating need; and
5. Any difference in views about need that have occurred.

Following the assessment process the person must be given a written record of their assessment.

If the assessment record has a dual function as a record of eligibility it may be prudent to establish and record eligibility before providing a copy, although you should still provide information to the person about the level of need as soon as this is known.

It is important that the person understands their assessment and the outcome of it. To this end it should be provided in a format that is accessible to them.

If the assessment has been provided in a format that you know or suspect the person will not be able to understand you should:

1. consider any steps that you can take to support them to understand it (for example, talking through the assessment over the telephone or summarising it in a simpler format); and
2. consider the duty to make an Independent Advocate available.

If an advocate is already involved they should be informed when the assessment has been provided to the person so that they can support them to understand it.

Where the assessment was carried out jointly with another organisation or team to avoid duplication (for example, housing or social work), a copy of the assessment must be made available to the other person that carried it out with you.

A copy should normally be shared in full with any carer unless the person has capacity and has asked you not to share the assessment, or to share only part of the assessment. In this case you will need to discuss and agree which elements of the assessment are to be shared, having regard for confidentiality.

A copy can be shared with anyone that the person requests you share a copy with, even if they were not involved in the assessment itself. This must be done with the person’s consent (or in their best interests if they lack capacity to consent).

Concerns about a request

You must provide a copy of the assessment to anyone that the person requests you to unless:

1. they lack capacity and you make a decision that sharing would not be in their best interests; or
2. you are concerned that doing so could put the person (or another vulnerable adult or child) at risk of abuse or neglect.

If this situation arises you should seek advice from your line manager and decide whether:

1. to share the record in full as requested;
2. to share the record partially, omitting sections where information could put the person at risk; or
3. to decline to provide a copy of the record (although the person can of course still choose to make a copy available from their own record).

Sometimes the person (or their representative if they lack capacity) may ask for amendments to be made to the assessment. For example:

1. they feel that there is information missing; or
2. they feel that the record is a misinterpretation of something that was said or agreed.

In this case you should:

1. consider the request;
2. if the person whose assessment it is has not made the request, consult with them (or their representative if they lack capacity); and
3. review any evidence or information you have which may support or refute the request.

You should not make the amendment regardless of the existence of evidence and a rationale for doing so. If you reach a decision not to amend the record, you should be clear about your reasons for not doing so, and you should make the person aware of their right to complain about your decision.

If a decision is made to make the amendments, you should proceed to do so. Where doing so results in 2 versions of the same assessment being available on the system it must be clear which the amended version is.

The amended record should be circulated to the same people as the original record, unless the person requests otherwise or there is evidence that doing so would put the person (or another vulnerable adult or child) at risk of harm or abuse.

You should proceed to determine likely eligibility under the HGCRA criteria when:

1. it is clear that a major adaptation is required to meet the needs identified during assessment; and
2. local policy confirms the proposed adaptation can be provided under the HGCRA (subject to eligibility).

See: Establishing Likely Eligibility for a Disabled Facilities Grant.

You should proceed to determine eligibility under the Care Act when equipment or a low-level adaptation (outside of what can be provided by the HGCRA) is required.

See: Understanding and Applying Eligibility Criteria.

If the likely outcome is that both equipment and a major adaptation are required, you must:

1. apply the HGCRA eligibility to the needs likely to be met by through the major adaptation; and
2. apply the Care Act criteria to all other needs.

If an Occupational Therapy intervention is not an appropriate way to meet needs, you must be able to provide:

1. information and advice about ways that the person could meet needs (either independently or with the support of their formal and/or informal support networks or community);
2. information and advice about other prevention services that could delay, reduce of prevent needs;
3. information about other services available in the marketplace that may be appropriate to meet needs (if the person appears to have eligible needs).

If a practitioner from an appropriate service is already involved with the person you should:

1. notify them that an assessment has been carried out, the outcome of the assessment and the rationale; and
2. provide them with access to the information gathered during the assessment so they can prioritise and consider the most appropriate course of action.

If the person is not known to an appropriate service, you will need to make the relevant referral.

Under no circumstances must you ignore ongoing needs or close the case. The Local Authority has a duty to determine the eligibility of assessed needs and to meet eligible needs and is in a breach of the Care Act if it fails to do so.

You can proceed to close the case when:

1. there are no outstanding actions for the Occupational Therapy service following the assessment;
2. the person has been provided with all information and advice required (or that would be beneficial); and
3. steps have been taken to ensure that any eligible ongoing needs for care and support will be met in a timely way (either through urgent/interim services or through care and support planning).