Introduction, Legal Requirements and Tools (Carers)

This procedure should be used by anyone that has been allocated or asked to carry out any process that establishes the eligible needs of a carer under the Care Act, including any formal assessment or reassessment of need.

If you are establishing the needs of a person with care and support needs, you should use the relevant procedure for your team/service.

Under the Care Act, any method of establishing needs is known as an assessment and this is the legally recognised term. Assessment is an integral part of Adult Care and Support.

The term 'assessment' covers:

1. the range of methods that can be used to establish needs, some of which are formal (for example, a face to face assessment) and some of which are not so formal (for example, a short telephone conversation); and
2. the range of models and frameworks used to support or shape the process of information gathering.

Unfortunately, the word 'assessment' is all too often associated with outdated practices to gather information that do not support the ethos of the Care Act. For example:

1. A process led by the assessor;
2. A structured process involving the use of forms and arbitrary questions;
3. An 'interview' of the carer being assessed; and
4. A gateway to funding and services, the nature of which is decided by the assessor.

As a mechanism to promote and support new practices around assessment that are in line with the Care Act ethos and duties, these procedures intentionally use the phrase 'Establishing Needs' alongside the legal term 'assessment'. This supports users of the procedures to think more flexibly about what an 'assessment' can, and may need to involve so that it is:

1. proportionate, only being formal or lengthy when it needs to be;
2. led by the carer with support needs;
3. appropriate to the carer and their situation; and
4. a method of supporting the carer to find their own solutions to issues identified.

Under the Care Act, the main purpose of an assessment is:

1. to provide a full picture of the carer's needs, with a particular focus on the impact that those needs have on their wellbeing and the outcomes they want to achieve in their day-to-day life; so that;
2. the Local Authority can put in place appropriate, proportionate and timely arrangements for that carer in order to meet their needs and promote individual wellbeing. This response might range from offering guidance and information to arranging for services to meet the needs.

A good assessment will also:

1. support carers to understand their strengths and capabilities within the context of their situation;
2. support carers to understand the support that may be available to them within the community or through other networks and services; and
3. support carers to consider some of the different ways that the Local Authority may be able to support them (other than through a formal service).

The information gathered will help the Local Authority to:

1. make a determination about eligibility (where eligibility is a factor in meeting assessed needs); and
2. understand the kind of service provisions that could be explored when Support planning.

Across the country and even within each Local Authority there are a range of models and frameworks used to support or shape the process of information gathering to establish needs. The Care Act recognises that different approaches are used but all must fulfil the same legal requirements.

See: Legal Requirements of a Carers Assessment, part of the Care Act 2014.

Strength-Based Conversations and Assessment practice are underpinned by Adult Care’s Quality Practice Assurance Standards. Adherence to them should be evident in all practice. The Quality Practice Assurance Standards relating specifically to strengths-based conversations and assessment are Standard 1 – ‘Strengths-based practice and engaging with people’ and Standard 4 – ‘Maximising Independence’.

See the Quality Practice Standards section in the Local Resource Library.

Standard 7 – is dedicated to Informal Carers:

• Informal carers will be identified, their caring role understood and acknowledged, and be offered carer support. This includes checking if the person with support needs are also carers.
• Preparation checks will be made to determine if the person already has an identified carer or young carer and if they have involvement from the Lincolnshire Carer's Service or Children’s Service. If so, explore any opportunities for joint working.
• Carers are supported to actively participate in conversations and assessments, decision making, care and contingency planning and reviews for the person they care for if the cared for person consents to this. If appropriate, there should be consideration of family group conferencing where this may support families to sustain support arrangements.
• Carers sections in conversations, assessments and reviews should be directed towards the carer to understand and ensure:
  • the nature, frequency, intensity of the informal support provided;
  • the impact on the carers and whole families physical and mental wellbeing;
  • the impact on any children;
  • the sustainability and willingness to continue the caring role;
  • what matters most to them;
  • their voice is heard;
  • and establish if carers needs have been met as part of the conversation/assessment/review.
• If required, carers should be given information and advice about sources of further support, community resources and preventative services to promote sustainability of care and support arrangements. Agreed actions taken in relation to the carer should be clearly recorded and followed up.
• If carers support is declined a clear rationale should be provided.
• There should be accurate and up-to-date recording of all carer relationships within the person's record and linked to all related people within families.
• Children and young people who have or are at risk of taking on caring roles should be identified with evidence of liaison with Children’s Services and Young Carers support services to address any welfare, educational or support needs and be provided with information and advice. If appropriate, refer for an Early Help assessment.
• Where appropriate, there will be evidence of a referral for Adult Carer’s support to the Lincolnshire Carer’s Services or Young Carers Support to Children’s Services which will include a brief background, the urgency, reason for the referral and areas of support required.