You may be referred to us for social care needs assessment by a professional such as a GP. You can also contact us yourself, or ask a relative or friend to do it for you.
In order to be eligible for an assessment we need to confirm:
- you are over 18 years old,
- appear to require care and support, and
- are ordinarily a resident of Cambridgeshire.
The aim of the assessment is to identify what needs you may have and what outcomes you are looking to achieve to maintain or improve your wellbeing. An assessment looks in detail at your situation and what is important to you. It helps us understand your strengths and abilities and what care and support you might need to stay independent, safe and well. Together, if one is needed, we can work out a care and support plan.
The assessor will either complete your assessment with you, or you can be supported to complete it yourself. It is a two way conversation. With your permission, we might ask the opinion of other professionals who know and work with you. We will also take account of the needs of your family or carer and assess them separately if they ask us to.
The assessment will focus on:
- exploring your current circumstances
- your strengths and abilities
- what's working well
- what's not working so well
- what you would like to change or achieve
- if you need any help what help you need
Any information you give us will be treated as confidential. It will not be shared with anyone else without your permission - other than in exceptional circumstances where the law says we must show it to someone else.
The assessment considers a number of areas of your life, which include your current situation and what has lead you to your assessment:
- your health
- your safety
- your physical abilities
- your mental health
- how you look after yourself on a daily basis
- your involvement in your community
- who supports you, if anyone
- what your needs are
It will bring together a summary of your needs and the outcomes you want to achieve. The assessor will look at whether there are any risks to you and your wellbeing and agree with you how they can be best managed. They will also look at how to help you prevent and delay the need for care and support. They will give you their professional opinion and following the assessment, your assessor will determine whether you are eligible for support from the Council.