A carer is a person of any age, who looks after family, partners or friends in need of help because they are ill, frail or have a disability and need support to live independently.The care provided is unpaid .
Are you entitled to a carer assessment?
If the care you provide is 'regular and substantial', you have a right to an assessment of your own support needs.
If you are unsure whether you provide regular and substantial care, it may help to think about the following questions:
- do you live with and support an adult or child with a disability or health care needs?
- are you the main person providing care and is this on a regular basis?
- would the person you care for be at risk without you?
- do you need support to carry on providing care?
You may wish to speak to someone about your entitlement. If so, please use the freephone carer information line or contact one of the carer organisations or your local social work office. For contact details, please see the end of this leaflet.
Should I have a carer assessment?
As a carer, you may not have considered the extent of your caring role and the effect it may be having on your life. The assessment will give you the opportunity to talk to a member of social work staff about the issues that concern you as a carer and your support needs.
The aim is to improve the quality of your life and that of the person you care for by, among other things:
helping you feel less stressed;
- helping to reduce your level of social isolation;
- ensuring you are better and more knowledgeable about your caring role and the needs of the person you care for;
- ensuring you feel valued, supported and listened to;
- improving your confidence and capacity to express your views; and
- improving your education, training and employment opportunities.
The carer assessment
The assessment may take place over a series of meetings. This may be with you on your own, or with the person you care for, at a place and time suitable for you. You may bring someone to support you, if you wish. At the end of the assessment, you should be clear about:
- the amount of care you are willing and able to provide and whether you can keep this up;
- what you need to support your caring role and how this might be provided; and what you need to maintain your health and well being and how this might be provided.
The carer resource plan
The final part of the process is to put together a list of actions setting out what will be done, when it will be done and by whom. This action plan, along with a record of the assessment, is your carer resource plan. The outcomes as a result of this may include:
- regular breaks from caring;
- enhanced support for the person you care for;
- support for yourself through Lanarkshire Carers Centre or other organisations; training to support you in yourcaring role; or
- access to complementary therapies.
To learn more or request a carer resource plan please contact your local social work office, contact details are listed at the top right had side of this page.
Other contacts for information and assistance:
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