Carers

CARERS ASSESSMENT
 
The purpose of a carer's assessment is to discuss with social services the help you need with caring, plus help to maintain your own health and balance caring with your life, work and family commitments.
 
As well as looking at the help you need, the assessment can be useful in:

• Exploring how you feel about caring with a professional
• Giving you information on benefits and support such as carers groups.
• Deciding if you want to stay or return to work and how to make this happen.
• Looking at how caring may affect you in the future and what help you might need.

The law says you have a right to an assessment if you care for someone for 'a substantial amount of time on a regular basis'. The relevant legislation here is the Carers (Recognition & Services) Act 1995 and the Carers & Disabled Children Act 2000. You may be a carer living with or away from the person you care for, caring full time or combining care with paid work - you will still have a right to a carer's assessment. If you are aged over 16, your right to an assessment is not affected, even if the person you care for does not want to receive help from social services. You also have a right to an assessment if you intend to look after someone. For example: if your friend or relative is in hospital and you expect to look after them when they come back home. Portsmouth Carers Centre is able to visit you in your own home to help you with your Carer's Assessment or, if you wish, you can do it at Carers Assessment online
 
More information
Carers UK have a comprehensive guide to Carers Assessments
Carers UK Guide to CA
 
DirectGov website