Carer’s assessment for unpaid carers

What is a carer’s assessment?

An assessment involves a confidential and sensitive conversation.

The carer shouldn’t feel rushed during the assessment and should be in a private space where they feel comfortable and able to discuss the topics the assessment will focus on.

The assessment is expected to clearly reflect the voice of the carer and their own unique experience of their caring role.

Who can have an assessment?

Anyone over the age of 18 who is looking after another adult/s over 18 who has:

  • a physical disability
  • a learning disability
  • sensory impairment
  • dementia
  • a mental health condition
  • substance dependency
  • is frail due to old age and couldn’t manage without support from a carer

Young carers and carers of children under 18 have different assessments to adult carers of adults.

What happens if you are not a full-time carer and / or are also working?

The assessment looks at individual situations where unpaid care is being provided. It doesn’t matter:

  • how much care the carer provides
  • what their existing financial situation is
  • whether or not they live with the person they are looking after
  • whether they are caring full or part-time
  • whether or not the person they are looking after has had an assessment of their needs
  • whether the Council has decided that the person they care for is not eligible for support

What if the carer is sharing caring responsibilities?

If the carer is sharing caring responsibilities with another person, or more than one person, including a child under 18, then each person providing care can have an assessment.

How to request an assessment

The local authority where the person being looked after lives is responsible for carrying out the assessment.

If the person being looked after lives in Hackney and is known to adult social services, then they should offer the carer an assessment.

If the carer hasn’t been offered an assessment, the carer can ask for an assessment by contacting one of the following services:

  • the social worker allocated to the person they look after
  • Carers First can request an assessment from adult social services on behalf of the carer and can also help prepare the carer for their assessment
  • if there’s no allocated social worker, contact adult social care on 020 8356 6262 or access@hackney.gov.uk

How can a carer plan for emergencies?

In Hackney, carers can create a ‘what if plan’ which can, with their consent, be held by the local authority.

This plan can either be completed as part of the assessment process or the person who is carrying out the assessment can link the carer in with Carers First, Hackney adult’s commissioned carers service, who can help think through and draw up a plan.

More information on assessments including support plans and possible outcomes

For information, advice and options –  including one to one advice:

Visit Carers UK for information and advice on:

  • what to expect from an assessment
  • how to prepare for an assessment
  • deciding if a carer has eligible needs
  • possible outcomes of an assessment
Page updated on: 17 June 2022

Carers First