The Care Act 2014 gave all carers a legal right to a Carer’s Assessment.
What is a Carer’s Assessment?
It’s an opportunity to find out about your situation and how caring is affecting you. It’s not a test of your ability to care, but an opportunity for the borough’s social care team to understand how you can be supported in maintaining your own health and balancing caring with other aspects of your life. The aim is to help relieve the pressure on you as a carer, and to understand and relieve the emotional, physical and practical effect caring has on your life.
Assessments may be carried out at the same time as the needs of the person you care for are considered. Alternatively, it may be completed separately and in private if you wish.
Your assessment should cover:
- your caring role and how it affects your life and wellbeing
- your health – physical, mental and emotional issues
- your feelings and choices about caring
- work, study, training and leisure
- relationships, social activities and your goals
- housing
- planning for emergencies
Who can have an assessment?
All carers are entitled to an assessment, as long as you are caring for an adult over 18 who lives in Stockport (if they live outside Stockport you need to contact the Local Authority area where they live).
You will be entitled to an assessment regardless of the amount or type of care you provide, your financial means or your level of need for support. You don’t necessarily have to live with the person you are looking after or be caring full-time to have an assessment.
How do I get an assessment?
Signpost are commissioned to complete Carer’s Assessments on behalf of Stockport Council. Assessments usually last at least an hour and can be held at a time that suits you. We will discuss available support options with you as part of the assessment and send you a support plan afterwards. For more information or to request a referral for a Carer’s Assessment, contact us via our online form or call us on 0161 442 0442.
If the person you care for has a social worker, ask them to do your Carer’s Assessment. If not, the assessment can be done by:
Face-to-face or phone assessment
Completed with a Signpost support worker at an arranged appointment (Current waiting list applies). We recommend this option if you are finding your caring role difficult or feel that it is starting to affect your own life or wellbeing.
Online form
We will send you a link to our online form, and you can complete your assessment in your own time. Once completed, a Signpost support worker will review your information and send you a personalised support plan
AI-guided assessment via Mobilise
Complete your assessment immediately through a 20-minute guided conversation with Mobilise’s AI assistant, Claire, available 24/7. Your support plan will be sent to you shortly after the assessment, with ongoing check-ins continuing via WhatsApp or SMS, with support available if further follow-up is needed. Our team gets to see a copy too.
You must be registered with Signpost before choosing this option.