Some useful contacts:
There is a social worker attached to your GP surgery
Herefordshire Carers Support- Tel: 01432 356068
( Social Care ) Local Access Point – 01432 364050/364053
Herefordshire Council - Tel: 01432 260000
Carers Trust - 08448004361
Carers UK - Tel: 02073784999

What is a Carers Needs Assessment?
The Assessment considers the needs of the carer separately fromthe needs of the person they provide care for. It considers whetheryou are able to provide care, how much help you can give andwhether you want to
It takes into account the pressures on the carer created by theircaring role
It can help Social services to arrange appropriate support for theperson for whom you provide care
A Carers Needs Assessment may lead to an increase in the range or amount of services arranged for the person you care for, which could, in turn, help you
Before your Carers Needs Assessment you may find it useful to think over your situation and write down some of the things you want to ask about or tell the worker who carries out the assessment with you
When to have an Assessment
You can request an assessment if you intend to give ‘regular andsubstantial care’, that means that the person you help would be at risk if you did not provide care for them.
You can request an assessment when the person you care for (or intend to care for) is being assessed, either for the first time or when a reviewis called.
You can also request an assessment even if the person you care for refusesan assessment or refuses services.
You will be given a copy of your Carers Needs Assessment.

Information

You will probably find it useful to have as much information as possible. These questions may help you to identify what information you do or do not have.
Ask yourself – Do I have information on:
The illness/disability of the person I am caring for?
The medication/treatment that the person I am caring for is having?
The different types of support services available and how to get them?
The different types of Health/GP services available and how to get them?
The amount of support I am supposed to be getting from services?
The different types of equipment or aids available and how to get them?
What interpreting or signing services are available?
The names, phone numbers and job titles of all the professionals/othersinvolved in providing support to the person I care for?
What to do/who to contact when either myself or the person I care for think our needs have changed?
What type of Benefits may be available and how to get them?
What type of support I could expect in the future?
What are my rights as a carer?
Understanding
Understanding what is happening or what might happen is important. These questions may help you identify what you do or do not understand.
Ask yourself – Do I have a good understanding of:
The needs of a person with a particular illness or disability?
The types of behaviour associated with the disability/illness?
The effects of the medication and/or any side effects?
The reasons why people use special aids or equipment and/or how touse what we have?
How to move or handle someone, so that neither of us suffers any physical harm or injury?
Things to have in a First Aid Kit and how to use them?
How to get help in an Emergency or crisis?
How to use all of our household appliances?
Who to contact when I have a problem with any of our support services?
How and when to make a formal complaint about services?
How to get a formal Carers Needs Assessment? / If you are caring for a relative, friend or Neighbour
who is elderly or has an illness or disability
YOU AREA CARER.
It doesn’t matter if the personyou care for is young
or old, whether they live withyou or not,
if you are providing most of the help they need,
YOU ARE A CARER.
A GUIDE TOA
CARERS NEEDS ASSESSMENT
To help you to identify your needs

Carers have the right to a Carers Needs Assessment under

The Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 and
The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000.
This booklet is to help you to identify areas of yourcaring role where you might need a little support and guidance. You can also use it as a pre-assessment toolto pick out the points to cover in the Carers Needs Assessment.
Children and young people are also entitled to have a
Young Carers Needs Assessment if they have significant caring responsibilities.
June 12 Ver. 3
What carers have said:
  • I was apprehensive at first but the assessment was carried out in complete privacy and I found that reassuring.
  • The assessment helped me realise I had needs, and if these needswere not met I might not be able to care properly, it wasn't judgingthe care I gave, but rather talking about my own needs.
  • The assessment has given me the courage to request that my needsare adequately met
  • Once I had managed to get the right information I had a betterunderstanding of the situation and many of the problems seemedto disappear.
What to do now?
If the person you care for has a social worker, he or she can carry out your assessment too, but you may, if you wish, request to have a different worker. A Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) can also carry out this assessment.
Young Carers can have an assessment, which is carried out by a workerfrom the Children’s Team.
If there is no involvement from a social worker or CPN you can contact your local Social Services office or the social worker who is attached to your GP surgery. You can also contact Herefordshire Carers Support who can refer you to Social Services for the assessment. The number to ring is printed at the back of this booklet.
If you are not satisfied:
You have the right to complain if you are not satisfied with anything aboutyour assessment. Ask Social Services for a copy of their complaints procedure.
Here are some of the topics likely to be covered in an assessment, and some questions to ask yourself:
How many hours a week do you provide care? (This can include the time you spend with the person and the time you spend doing other things for them e.g. washing, cleaning, cooking shopping etc?)
What effect does your caring role have on your life, e.g. on your health, do you get enough sleep and rest, do you feel stressed, are you at risk of injury e.g. through moving and handling the person you care for?
Are there things you find enjoyable and relaxing which you can’t do because of your caring responsibilities, e.g. hobbies, visiting etc?
When was the last time you had a whole day to yourself to do as you pleased?
Do you have to have help with tasks during the day or night? Would you like to have some extra help with these? If you could only have help with one task what would it be? Draw up a list of priorities.
Do you feel you have a choice about providing the level of care you do? Are you able, or would you prefer, to provide more or less care?
Is there anything you would like to change about your situation?
Overleaf are some questions focusing on specific topics you might find helpful.
Problems
You may find that the caring situation is causing you some problems. These questions may help you identify where these problems lie.
Ask yourself - Am I having problems with:
Getting information about something?
Trying to get a support service or trying to get an existing service changed?
The behaviour/attitude of the person I am caring for?
Accepting the illness/disability of the person I am caring for?
Feeling able to do all that is required of me?
Making and/or keeping appointments?
Keeping in touch with family or friends?
Having time to myself or having a break?
Fulfilling all my other responsibilities?
Keeping up with my other daily needs?
Managing any of the new responsibilities that have happened because of my caring role?