Introduction to Services for carers

How do I get services?

As a carer you can get advice, support and help from the council and other organisations. Getting help will involve having a carer assessment. This would mean discussing:

• the help the person you care for needs
• the help you are giving at the moment or intend to provide (for example when the person you care for is discharged from hospital)
• the support and help you need to maintain your caring role
• how your caring role impacts on your own wellbeing

You are entitled to a carer assessment if:

• You are over the age of 16 and providing, or intending to provide necessary unpaid care for a relative, friend or neighbour who is over the age of 18.
• You have the right to an assessment whether or not the person you care for meets the eligibility for community care services.

Young carers aged 5-18 would receive a Young Carers assessment, which works a bit differently. You can read about Young Carers assessments here.

If you are a parent of a disabled child aged under 18, your child's needs will be assessed by the council under the Children and Families Act 2014.

You will also be assessed as part of that process because social services will look at the needs of the family as a whole. This is often referred to as a 'holistic' assessment.

The assessment is not a test of your parenting skills, but should be a sensitive look at any difficulties the family has as a whole, with a view to considering what support or services are needed.

You can find out more about this assessment here

What information can I find here?

These pages contain information about services for carers. Click using the arrows to the right and left or the headings at the top to move through this section and see what information is available.