Assessments

1. Community Offer - Workshop Assessments 10th November 2014

2. Service-User Assessment • Assessment is both a key process AND a critical intervention • An assessment should identify: • care and support needs • what outcomes the individual is looking to achieve to maintain or improve their wellbeing • how care and support might help in achieving those outcomes

3. Appropriate and proportionate assessment • People should receive an assessment that is appropriate and proportionate • Process can be flexible and include e.g. telephone, on-line and combined assessments • To be appropriate assessments should meet the person’s communication needs • Appropriate assessments can include a pause to check the value of preventative services or interventions, reablement, or aids and adaptations

4. Integrated Assessment • All of the agencies involved should work closely together to prevent a person having to undergo a number of assessments at different times. • To achieve this, local authorities should ensure healthcare professionals’ views and expertise are taken into account. • Working together will ensure people’s health and care services are aligned and set out in a single care and support plan. • In cases of abuse, the local authority should lead the assessment and ensure that all agencies follow the local multi-agency procedures to ensure coordination of information and possible evidence

5. Supported self-assessment: • The local authority must offer the individual the choice of a supported self-assessment if they are able and willing. • The individual must have capacity to fully assess and accurately reflect their own needs.

6. Carer’s Assessment • Where an individual provides care, or intends to provide care, the local authority must consider assessment if the carer appears to have any level of need for support. • The previous requirement to provide ‘substantial’ and ‘regular’ care (to be defined as a carer) will be removed, as will the requirement to ask for an assessment.

7. The assessment MUST… • Explore the carer’s needs for support AND • Examine the sustainability of the caring role

8. Sustainability of Care • Sustainability refers to both the practical and emotional support the carer provides • Local authorities must consider whether the carer is currently able – and will continue to be able - and is willing to continue to care for the person.

9. Beyond being a carer… • It must consider impact on the carer’s activities beyond their caring responsibilities, including the carer’s: • desire and ability to work • ability to partake in education, training or recreational activities • opportunities to have time to themselves

10. A persons’ ideal assessment experience… I am the one in power I have a lead professional who I can contact  I feel an essential partner in the assessment process Good first contact experience All my needs were taken into account The whole process of my assessment, eligible needs and my personal budget will be transparent and jointly agreed  I was in control of my support plan which takes account of my skills needs and supports me to achieve my goals I know my personal budget and how I can and will use it to my meet my needs  I choose my preferred method of communication