Q – “an online form on my council website said that i probably won’t be eligible to receive services and because of that i might not be able to have a needs assessment. Is there anywhere else can i get an assessment?” (from ‘DAB’)
A – there are two parts to this question: the first relates to having a needs assessment (for a cared for person or carer). to be very, very clear – it is extremely hard to NOT be able to get an assessment of needs from your local authority. Put another way – the law makes it almost (but not quite) impossible for a council to refuse to provide a person with an assesmsent of their needs if the person involved has an appearance of need – of ANY degree.
Statute: the Care Act 2014 – s9 – 10 – assessing needs
the second part of the question relates to eligibility which cannot be decided until one has already had an assessment of needs. This is because eligibility relates to some or all of the needs which an assessment may have identified; some of which might then be eligible for help; some of which might not – but without an assessment it is not possible to know.
Statute: the Care Act s13 – the eligibility criteria
Guidance: care and support statutory guidance – s6 – assessment and eligibility
Resources: Social care institute for excellence disability justice carers uk
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