If we think you have care and support needs, we will carry out an assessment of needs. We will tell you about services which can help you and how you can pay for them, including where you may be able to get help with funding. 

The national eligibility criteria for care and support

You are eligible for care and support if all three of the statements below apply to you:

  • Your needs are due to a physical or mental impairment or illness.
  • The impairment or illness affects your ability to do two or more of the functions in the list below.
  • Your wellbeing is significantly affected because you can’t do these things.

Does your impairment or illness affect your ability to do two or more of these functions;

  • manage and maintain your nutrition
  • manage your personal hygiene
  • manage your toilet needs
  • make sure you’re appropriately clothed
  • be able to use your home safely
  • maintain a habitable home environment
  • develop and maintain family or other personal relationships
  • access and engage in work, training, education or volunteering
  • make use of facilities or services in the local community, including public transport and recreational facilities or services
  • carry out any caring responsibilities the adult has for a child.

If your assessment shows that you meet this criteria, we have to make sure your needs are met.

Social Care Assessment

As part of the social care assessment, we will gather information from you, your family or carers, and if necessary, other professionals to help us make a decision about whether or not you are eligible to receive care and support services. As part of the assessment, we will also assess any potential risk to your independence and wellbeing.

If you have an assessment and we find that you are eligible for services, we will provide you with a copy of the decision.

We will then agree with you:

  • Which of your needs are to be met
  • How those needs will be met

This could include:

During the social care assessment, we will also conduct a financial assessment to find out if you have to pay anything towards the cost of your ongoing support needs. If you have more than £23,250 in income, savings or investments, you will have to pay the full cost of your care and can choose to arrange your own care and support services if you wish. 

If you’re not eligible, we will provide an explanation to tell you why.

How to request a needs assessment

To request a needs assessment you'll need to contact our One Front Door team.

By phone: 01925 443322 (option 1 followed by option 2)

By email: [email protected] 

We aim to reply to all emails within two working days.

15 October 2024