Carers Assessments

If you look after a relative, disabled child or friend and Caring has an impact on your life, then a Carers Assessment could help you. A Carers Assessment is the method Social Services uses to work out what services would be helpful to you in your circumstances. So, they will need to discuss with you the help the person you care for needs, the help you are giving at the moment and the services that might be available to you.
 
Your Carers Assessment is your opportunity to tell Social Services what is involved in your role, how it affects you and about the things that could make Caring easier for you. Don't underplay your role; remember what it's like on the bad days - that's what the assessor needs to know.
 
Some things you may want to think about:

• Do you get enough sleep?
• Is your health affected in other ways?
• Are you able to get out and about?
• Do you get any time for yourself?
• Are your other relationships affected?
• Do you want information about benefits?
• Are you worried you may have to give up work?
• Is the person you care for getting enough help?

Following this, Social Services may be able to either provide support direct to you as a Carer, or provide information about other organisations that can be of help.
 
What sort of help you might need:

• services that give you a break
• emotional support from other carers or people who understand
• help with household tasks
• help with caring tasks during the day/night
• benefits advice
• activities for the person you care for

However all carers are individuals and your local council may provide any service to you that they think will help you care or help you maintain your wellbeing. So you may have some ideas of your own about services that would help you that you want to talk through with social services. Other services that you might want to discuss with them are those that may help the person you look after.
 
A Carers Assessment is your right; it should help you get the help and support you need to carry on caring the best you can. Contact Social Services and ask for a Carers Assessment. In Portsmouth, the Social Care offices are divided by what are called 'sectors' so, the office you need to call will depend on the age of the person you care for. If you care for an older person, call the helpdesk on (023) 9289 3800. If you care for an adult (under 65years) call Medina House on (023) 9220 0132.
 
Carers of children with disabilities will have their needs considered as part of an assessment of the needs of your child and family. Call Merefield House on (023) 9283 9111