During the assessment, we need to know

• your personal details
• any current health issues
• how you feel about your current circumstances
• how your family or carer feels about your current circumstances
• previous services you may have received
• any religious or cultural needs you have
• your finances and any benefits you may receive
• any issues you have that may affect the care you need, such as mental health difficulties, sensory impairments or a learning disability
• your housing situation
• whether you have an unpaid or informal carer
• your personal care needs - what you can and can't do
• your mobility
• your nutritional needs and any help you might need with eating
• day to day living, such as shopping or cleaning
• your relationships and social involvement
• your ability to make choices and take control
• whether you feel you are at risk, and if you feel safe; and
• any parenting responsibilities you might have

The finances and benefits section is quite detailed. You should be aware that this part of the assessment is to find out whether you will be asked to pay part or all of the costs of your care, so it is important that we have all the right information.

How soon will I get my assessment

We aim to carry out assessments as quickly as possible, but some people will need to be assessed more quickly if their circumstances are urgent. We aim to complete assessments within a month.

Confidentiality concerns

We will treat the information you give us during your assessment as confidential. Only staff who are involved in providing the services you need will have any information about you. We will share information with other services if you give your consent, and if this can help in providing support for you.

In exceptional circumstances we may be required to share information you have given us, for example if we believe someone's safety is at risk or the law requires it.

Your assessments are carried out free of charge.

After assessments are carried out

You will be given your own copy of the assessment. If you want us to, we can also give a copy to your carer. We will use your assessment to help us decide whether we can offer you help, and the amount and type of support you need. We make this decision based on national criteria.

NHS information on getting a needs assessment

If we decide that your circumstances are such that you are not eligible for help from the council, we will still give you advice about who you can go to for support.

If you are eligible for support

We will work with you to arrange a Support Plan.

You may be required to pay for some or all of your care and support services. We will arrange for a financial assessment to be undertaken. This will determine whether the council is able to fund some or all of your services, or whether you need to contribute towards some or all of these costs

If you're not eligible for support

You may feel you would benefit from some other assistance. Based on the information you provided for your assessment we will send you information which may be of interest to you. Further information and options can be found on the Adult health and social care section of the council website

If you disagree with the assessment

If you do not agree with the outcome of the assessment, you can ask us to reconsider our decision. Either ask your Assessor, or see our information on how to make a complaint.