Carers Assessments

All parent carers have a right to ask the Local Authority for an assessment of their needs at any time. This assessment will record the impact caring has on their life and identify what support or services are needed.

The Children and Families Act 2014 requires local authorities to assess parent/carers on the appearance of need or where an assessment is requested by the parent/carer. This is called a parent/carers needs assessment.

The Children’s Act 1989 defines a parent/carer as someone over the age of 18 who provides or intends to provide care for a disabled child (under the age of 18), for whom they have parental responsibility.

Carers of a disabled child (under 18) who do not have parental responsibility for the child (such as a grandparent or extended family) do not have a right to an assessment under the Care Act or the Children and Families Act. The Government has preserved the right to an assessment for this group of carers by not repealing the relevant parts of the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995. However this means that such carers will still have to request a carer’s assessment and will have to show they are providing, or intend to provide, regular and substantial care.

Please note:

• the person cared for must live within Bedford Borough. If the person lives in a different local authority area, please contact that local authority to request your Parent Carer Needs Assessment (PCNA).
• support is not linked to the parent carers income or savings
• the parent carer does not have to provide care for a minimum number of days or hours
• the parent carer does not have to live with the person you care for

the parent carer may have other responsibilities like a job or looking after your family

A Parent Carers Needs Assessment focuses on the parent carer and their needs, their wellbeing, health and safety issues and important commitments such as relationships, education and employment.

The assessment must look at:

• whether the parent/carer has needs for support and what those needs are
• whether it is appropriate for the parent/carer to provide, or continue to provide, care for the disabled child.
• other needs and wishes.
• the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the child and any other child for whom the parent/'carer has parental responsibility.
• Any services to be provided for parent/carers of disabled children can be included in a child’s Education Health and Care plan, if the child has one.

This assessment can be combined with one for the disabled child (the Child and Family Assessment) or it can be a standalone Parent Carers Need Assessment. 

Following the assessment, the Local Authority must decide whether the parent carers has needs for support, whether the disabled child has need for support and whether those needs could be satisfied by services under the Childrens Act 1989 s17.

If your child is already open to social care you can discuss with the social worker the fact that you would like a Parent Carers Need Assessment. This can be undertaken as part of the Child and Family Assessment or if you prefer you can ask for a standalone Parent Carers Need Assessment.

For those not open to social care a referral should be made to the Integrated Front Door. By completing an online form

 https://ehchildandfamilies.bedford.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/ehassess#assess

or telephoning 01234 718700.

A carer’s assessment is for carers over 18 years old who are looking after another adult over 18 years old who is disabled, ill or elderly without being paid.

You can have an assessment even if the person you are looking after does not receive any care and support from the Local Authority. You can also have an assessment if the person you are caring for does not want to have an assessment of their needs.

As a carer, you are entitled to an assessment in your own right.

The carer’s assessment is not a test of how well you are doing as a carer. It is your opportunity to tell someone about your experiences and the impact that caring is having on your daily life.

Find out more about carers assessments at:- 

https://www.bedford.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/adult-social-care/caring-someone/carers-assessment

A young carer is defined as:

A young carer is someone under 18 who helps look after someone in their family, or a friend, who is ill, disabled, has a mental health condition or misuses drugs or alcohol.

Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 places a duty on Local Authorities to assess whether a young carer in their area needs support and what those needs are if:

• it appears to the Local Authority that a young carer may have need for support;
• the Local Authority receive a request from a young carer or a parent of a young carer to assess the young carer’s need for support; or
• an assessment has been carried out, but the circumstances of the young person or person being cared for have changed.

If your family is already open to social care you can discuss with the social worker the fact that a child within the family is a young carer.

Open to Children Services - A Young Carers Needs Assessment can be undertaken as part of the Child and Family Assessment or if preferred you can ask for a standalone Young Carers Needs Assessment.

Open to Adult Services - A worker from Adult Social Care can carry out the young carers needs assessment at the same time that they are assessing the needs of the person the young carer is caring for or if preferred you can ask for a standalone Young Carers Needs Assessment. It is recommended that representatives from Children Services are consulted to input into the assessment.

For those not open to social care the service responsible for assessing the 'looked after' person is also responsible for assessing and responding to the needs of the young carer. This means that, usually, Children’s Services take the lead for young carers of disabled children and Adult Services take the lead where the cared for person is an adult. Adult Services and Children Services  will work together and input is likely to be required from both. A Team Around the Family Meeting may need to be arranged

The point of contact in Adults Services is the Adult Services Contact Team on 01234 267422 

The point of contact in Children Services is the Integrated Front Door. By completing an online form

 https://ehchildandfamilies.bedford.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/ehassess#assess