You have the right to a carer led assessment if you are aged 16 or over and provide, or intend to provide, a lot of care regularly for another person, aged 18 years or over, and this person is someone for whom the local authority may provide or arrange the provision of community care services.

As a carer you can ask for a carer led assessment (or reassessment) at any time during your caring role. You may choose to fill the form in yourself fully or practically or have a care navigator to assist you.

A carer led assessment is an opportunity for you to tell us and health services what would make caring easier for you and help you to have a life alongside your caring role.

A carer led assessment is not a test and it should not assume that you want to carry on giving the amount of care you give now but should look ahead and be a plan for the forthcoming year ahead.

It is up to you how fully a carer led assessment is carried out. Information can be added at a later date or at a future reassessment.

A carer can choose if the carer led assessment is carried out with the person they care for, carried out alone or with a professional. The aim is to get enough information to decide:

• what help you need to carry on caring and look after yourself, by having a life alongside your caring role
• if you are able to get support and find the support that is right for you
• whether your needs can be met by Adult Services, NHS Kirkless, or other service providers
• to plan ahead, offering the choice and control you need.

Following a carer led assessment services may be provided to you or the person you care for. However, being assessed does not mean that you will automatically receive a service or a carers personal budget.

Even if, after having a carer led assessment, no services are provided, the process may help you to:

• feel valued
• plan for a future emergency or time of crisis to replace your caring role for a short period of time
• gain peace of mind from knowing who to contact for help in the future
• gain information on how to get other support that is available to you
• get a sense of shared responsibility between yourself and services
• gain confidence to take up services and support.

Examples of support provided as a result of a carers assessment are

• encouragement to attend training and events run by Carers Gateway for example moving and handling training, first aid training and much more
• encouragement to attend the Expert Patients Programme Course for carers Looking after me course specifically designed to make sure that carers can; manage their own health needs, communicate with professionals and gain support from other carers
• encouragement to formulate a plan to replace your care in a time of crisis or emergency i.e. hospital appointment or to attend a funeral
• advice and information about local and national services and support groups
• support to the carer to help them identify any key areas concerning them and how they might problem solve some of these issues
• information leaflets about benefits and pensions and referrals made to the appropriate service
• help with funding for training if you want to return to employment or maintain your skills ready for the job market on your return to employment
• support with some of the practical household tasks that you may find difficult to manage while maintaining your caring role
• a sitting service to help if you want to have a hobby but you need someone to sit with the person you care for
• help with a short break or holiday if you want to get away from it all and recharge your batteries.

You can request a Carers Led Assessment by contacting: Gateway to care