Carers' right to an assessment

Social Services in Wandsworth has a general duty to assess certain carers when they are requested to do so. They must first decide whether the carer provides or intends to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis and if this has a significant impact on their life. The right to a carers' assessment is triggered once the carer has requested this should take place. It is up to each carer whether or not to be assessed.

• Carers can choose to have their needs assessed at the same time as the needs of the person they care for are being assessed.
• Carers can ask for an assessment in their own right.
• Carers who provide regular and substantial care for a person experiencing severe mental illness have a right to an assessment under the Care Programme Approach (CPA). The CPA applies to people with a serious mental health problem who are being treated by a specialist mental health service.
• Carers can have their own needs assessed even if the person they care for does not wish to have their own needs assessed.
• Carers do not need to be living with the person cared for to receive an assessment.

The Adult Social Services Community Care Services Access Team, phone: 020 8871 7707 can help you to establish your right to an assessment.

Services to support you in your caring role may be available through a carers' assessment. However, there is a wide range of services and resources for carers provided through voluntary organisations not necessarily accessed through a carers' assessment.