Care and support assessments for adults - what happens during an assessment?

We will then work out together what outcomes you need to achieve. 'Outcome' means what should change for the better in your life if the support we provide or suggest to you works as it should.

The assessment is also the way we work out whether a care and support plan is needed in order to meet your needs.

The focus of the assessment is you, and we will ensure that you are an equal partner in all discussions and any decisions that are made. You should feel free to ask questions and tell us if there is anything you don't understand.

Although we'll need to talk about the difficulties you're experiencing, it's also very important that we find out about your strengths, what you can do for yourself and understand what matters to you.

We can then look with you at ways to overcome the difficulties that are preventing you achieving the outcomes that matter to you.

During the assessment the person who carries it out will need to look at:

• your personal circumstances;
• the outcomes that you need to achieve;
• what barriers there are to you achieving these outcomes;
• what risks there are to you, or to anyone else, if these outcomes are not achieved;
• your strengths and capabilities.

We will consider all possible ways to meet your needs and achieve your personal outcomes, and make sure that you understand the options available and what these mean for you.

The person who carries out your assessment will be able to co-ordinate arrangements for your support on behalf of a number of organisations who will work together. These may include your local council, local health services, community services and voluntary-sector organisations.

Some people will need an additional specialist assessment, but this should not mean there is any delay in providing general support where this is required.

Can anyone else be with you at your assessment?

Yes. If you want or need to have someone - family, friend or someone from your wider support network - with you at the assessment to support you and help you to have your say, we welcome this.

If you feel you need someone to speak for you but you don't have anyone to ask, please let us know. We will be able to help you find someone called an 'advocate' who can ensure that your views are properly expressed and taken into account.

If you have a carer

If you have a carer - a relative or friend who provides you with unpaid help - we will also want to talk to them about what help they are able and willing to give. An assessment must take into account whether your carer is able and willing to provide care now or to do so in the future.

Your carer also has the right to a separate assessment of their own needs, this is known as a carer's needs assessment.

What happens next?

Having an assessment does not always mean that we go on to provide a service for you. There may be better ways to achieve the outcomes you need. For example this could be by:

• giving you the right information and advice;
• referring you to a preventative service provided by another organisation;
• helping you to find ways to meet your own needs, perhaps with the assistance of family or friends.

Some people need short-term support to enable them to return to independent living after an illness or period of instability. We often refer to this as reablement. We work in partnership with health service colleagues to provide an integrated service that will support you to become more independent, either alone or with the support of others, and more involved with your local community.