The Care Act 2014 gives local authorities a responsibility to assess a carer’s needs for support, where the carer appears to have such needs.
The aim of the assessment is to consider the impact of caring on the carer and to determine whether the carer has support needs and what those may be.
When the assessment is complete, the local authority must determine what the carer’s support needs are, and whether these needs are eligible for support.
The needs might fall into one of the following categories – allowing Carers to enjoy more leisure or social activities, allowing Carers to take part in education or training courses or helping Carers improve their health and well-being.
These needs could be met through a personal budget – the Carers assessment team will create a support plan based on your answers which will be put before a panel for agreement.
You might want to ask for funding towards a short break to allow you a life outside of caring. You could ask for money towards gym membership or to attend an exercise, yoga or dance class to improve health and reduce social isolation.
You can call the office and we can help with getting you a Carers assessment or use the form on our website.
If you are unhappy with a decision made by the panel or disagree with the assessment which has been created for you, Southwark Carers can advocate on your behalf and appeal decisions to try and ensure you receive the most appropriate support available to you.
Nearest tube: Elephant & Castle underground station (Northern and Bakerloo lines).
Nearest Railway Station: Elephant & Castle
Buses from Elephant and Castle: ask bus driver for Burgess Park. Bus numbers: 12, 171, 148, 176, 68, 484, 42, 40, 45