Getting a carer's assessment

If you look after someone who couldn’t manage on their own, there is support available for you – to help you in your caring role and also for your own wellbeing.

What is a carer?

If you are one of the millions of people who provide unpaid care or support to an adult family member, friend or neighbour then you are a carer.

What is a carer’s assessment?

A carer’s assessment is your chance to discuss how your caring role is affecting your own life. You may not be aware of all the carer’s services available, so an assessment is a good way for us to tell you about the support and services which will be most helpful to you and to the person you care for.
We want to help you to maintain your own health and wellbeing whilst you support the person you care for.

Do I qualify to have a carer’s assessment?

If you feel you would like to find out about support in your caring role – which could include practical support and/or information and guidance, then you can ask us for a carer’s assessment.

You might be:

• living with the person you care for, or not
• caring for them full-time or part-time

What happens at a carer’s assessment?

Your carer’s assessment will take place face-to-face in a private place such as your own home, or wherever you feel comfortable. You can have a friend or a family member with you if you would like. You might find it easier to talk freely if this is not the person you care for, but it’s up to you.

You will be asked about your caring role; your health; your feelings about caring; your housing; and how caring affects your work, study and leisure. This will help to establish your support needs in the long and short term.

Follow this link, to visit Carers UK, for help and advice before you attend your carer's assessment.

How much does a carer’s assessment cost?

Nothing. A carer’s assessment is free.

What happens next?

After your carer’s assessment you will receive a carer’s support plan which identifies:

• your needs
• the service (or services) which can help you
• what you can expect from this service/ or services

How much do carer’s services cost?

Some services have a charge, and others don’t. Your carer’s support plan will explain if there is a charge for these services.
For services where there is a charge, the exact amount will depend upon the amount of money that the person you care for has, as they may have to pay towards the costs.
An example of this would be if the person you care for takes a short stay in a care home, so that you can have a break from caring. You would not have to pay for their stay, but depending on how much money they have, they may have to pay some, or all, of the cost.

Does the person I care for need to be involved?

If the person you care for hasn’t already had their own assessment with us (we call theirs an ‘assessment of care needs’) then we will offer them one.

Even if they refuse to have one you can still have a carer’s assessment and we will help to find a service to support you.

How do I book a carer’s assessment?

There is now a quick and easy way to see if you are eligible for support from the Council. Carers can use the online self-assessment to answer questions to tell us what they might need support with. The self-assessment will then let you know if you are eligible for support from the Council, even if you’re not eligible the assessment will be able to tell you about other organisations in Luton who might be able to help.

Alternatively you can also contact us on the number below.