Carer's assessment

The carers' assessment will help the council understand your caring role better and help you to access support or services available if appropriate.

Services may include information and advice, respite care, short breaks or access to carer support groups.

The aim of the carers' assessment is to look at what information, advice and support may be available to help you maintain your caring role and to determine whether you can access a personal budget.

When should I ask for an assessment?

Deciding whether or not to have a carers' assessment is entirely up to you.

Some people find it helpful to have an assessment before things become too much, others will only feel like they need an assessment when things reach crisis point.

If you choose not to have a carers' assessment, it does not stop the person you care for receiving a personal budget if they are eligible.

What should I do if the person I care for has mental health needs?

If the person you care for has mental health needs, it may be more appropriate if assessments and services are provided by the Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT).

• Find out how to access the community mental health teams

Who will carry out the assessment?

A carers' assessment can be carried out by a number of agencies. This could be a member of staff from Southwark Council, South London and Maudsley Trust or Southwark Carers.

The information you provide may be shared with the other agencies where appropriate and if you agree to it. This will ensure that you are supported by the right organisations and have access to the full range of information and services available.

You can complete the carers' assessment form yourself and share it with one of the agencies mentioned above.

If you need some help to complete the form, please contact the council or Southwark Carers

What will happen at the assessment?

The aim of a carers' assessment is to see how you are managing in your caring role and explore what support may assist you.

You may linked into a support network with other carers in a similar situation. You may also be eligible to receive a personal budget to assist you in achieving the outcomes you set during the assessment.

A carers' assessment is also a good opportunity for you to sit with someone to discuss the future and what emergency plans you may have or want to make.

• Further information on emergency planning

What will happen after the assessment?

After your assessment, the professional who helped complete the assessment form will make a decision about whether any of the outcomes you have identified will need a service provided by them, Southwark Carers or another community group.

Depending on the outcomes you want to achieve, you may be referred to Southwark Carers who can arrange a personal budget for respite care or transport costs.

You may also be referred to carers' support groups or other forms of emotional support.

The professional completing the carers' assessment will explore all these options with you.