As a family carer it is your right to request a carers assessment. This is a conversation which helps to work out what help you may need to support you in your role as a unpaid family carer. The assessment/conversation is a chance for you to discuss how your caring responsibilities affect you.
These assessments normally cover;
- your caring role
- whether you’re willing and able to carry on providing care
- whether your caring responsibilities have an impact on your wellbeing
- your feelings about caring
- your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
- how caring affects your work, leisure, education, wider family and relationships
- what you would like to achieve in your day-to-day life
- Whether you need any support
- whether you qualify for any help from the council
Historically assessments were only available by contacting Suffolk County Council (SCC), but thanks to an exciting new development from 30th October 2023 you will be able to complete an online carer supported self-assessment via SCC’s website.
In this first for Suffolk you will be able to gain an assessment of need from the comfort of your home, at a time that suits you , and complete it at your leisure, in your own words. There is even the ability to save your progress part way through should you be required to undertake your caring role.
The supported self-assessment has been designed to help you to think about your situation and whether you need support with your caring role, as well as other aspects of your life. As this is a fully supported offer, if at any time you feel you need help completing it you can contact a real person via webchat or by telephoning Customer First on 0800 917 1109.
Once you have completed your supported self-assessment a member of the Suffolk County Council team, or a trusted partner like Suffolk Family Carers will be in touch to discuss the information provided, confirm eligibility, and explore what support may be available to help you. They will also talk about emergency arrangements and answer any queries you may have.
Here at Suffolk Family Carers we encourage you to make use of this facility, and get your voices heard via your own supported self-assessment, and gain access to the support you need and deserve. You can complete the form via the button below or by visiting the Suffolk County Council website at any time and searching for “Carers Assessments”
Before completing you will need access to a valid email address, and if completing on behalf of someone else, you will need their personal details.
This assessment of need is available to all unpaid family carers supporting adults living in Suffolk. This includes the parent carers of young people who are over 18 and young adult carers over 18 who are supporting adults
Suffolk County Council are clear that the online supported self-assessment does not replace any of the existing routes into Adult Social Care. So, whilst we suggest you give it a go, you are still free to use any of the existing methods of getting your assessment.
