Getting adult social care support - the process

Step one - read this page

Before you think about having an assessment for adult social care support, the first step is to read the information on this page.

You may be able to resolve your issue without needing a full assessment from us.

If you have looked at our webpages and still cannot solve your issue, you can take an online wellbeing self-assessment.

Step two - self-assessment

Step two in the process for exploring your adult social care support needs is to fill in an online wellbeing self-assessment.

This short questionnaire will:

• help identify what support you need

• guide you to a list of independent support providers

• give an idea of how much you might be charged for your care

At the end of the form we will tell you whether or not you’re likely to be eligible for support from us. Then you can decide whether or not to carry on and request a full assessment.

Before you start you may find it helpful to look at the eligibility criteria for adult social care.

If you provide, or intend to provide, any level of care and support to someone else, you are a carer and are entitled to a carer’s assessment.

We can offer independent advocacy if you have trouble making decisions and expressing your wishes, feelings and choices.

Step three - in-depth assessment

Step three in the process of exploring your adult social care support needs is to decide whether or not to ask us for an in-depth assessment.

Results of the wellbeing self-assessment

Are you likely to be eligible?

When you fill in the wellbeing self-assessment, we'll tell you whether or not you're likely to be eligible for support from us at the end of the form.

Personalised suggestions

The form will also give you suggestions on how you might meet your own needs. These suggestions are personalised, based on what you have told us.

You may decide that you can solve your issue without asking us for an in-depth assessment. However, everyone is entitled to ask us for a full assessment. You will see instructions for how to do this at the end of the wellbeing self-assessment.

What happens when you ask for an assessment

When you submit the form to us and ask for an adult social care assessment, we will call you back and complete an in-depth assessment of your needs.

The in-depth assessment of needs

This assessment takes up to six weeks. We assess your needs in depth, determine what you can do for yourself and offer useful things like equipment and community contacts.

If we find that you meet the eligibility threshold, then we offer social care support.

If you are not eligible we offer you information, advice and tailored recommendations to help you.

Step four - allocating your personal budget

Following your assessments, if you are eligible for ongoing social care support, we allocate you a personal budget.

This is step four in the process for getting adult social care support.

What is a personal budget?

This is the amount of money we provide to meet your care needs. We will also help you plan the best way to use this money to meet your needs. This is called a care and support plan.

Read more about personal budgets and direct payments.

Financial assessments

Social care services are not free. The amount you need to pay will depend on a financial assessment that looks at the value of your home, assets and income.

If you pay in full for your care and support

We will offer you the same level of support and service as anybody else. We will:

• offer information and advice about what is available locally

• complete a needs assessment

• arrange care and support for you

• support you to understand the system

• tell you about local services that can help you set up care and support

We recommend that you get independent financial advice, especially if buying a care home or nursing home placement, to make sure you do not run out of money.

Step five - planning how to use your budget

If you have been allocated a personal budget for adult social care services we can work with you to plan how the budget could be used. 

We have support planners who will meet with you and anyone else important to you. We can identify:

• what you can do for yourself

• what you need help with

• what you want to achieve

• what support is already available to you

Your needs can be met through local support and services and we have lots of information and advice about what is available.

The end result is an agreement about how your money will be used to meet your goals, aspirations and needs.

Get help with your adult social care services application

Whether you are undergoing an assessment, review, support planning or safeguarding enquiry you can get confidential and non-judgmental support to help you understand the process and what your options are from an independent advocate.

For a referral, speak to your social worker. Find out more about advocacy services.

Eligibility criteria for adult social care

We consider several factors when deciding if you are eligible for adult social care support.

We'll consider your ability to:

• have a wash and launder your clothes

• get yourself dressed and wear clean, weather-appropriate clothes

• use your home and keep safe at home

• have personal and family relationships

• access and engage in work, education and volunteering

• use community facilities.

We'll also look at your parenting and caring responsibilities.

To be eligible for social care support the above must have a significant impact on your ability to maintain wellbeing.

What is wellbeing?

Your wellbeing is central to how we support you. When assessing your wellbeing we look at:

• personal dignity

• physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing

• protection from abuse and neglect

• control over day-to-day life

• participation in work, education, training and recreation

• social and economic wellbeing

• domestic, family and personal relationships

• suitability of your home

• your contribution to society

Think you might be eligible?

• if you think you might be eligible for adult social care support from us, first look at our adult social care webpages - you may be able to resolve your issue without needing a full-scale assessment from us.
• if you have looked at our webpages and still cannot resolve your issue, complete a wellbeing self-assessment
• at the end of the form we will tell you whether or not you’re likely to be eligible for support from us - then you can decide whether or not to carry on and request a full assessment.