A good way to begin arranging more help at home in Dorset is by requesting a Care Needs Assessment.
Whether care is funded by the council or independently, a care needs assessment will identify the help that is required. This can range from alternations to the home, additional help during the day or night, or moving into residential care. The assessment will also identify the needs of carers and any additional assistance they require. We have a useful guide to preparing for a care needs assessment here.
Who is eligible for help?
Local authorities are not able to support everyone, therefore, they operate under guidelines set out in the 2014 Care Act to establish who is eligible for help.
Usually, these three questions are used to work out how much care and support somebody is eligible for from the council:
- Do your needs arise from an illness, a physical disability including frailty, or a mental illness?
- Do these needs mean you are unable to achieve two or more of the tasks or 'outcomes' below?
- As a result of this, is there likely to be a significant impact on your wellbeing?
You must meet all three of the criteria stated above to be eligible.
When considering eligibility for care and support services, the assessment looks at ‘outcomes’. This involves looking at the impact of any physical or mental impairment on daily life. This is measured by checking if you are unable to achieve two or more of the following tasks:
- eating and drinking properly
- having good personal hygiene
- managing toilet needs
- being appropriately dressed
- being safe at home
- keeping your home clean and tidy
- having personal relationships
- taking part in work, training, education or volunteering
- using services in the local community, like public transport
What happens during the assessment?
If someone meets all the criteria, the next stage would be to complete a supported assessment.
A supported assessment will give the chance for you, your elderly relative and any other relevant carers (a partner, friends, family, neighbours or another designated carers) to inform the assessors about any difficulties that have arisen and what support you think is necessary.
This assessment is carried out at home by a social care worker or occupational therapist. To fully understand the circumstances, they will ask questions involving:
- how you look after yourself
- what is working well for you
- what you would like to change
- the kind of support you have now
- your physical and emotional health
- being part of the community
- whether or not you have a carer
- what you have difficulty doing
- what help you need
To Arrange a Care Needs Assessment in Dorset
Dorset Council Area
To arrange a Care Needs Assessment in Dorset (Dorset Council area), you must first get in contact with the Adult Social Care Team through the contact details below. They will be able to help guide you through the process and offer more information regarding eligibility and support available.
- Telephone: 01305 221016
- Contact Form
- Website
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council Area
If you are in the Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch Council area, you will instead need to get in contact with their Adult Social Care team. These details are listed below.
- Telephone: 01202 123654
- Contact Form
- Website
What to do if you are not happy with the outcome of the assessment
You may end up being unhappy with the outcome of an assessment for various reasons. If you disagree with a decision not to provide support, or you don’t think the care package being offered is enough to meet your needs, you can challenge it by getting back in touch with the respective Adult Social Care team.
You can find useful information here on challenging the decision of the council from the Money Advice Service.
