Carers' Assessments - WNC

If you care for someone, and it impacts your life, you are entitled to have a free assessment of your needs as a carer. This applies whether the person you look after has had a needs assessment or not, even if they have been assessed as not eligible for support.

Carers come from all walks of life and all cultures. They can be any age, and anyone can become a carer. Many feel they are doing what anyone would do in the same situation; looking after a mother, wife, son or best friend, for example. You may not think you are a carer, or you may not live with the person you care for, so don't ask for support.

Stages of an Assessment

A carer's assessment will look at how caring affects your life and determine how you can carry on doing the things that are important to you and your family. Your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing will be at the heart of this assessment, and you may benefit from the following:

• receiving information about local support groups
• just having someone to talk to
• information about training available to you
• advice about how to get a balance between work and caring
• assessment of your needs
• information on how your GP can help you
• practical help
• services to enable you to have a break from your caring role.

You can have a carer's assessment even if the person you care for does not get help from the council. They don't need to be reassessed.

Northamptonshire Carers carry out West Northamptonshire Council's carers' assessments.

• Request a carer's assessment