Introduction to care The local authority is obliged to carry out an assessment of needs under the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. Family and friends can be involved in the assessment and everybody's views will be taken into account.
It is important that an assessment from social services is requested regardless of whether there is an intention to seek help from the local authority or not. This is because an assessment can help identify a person’s care needs and the options available. If the local authority agrees that care is needed they will also undertake a financial assessment.
These days there are many support services available to choose from but the most basic choice is whether to stay in the familiarity and security of one’s own home or whether it really is best to move into a residential care home. This guide will help you make an informed choice.
Over the last few years the government has been pushing the health and social care services to change the focus of their activity so that people are treated more as customers than patients. In relation to care this should mean that people have a lot more say in how and when they receive care and that all organisations involved should be focused on ensuring that the service received is determined by the customer and not the organisation. You may hear professional health and social care workers refer to ‘outcomes’ or ‘personalisation’ in this context.
In addition to how and where care is received, it is also essential to understand how the care will be paid for. This guide will give basic information about how care is funded in the UK and what help may be available if someone has to pay for it themselves.