Support for carers from the council (carer's assessments)

The support we can offer might include looking at solutions that make caring easier (such as home adaptations or special equipment) or we might be able to offer practical support, such as arranging for someone to step in when you need a short break. We can also put you in touch with local support groups so you can talk to other people in similar situations.

What is a carer's assessment?

A carer's assessment is a set of questions that helps you think about how caring affects your life. It also helps us work out if you're eligible for carers support funded by West Berkshire Council.

The Care and Support (Eligibility Criteria) Regulations set out a national eligibility for carers support from the council. This means that you must have a certain level of need for us to be able to offer you support. This is set by the government, so it's the same wherever you live.

Carers are not required to pay for their support services, and do not need to have a financial assessment. You could get funding in the form of a one-off carer's payment or a carer's personal budget direct payments. Direct Payments are designed to support carers in different aspects of their lives, and to help ease some of the extra pressures arising from their caring role.

You can find more information about the support and eligibility on page 5 of our  Information for Carers Booklet [2MB] . We can post you a copy on request.

Request a carer's assessment

The person you care for does not need to be receiving services from West Berkshire Council for you to be eligible for an assessment.

Sometimes, we may complete a carer's assessment when we complete a care and support needs assessment for the person you care for. You will be told about this at the time and you can ask to have a separate carer's assessment if you would like.

Adult carers that look after someone who lives within West Berkshire can complete our new online carer's assessment form:

Online carer's assessment form
 

If you need support to complete the online carers assessment form, contact Nicky Botha, Social Care Practitioner - Carers Assessments:

• email: carersassessments@westberks.gov.uk
• phone: 07483 414216

Reading and West Berkshire Carers Partnership can also support you to complete the online form.

If you are unable to complete an online form, and need a paper copy to complete by hand, please request a form to be posted to you (contact details above). Or, you can  download and print our PDF form [361KB]  and post it.

 

After you have submitted the form

When you submit a self-assessment form or contact us, we will arrange for someone to contact you to go through the details. We will discuss the ways in which you may get support.

Where appropriate, this discussion can include the person you care for, but we recognise it may be more helpful to have this discussion on your own. We can talk about your strengths and where your family or community may be able to help. We'll work with you to work out how we can help maintain or improve your wellbeing and enable you to receive the support you need.

If appropriate, we will complete a carers assessment with you. This will look at whether you meet the carers national eligibility criteria and can get support directly from us. We will develop a Carer Support Plan with you. This may also affect the support we offer the person you care for.
 

If you're not eligible for support from us

If you're not eligible for support from the council, we will still provide information and advice. We can also put you in contact with other services and support groups that may be able to help you.

 

Caring for someone under 18

If you are looking after a child who needs more help than other children of their age because of an illness or disability, you should contact the West Berkshire Contact Advice and Assessment Service (CAAS).

 

Caring for others survey

This national survey takes place every other year and is conducted by Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSRs).

The survey asks for the opinions of carers aged 18 or over, caring for a person aged 18 or over. It asks questions on topics that are considered to indicate a balanced life alongside their unpaid caring role.

You can find the national results in the Personal Social Services Survey of Adult Carers in England 2023-24. Find local results in the  Caring for Others Survey 2023-2024 Results for West Berkshire [536KB] .

 

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