STATE OF CARING REPORT 2016
Experiences of receiving an assessment
Looking at the assessment approach, over half (53%)
of carers felt that their ability and willingness to provide
care was not properly or insufficiently considered in their
assessment or the support they received.
Only a third (36%) of carers felt that support to look
after their own health, both mental and physical, was
thoroughly considered as part of the assessment process
and only a third (33%) felt their need to have regular
breaks from caring was properly considered.
6 in 10 (63%) felt that the support they need to provide
care for others (such as non-disabled children) was not
sufficiently considered. This rises to 74% for those whose
main caring role is for someone with disabilities or serious
illness who is under 18.
The area which most carers found was not properly
considered as part of the assessment or the support
received was the support needed to juggle care with
training or education. This was followed by support
needed to remain in or return to work alongside caring
– in fact 74% of working age carers did not feel that this
was sufficiently considered as part of the assessment.
The assessment is just a piece of paper
and I have no help.
I was told I was lucky to be able
to work at all, that I should ask my
employers (who are very tolerant
already) to schedule me in a way
that enables time with my partner.
I stressed this absolutely would not
meet our needs and was immediately
rejected for any help around the house.
Lots of good ideas but no support is
really available and if you cannot get
care for the disabled person none of it
can happen – no funds.
Support following an assessment
21% of those who had an assessment said they received
little or no helpful information or advice and felt they did
not know where to go for support with caring. 45% felt
they got some but not all the information they needed.
11% of those who had an assessment in the previous
year said they had been asked to pay for services to
support them as a carer and 35% reported that the
person they care for has been asked to pay towards their
services.
Almost half (47%) of carers say that it is struggle for them
to afford the cost of care whilst 8% of carers pay for care
because the person they support cannot afford it.
All assessment areas were considered
by my assessor but due to cuts there
was no support they could practically
offer me. I was listened to but there
was no positive outcome.
1 in 5
Whilst the Care Act in England brings in strong new
rights around assessments for carers, it does not mean
in practice that carers are feeling the benefit. The
strong message that came through in the feedback
was that carers feel their assessment might look at
their need for support but this did not mean they
received support as the outcome of their assessment.
21%
of carers in England who
had a carer’s assessment
said they received little or
no helpful information or
advice and did not know
where to go for support
with caring.
Many carers felt that the money or services is not
there for the local authority to provide them with the
support their assessment found them to need so the
assessment ended up feeling like a tick box exercise. It
is fundamental that carers’ assessments lead to positive
outcomes and give carers the support they need, rather
than just acknowledging their need.
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