A care and support assessment:
- looks at what support you may need in your daily life
- helps decide if you are eligible for support from Southend-on-Sea City Council
- can be the first step towards receiving adult social care
Anyone who lives in Southend-on-Sea can request an assessment.
You can ask for an assessment for:
- yourself
- someone you care for
How does a care and support assessment work?
The assessment is usually a conversation between:
- you (or the person you care for)
- a trained practitioner from Southend-on-Sea City Council or an organisation we work with, such as Carers First
and
- anyone who already supports you, such as a doctor, friend, or neighbour
During the assessment, we will talk about:
- your strengths, needs, and what you want to achieve
- the support you already have or could have from family, friends, or your community
- the areas where you may need help to stay well and independent
The assessment will look at your:
- physical needs. For example, support with washing, dressing, preparing meals, or getting in and out of bed
- mental and emotional needs. For example, support to keep doing things you enjoy, such as working, volunteering, or seeing friends and family
What happens after the assessment?
We will work with you to develop your assessment and your care plan. You will receive a copy of your assessment and the outcome.
This will explain whether you are eligible for support from the Council, based on the national eligibility criteria in the Care Act.
If you are eligible for help
We will carry out a financial assessment to work out how much you may need to pay towards your care.
You can find more information on our Paying for Care page.
If you are not eligible for help
We will give you information and advice.
We can also put you in touch with local organisations, charities, or services that may be able to support you.
How to request an assessment
The quickest way to ask for help is through our online portal.
You can make a referral for yourself or for someone you care for.
If you cannot use the internet, you can call our Contact Centre on 01702 215008.