If illness, disability or a health condition is affecting your daily life, we may be able to help.
If you think an adult with care and support needs is at risk of abuse or neglect, report it as a safeguarding concern.
Adult Social Care can provide advice, information, guidance and support to help you stay independent and live the life you want to live.
Before requesting an assessment, we recommend contacting Adult Social Care to discuss your situation. We can provide advice, guidance and information about available support, establish your needs, and arrange an assessment if one is required. Complete our online form to get started.
Make an adult social care enquiry
We can provide advice, guidance, information or an assessment to help identify your care and support needs.
We will work with you to understand what matters to you, build on your strengths and identify ways to help you stay as independently as possible.
You do not always need an Adult Social Care needs assessment to get help.
We can provide advice, information and guidance and help you access local services and support.
Services may include:
You may hear the assessment described in a number of ways such as an assessment of needs for care and support or a needs assessment. Should you ever feel uncertain please reach out to us and we will help to explain.
A needs assessment helps us understand what support you may need in your day-to-day life. We will also consider whether any of your needs meet the eligibility criteria set out in the Care Act 2014.
You may have to make a contribution to the cost of your care and support, but this will be determined by the financial assessment.
The assessment will be carried out by a member of our staff such as a Social Worker, Social Care Worker, Senior Support Assessment Officer, Rehabilitation Officer for Visual Impairment (ROVI) or an Occupational Therapist.
Looking Local provides a video animation to guide you through the Adult Social Care process.
Adult Social Care journey animations (Looking Local)
To help explain any unfamiliar or difficult words, terms or abbreviations Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) have created a Care and Support Jargon Buster which you may find useful.
TLAP Care and Support Jargon Buster (thinklocalactpersonal.org.uk)
The assessment will be completed with you and those most important to you if you wish. You are entitled to have an independent advocate if you find it difficult understanding the assessment process, what others may be saying or asking or if there is no-one else to support you.
During the assessment, we will have a conversation with you about:
We may also talk to anyone who provides you with informal support such as friends, family or neighbours and anyone else you feel is appropriate to help us determine what care and support you may need. This could include other professionals who help you such as a District Nurse or General Practitioner (GP).
After your Adult Social Care Assessment has been completed and if you have needs that are eligible for care and support through Adult Social Care, we will work with you to create your Support Plan.
Your Support Plan will show how your needs will be met and the goals you wish to achieve. Your Support Plan will be reviewed at regular times.
If your needs change, we will support you to update your Adult Social Care Assessment and Support Plan.
We recognise and respect that everyone is unique and how you need information and advice provided is individual to you. To help there are some resources available online:
Our partner, BID Services provide a range of services for people in Cumberland who are d/Deaf, hard of hearing or deafblind.
You can find out more information on the BID service website including drop-in event dates and how to self-refer.