Carer's assessments

As a carer, you are entitled to have a free carer's assessment as part of the Care Act 2014. We can provide this if you are caring for someone who lives in the Dorset Council area.

It's not about how well you are caring. It’s about what support you need to help you stay well and continue to have a life that meets your needs outside of your caring role.

The carer’s assessment will:

look at your caring role
try to find ways to help you improve your health and wellbeing
establish your eligibility for support

What it's like having a carer's assessment with us

What our carers said:

"It was like having a really good chat with someone who asked all the right questions"

"It highlighted that I needed to find time to do things for myself........follow-up and access to information were good"

"It brought my needs to the forefront which I had probably been ignoring until I spoke to you"

"I'd recommend to other people - don't hesitate"

"It highlights your own needs and what support is available that perhaps you hadn't thought about"

"They held our hand and guided us in the right direction to find what facilities and services were available to us"

Carers UK

See what Carers UK say about why you should have a carer's assessment.

What if you don't feel ready for an assessment?

If you do not feel ready for a carer’s assessment, get in touch with Carer Support Dorset by phone or email, or visit Bridgit which offers an online service. They both provide lots of support, information and a wide range of services.

Who can have a carer’s assessment?

A carer’s assessment is available:

to people who care for others, whether or not that person gets care or financial support from the council
whether you live with the person you are caring for or not
to any carer, regardless of how much support you provide

If the person you care for hasn't yet had a Care Act assessment, a joint assessment for both of you can be completed at the same time.

What the carer’s assessment will cover

The assessment is most beneficial when you are looking to improve your situation or change something.

Your assessment will focus on the impact that caring has on you and should cover:

your caring role and how it affects your life and wellbeing
your physical, mental, and emotional health
your feelings and choices about caring
your personal time such as, work, study, training, and leisure
relationships, social activities, and your goals
housing
planning for emergencies

Your assessment can offer you specific advice and tell you about services and support that are available.

Start your carer's assessment

There are three ways to start your carer's assessment:

Start a conversation with Carer Support Dorset to see if you're ready for an assessment.
Complete an online form to start the assessment process, using the Bridgit interactive tool.
Contact us directly for an appointment for an assessment in person or over the phone.

You can choose whichever way feels right for you.