Following the completion of the assessment of the presenting needs the council will then make an eligibility decision. We will then assess and establish the person’s needs and their desired outcomes and evaluate the impact these may have on the person’s wellbeing.
This is based on the national eligibility threshold, and whether as a consequence this has a significant impact on their wellbeing. This is when the council determine whether these needs meet the eligibility criteria as eligible needs.
The eligibility decision-making process for adults with care and support needs involves the following consideration of the three conditions below:
- Do the needs arise from a physical or mental impairment or illness?
- Do these needs mean that the adult is unable to achieve two or more of the listed outcomes?
- Is there consequently a significant impact on the adult’s wellbeing?
An adult’s needs are only eligible where they meet all three of these conditions.
We must make sure that all eligible needs are met and that assessed needs are accounted for and recorded, which must be appropriate, proportionate, and holistic.
However, the council are not required to meet eligible needs which are being met by a carer where this role is sustainable, and the carer is willing.
We appreciate that carers enable others to get the most out of life. However, it is important that when a person is caring for someone that they look after themselves too. A carer's assessment aims to understand and support carers in their own right.
An individual’s needs can be met in a number of ways, including but not limited to:
- direct payment
- commissioned support via the council
- an informal carer
- assistive technology
- voluntary and charitable services
- targeted services
- information and advice
If there is more than one way to meet an eligible need, we will then take this into account. However, we will make sure that the proposed arrangements are appropriate and proportionate and are able to meet the assessed needs that will deliver the outcomes for the person at best value.
How we will meet a person’s eligible needs and achieve the agreed outcomes is outlined within the care and support plan, which is separate from the decision for eligibility. Outcomes are decided by professional judgement and within the adult eligibility framework.
The council will work with the person to determine needs and desired outcomes and eligibility, however the final decision regarding eligibility will be decided by the council.