Preparing for a Care Needs Assessment: A Family Guide

When a loved one starts to struggle, families are often told the same thing:
“Contact your local council for a Care Needs Assessment.”

This is absolutely the right first step — but many families are surprised to find that the assessment alone doesn’t always give them the clarity or confidence they expected.

This is where independent support can make a meaningful difference.

What is a Care Needs Assessment?

A Care Needs Assessment is:

• Free of charge
• Carried out by a social worker or occupational therapist
• Focused on daily living needs such as washing, dressing, meals, mobility, and safety
• Used to decide what level of support the local authority may provide or fund

It is a statutory process and an essential gateway to council-arranged care.

If the situation is urgent — for example following a hospital discharge or where there are safeguarding concerns — councils can put support in place quickly, even before the full assessment is completed.

Why families often feel unsure afterwards

Despite its importance, many families tell us they:

• Didn’t realise what information mattered most
• Normalised difficulties that should have been shared
• Felt rushed or overwhelmed
• Left unsure what the outcome actually meant
• Didn’t know how to plan if funding wasn’t approved

This is not a failing of social workers — it’s the reality of a pressured system with limited time.

The role of independent support

Independent care planning support does not replace the council assessment.

Instead, it helps families:

• Prepare for the assessment so needs are clearly explained
• Identify risks that may not be obvious (falls, medication, nutrition, cognition)
• Understand eligibility criteria in plain English
• Feel confident asking questions
• Plan safely regardless of whether care is funded or self-arranged

At CarePlan Assurance, our role is non-clinical, independent, and family-centred.

We help families understand what everyday life really looks like for their loved one — and make sure that picture is communicated clearly.

Care planning is bigger than funding decisions

Even when someone:

Doesn’t meet eligibility

Or is required to self-fund

They still need:

Clear care plans

Risk management

Thoughtful decisions about care options

Confidence that care is safe and person-centred

Good planning reduces crisis, prevents avoidable harm, and supports dignity and independence.