Support for carers

Carer's assessment

If you provide care and support to an adult friend or family member, you may be eligible for our support. This support could include being offered money to pay for things that make caring easier. Or the local authority might offer practical support, such as arranging for someone to step in when you need a short break. It could also put you in touch with local support groups so you have people to talk to.

The Care Act 2014 placed a legal duty on local authorities to assess any carer who requests one or who appears to need support. A carer’s assessment is a discussion between you and a trained member of Council staff. The assessment will consider the impact the care and support you provide is having on your own wellbeing, as well as important aspects of the rest of your life, including the things you want to achieve day-to-day. It must also consider other important issues, such as whether you are able or willing to carry on caring, whether you work or want to work, and whether you want to study or do more socially.

The assessment could be done face-to-face, over the telephone or online. The council will use the assessment to identify your support needs, and to discuss how these could be met. This might mean that the council will give you help or put you in touch with other organisations, such as local charities, that you can talk to.

You can ask for a carer's assessment at any time if:

  • you're aged 18 or over
  • you care for an adult who lives in Central Bedfordshire
  • you share the caring with other family members or friends
  • you are planning on looking after an adult in Central Bedfordshire

If you’re under 18, see the young carer’s page.

You can ask for a carer’s assessment even if the person you care for doesn’t get any services from us. There’s no cost for a carer’s assessment.

You don't need the permission of the person you're caring for to ask for a carer's assessment. You're entitled to one in your own right. It isn’t a test of your ability to care.

Find out more about the carers' assessment on the Mobilise website.