Care needs assessment
If you're finding it hard to manage and think you need social care, getting a care needs assessment from your local...
If you’re found to have care and support needs after your care needs assessment, you’ll get a care plan. This plan sets out how your local council is going to meet your social care needs.
Following your care needs assessment, if your local council finds that you have eligible care needs, then they'll prepare a care and support plan. You should be involved in putting together your care and support plan, so make sure to share your views and preferences.
Your care plan should specify what care and support you need to meet your needs, so they are part of making sure that you're getting the right social care for you. It should cover:
Find out more about personal budgets and direct payments
The council must provide you with a copy of your care plan, as well as a copy for anyone else you want, such as your carer. The council should make it clear how you can raise any concerns or questions about your care plan.
Your care plan is personalised to you so what's in it will depend on your needs. Some types of support that might be included are:
After a new or revised care and support plan is introduced, your local council must review it within a reasonable time frame (usually 6-8 weeks).
After this, your care plan should be reviewed at least once a year, but this might be more often if needed.
It's important that your care plan is reviewed and, if needed, updated on at least a yearly basis to make sure that it still reflects your specific care needs.
If you feel your care plan doesn’t support your needs, contact the adult social services department of your council to ask for a review.
If you aren't happy with your care plan, for example because you believe the care being arranged is unsuitable, you should first try and resolve this informally with the council. You could raise and discuss your concerns with them.
However, if you’re still unhappy, you can raise a formal complaint.
Find out more about making complaints about care to your local council
We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.
If you're finding it hard to manage and think you need social care, getting a care needs assessment from your local...
If you're receiving care and support from your local council, they'll set a personal budget as part of your care...
If you pay for care privately, the cost depends on the type of care you need and the prices charged by care providers...
If you want to challenge a decision regarding your care or you have a complaint about the care you’re receiving, you...
You might be entitled to help with the cost of homecare from your local council.
Find out more about how paying for social care works with Age UK.