Care services - who is eligible
As the demand for services is greater than the money available to provide them, not everyone will be eligible to receive a service.
To receive services from us we must first assess your needs. When we have worked out your needs with you, we will decide if you have priority needs. We do this by comparing the information gathered during your assessment with four types of social care needs:
- Health and safety
- Daily routines and home environment
- Family and social responsibilities
- Carer needs
Each type of need requiring Social Care assistance is then graded into the following bands, based on the risk to your independence and risks of harm or danger if your needs are not addressed.
Critical - either now or in the next few days
- life threatening harm or danger due to your physical or mental health or behaviour
- inability to carry out most/all personal care, daily household chores causing a major risk to your independence
- inability to sustain most/all aspects of work/education/learning and family life causing a major risk to your independence
- extensive loss of control over most/all aspects of your home environment causing a major risk to your independence
- complete relationship breakdown between you and your carer.
Substantial - either now or in the next three months
- significant harm or danger due to your physical or mental health or behaviour
- inability to carry out many personal care, daily household chores causing significant risks to your independence
- inability to sustain many aspects of work/education/ learning/community and family life causing significant risks to your independence
- loss of control over many aspects of your home environment causing significant risks to your independence
- Significant risk of a relationship breakdown between you and your carer.
Moderate - either now or in the next 12 months
- inability to carry out some personal care, daily household chores and/or manage your home environment causing some risks to your independence
- inability to sustain some aspects of work/education/ learning/community and family life causing some risks to your independence.
- Moderate risk to your carer's ability to sustain some aspects of their caring role.
Low - when you have
- one or two aspects of your personal care and daily household chores are difficult for you to manage
- low risk to your carer's ability to sustain their caring role.
At present a person is only eligible for social care services where their needs are critical or substantial and there is no one else willing or able to assist.
After your assessment/review we will complete an 'Eligibility Criteria Checklist' with you and your carer, if you have one. (People's needs and risks alter over time. Some interventions may only be required for a short time).
You will be offered a copy of the checklist and one will also be kept on your social care file as a record of what was agreed.
Our Eligibility Criteria Checklist can also be obtained from your local area office or from our staff.