Care Needs Assessment: How to Get One and What to Expect

Topic cluster: Legal & Financial Planning | Reading time: 6 min

A care needs assessment is the starting point for accessing almost every form of publicly funded care and support in the UK. It is free, available to anyone who requests one, and carried out by your parent's local council. Understanding how it works helps you prepare and get the most from it.

What Is a Care Needs Assessment?

A care needs assessment determines whether your parent needs care and support, and if so, what type and level. It is carried out by a trained assessor — usually a social worker, occupational therapist, or care coordinator — from the local council's adult social care department.

The assessment is free for everyone, regardless of savings or income. It does not commit you to a particular type of care or care provider.

How to Request One

England and Wales: Contact your parent's local council and ask for an adult social care or care needs assessment. Most councils have an online referral form and a phone number. You can find contact details at gov.uk/find-local-council.

Scotland: Contact the council's social care department. Find your local council via mygov.scot.

Northern Ireland: Contact your local Health and Social Care Trust.

Anyone can request an assessment — your parent, you as a family member, a GP, or a hospital social worker. You do not need a GP referral.

Who Can Request It on Your Parent's Behalf?

You can request an assessment on your parent's behalf — with their consent. If your parent lacks mental capacity to consent, you can still request an assessment in their best interests, particularly if you hold Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare.

What Happens During the Assessment?

The assessment is usually carried out in person — either at your parent's home or in a care setting — though some councils offer telephone or video assessments.

The assessor will discuss:

Daily living tasks — can your parent wash, dress, cook, manage medication, move around safely?
Health and medical needs — diagnoses, medications, recent hospital admissions
Mental health and cognitive ability — memory, orientation, ability to make decisions
Social connections — family support, isolation, activities
Housing — is the home safe and suitable, or would adaptations help?
Carer support — what does the family currently provide, and what is sustainable?
Your parent's own wishes and priorities — what matters to them?

You can be present during the assessment (with your parent's agreement). Being there allows you to add context — particularly if your parent underplays their difficulties (which many do, not wanting to be seen as struggling).

After the Assessment

Following the assessment, the council will:

Determine whether your parent has eligible needs under the Care Act 2014 (England)
If eligible, carry out a financial assessment to determine how much the council contributes
Produce a care plan setting out what support will be provided and how

If needs are found eligible: The council arranges a personal budget and care plan. Your parent (with your input) has a say in how that budget is used.

If needs are not found eligible: Your parent receives information and signposting to other services. You can challenge this decision if you believe it is wrong.

What If Your Parent Refuses to Be Assessed?

If your parent has mental capacity, they have the right to refuse an assessment. Many people resist the idea — associating it with loss of independence.

It can help to:

Frame the assessment as accessing support, not losing control
Suggest it is 'just to see what help might be available'
Ask the GP to raise the topic
Come back to it gradually rather than forcing the issue

If your parent lacks capacity, the council can still carry out an assessment in their best interests.

Challenging the Outcome

If you disagree with the assessment outcome — either that no eligible needs were identified, or that the level of support recommended is insufficient — you have the right to:

Ask the council to review the decision
Raise a formal complaint through the council's complaints process
Request an independent social care review if the complaint is not resolved

Age UK and Citizens Advice can provide guidance on challenging decisions.

Carer's Assessment: Don't Forget This

If you are caring for your parent — even part-time — you are entitled to a carer's assessment in your own right. This looks at your own needs as a carer, including your need for breaks, and may result in support for you (funded respite care, training, practical help).

Request a carer's assessment at the same time as your parent's needs assessment. It is a separate process and separate funding stream.

Ready to start your care search? Find care homes and home care providers at homeformum.com