Carers

Carer's Assessments

Anyone age 7 years and over who provides care for another person is entitled to a Carer's Assessment.  

The assessment will evaluate the needs of the carer in relation to:

  • your emotional, physical and mental health
  • your involvement in work, education, training and leisure
  • your relationships and social integration
  • your personal dignity
  • your ability to stay free from abuse and neglect
  • how much control you have over your daily life
  • your personal finances
  • your living conditions

 Possible outcomes of a Carer’s Assessment include:

  • respite support. 
  • signposting or referrals to additional health, wellbeing and information and advice services

Arranging a Carer's Assessment

There are different ways of arranging a Carers Assessment, depending on your circumstances.

If the adult you care for receives a support package from Croydon Adult Social Care 

You should request a Carer's Assessment from their allocated Social Worker for the person you care for.  A Carer’s Assessment will not affect the package of care received by the person you care for, as it is a separate assessment based on your needs as a carer.  You can decline a Carer’s Assessment offered by a Social Worker.  However, carers have the right to change their mind at any time, and request an assessment.

If the adult you care for does not receive a support package from Croydon Adult Social Care

You should contact the Carer's Information Service

If you are a young carer looking after a Croydon resident who needs support due to illness, disability or old age

You can receive a Young Carer’s Assessment from the Off the Record Young Carer's Service. The assessment will let you know what kind of help is available to young carers and what activities are happening. It will also look at what further support would be helpful for you. 

To contact the service, call 020 8649 9339, option 2 or email youngcarers@talkofftherecord.org.

If you care for a disabled child or young person and your child is assessed by Croydon Council as a ‘child in need’

Your child’s assessment should also consider your needs as a family. If you are a parent carer and feel your needs have not been taken into consideration during your child's assessment, you can also request a parent carer needs assessment under the Children and Families Act 2014. This is separate to your child's assessment.

To request a parent carer needs assessment in Croydon, contact the Croydon Council 0 to25 SEND team on 020 8726 6400.