The Carers Assessment process is designed to identify the carers' needs at different times, and lead to them receiving relevant support as indicated - to help them continue to be a carer, as appropriate.
Carers may well have (acute) needs as a result of the stresses of the caring situation.
Important occasions for assessment are:
- Before discharge from hospital - into the support of the carer.
- Before a key change in care - of housing, medication, therapy, increase in home visits, etc.
- After a significant change in the carer's situation - housing, health, family situation, etc
- Before the stated maximum time between assessments has elapsed
Standard Six of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Mental Health (1999) requires that:
'All individuals who provide regular and substantial care for a person on the CPA should:
- Have an assessment of their caring, physical and mental health needs, repeated on at least an annual basis.
- Have their own written care plan which is given to them and implemented in discussion with them.'
The 2000 Carers and Disabled Children Act made assessments available to all, not just those caring for someone on a Care Plan under the Care Programme Approach.
The Carers Assessment process suggests that:
- We ensure all MH carers are aware of the right to assessment, availability and method.
- All MH carers should receive / be offered assessments at least annually.
- All MH carers requests for an assessment should be met, quickly.
- Sufficient and relevant services should be in place, to support all MH carers as identified.
- Advice and information are available from several sources:
- Social Services - Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT's) - see Services List
- Key Workers, Social Workers (ASW's), Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPN's)
- Staff at the hospital - especially the person's 'Key Worker'
- Leaflets about Carers, Assessments, Services for carers
- Carers Centres, Carers Workers - see Services List
- MH charities and agencies - see Information
- (MH) Helplines - see Helplines
|
|
