What is a care needs assessment?
If you need care and support at home you can ask your local council’s social work department to carry out a care needs assessment. In Highland this is the responsibility of NHS Highland. They will look at how you manage day-to-day activities and assess how the council may be able to support you; this could include a combination of equipment, adaptations to your home and care. They may also let you know about other local services that can help you with things like shopping, looking after your garden or getting out and about.
The council will ask some questions to find out how urgent your care needs are. There can be quite a long time to wait for an assessment so let them know if your needs are urgent.
What happens during my assessment?
A health or care professional such as an Occupational Therapist (OT) will usually visit you at home to discuss your needs and see how you are managing. Sometimes other professionals who are experts in your disability will be involved too. You may also receive an assessment when you are discharged from hospital.
If you wish a family member, friend, or an advocate can be with you during the assessment.
If you have a carer they have a separate right to support from the council too.
What support might I get?
Depending on the assessment of your needs, you may be entitled to support from carers, aides or equipment, respite breaks or adaptations.
If the support you needs counts as “free personal and nursing care” this is free and not means tested at all. The council will carry out a means test to see what you would need to pay towards the cost of other services, such as help with housework or shopping.
Local councils have limited resources and are unable to help everyone. They all have eligibility criteria to identify people with the greatest need but even if you do not meet these criteria for receiving assistance, the Social Work team will signpost you to other organisations who may be able to help.
What happens after an assessment?
Under the rules about “self directed support” you should have a choice about how any care is provided. Your choices include having the council arranging your care, arranging your care yourself with a personal budget, or a combination of the two.
You should have a written copy of your care needs assessment, and this should be reviewed if your circumstances change.
If you do not agree with the way the assessment was carried out, or with the council’s decision you can follow the social work complaints procedure.
You can find more information about care needs assessments here How to get social care services – Citizens Advice
Information last updated on 29 April 2024. Please note that information may be subject to change. All information is provided in good faith but Disability Information Scotland does not endorse any product or service referred to within this resource.
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Aids, Equipment and Adaptations, Health and Social Care in Scotland:Frequently Asked Questions
Through our helpline we receive enquiries spanning a wide range of different topics. Here is a selection of those most asked:
Council Help for Disabled People
Scottish councils have responsibilities to help disabled people and their carers who qualify for help. These include:
- Financial help
- Care needs assessments for disabled people
- Providing support for carers
- Blue Badges
- Safeguarding people who are at risk of harm
Financial help
Councils are responsible for providing financial help, including
- Housing benefit – help with rent for people over State Pension age and for some younger people in special circumstances Claim Housing Benefit – mygov.scot
- Means-tested and non means-tested help with council tax costs Working out your council tax – mygov.scot
- Lump sum payments from the Scottish Welfare Fund; Crisis Grants (usually food, energy, or heating) or Community Care Grants to help people stay in, or settle into the community. https://www.mygov.scot/scottish-welfare-fund
Social work departments have powers to help with “Section 12” payments, for adults or children in an emergency if this would save the council costs in future. They can also make payments to promote the welfare of children in need.
Councils must also have a Housing “scheme of assistance” that may give information, advice, grants, loans, and practical assistance to homeowners or, to private tenants who need disability adaptations. https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/housing_conditions/scheme_of_assistance
Most council areas will have a Care and Repair service that will provide advice and help to older people and (in some areas) disabled people who are homeowners or private tenants. Find your local service here Office Locations | Care and Repair Scotland
Care needs assessments for disabled people
If you are disabled, your council’s social work department (or in Highland, NHS Highland) can assess your care needs, and agree a care plan to support you. The help you receive may include equipment, adaptations to your home, care at home, day care or a care home. Any help you receive that is classed as “personal care” is free.
You should be offered a choice in how your care is provided; this is called Self-directed support. Your options within your budget form the council are:
- 1 – a direct payment to you or someone else (such as a care agency) to pay for your own support
- 2 – you arrange the support
- 3 – the local council arranges the support
- 4 – a mix of the above
Support for carers
The Carers (Scotland) Act gives carers a right to support from their local council. A carer is anyone who is not paid for their caring and looks after a friend, family member or neighbour who is disabled. You do not have to be caring for a specific number of hours to be a carer.
Your local Carers Centre can explain what help is available locally. Any help a carer received from their local council is free. Find your local Carers Centre here https://www.careinfoscotland.scot/topics/support-for-carers/carer-centres/ and find out more about carers rights here https://www.careinfoscotland.scot/topics/support-for-carers/
Blue Badges
A Blue Badges provides parking concessions for on-street parking, some car parks, and disabled parking bays, allowing badge holders to park close to where they need to go
A Blue Badge belongs to a person, not a vehicle, so they can travel as a driver or a passenger. Find out more about Blue Badges here: https://www.mygov.scot/apply-blue-badge/eligibility
Protecting people who are at risk of harm
Councils have powers under the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 to protect adults who cannot look after their own safety and security and are at risk of harm because of disability, mental disorder, illness, physical or mental infirmity, sexual harm or institutional harm.
“Harm” means injury or damage and includes self-harm, neglect and abuse.
Councils and other public services (such as Police) will work together to support people. You can find out more here https://www.gov.scot/policies/social-care/adult-support-and-protection/
If you are worried that someone at risk of harm, you can find your local social work department here
Contact your council
You can find details of your council and its services here Organisations – mygov.scot
How can I get care or disability equipment at home?
If you need care, support or equipment at home, the first step is to contact your local council’s Social Work Department (or in Highland, NHS Highland) and ask for a Care needs assessment. You might qualify for an adaptation, equipment, care at home, or a budget you can use to arrange your own care. If you have a carer, they have a separate right to support from the council too. If the help you need counts as “free personal or nursing care” it will be free.
Aids, Equipment and Adaptations, Health and Social Care in Scotland:Search for Local Organisations
Our quick search tool can connect you to over 3000 service providers, suppliers and organisations supporting people across Scotland. To find support near you, simply enter your search term and select your local authority.
Organisation | Description |
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27000 | We are open 8 till 8pm all week and weekends however if you need us please email and we will be happy to help. ‘A venue for hire in the heart of Hamilton’ Our venue is available for the whole community and we aim to keep the costs down. A Space… |
AAT (GB) Ltd | Description of service and products sold: Provide solutions for climbing stairs using powered stair climbers and stair climbing equipment, as well as evacuation and help with disabled access issue. They can also provide information on the Disability Di… |
ABC Hearing | Services provided: Providing hearing consultations to people with hearing problems and the supply suitable hearing aids to those that need them. These service can be carried out at ABC premises, or at the client’s own home throughout Edinburgh, the Bor… |
Aberdeen City Council RADAR key provision | Local Authority providing RADAR keys |
Abilia Ltd | Description of service: – Text-to-speech communication aids – Digital recording communication aids – Environmental control equipment – Cognitive products. Equipment hire: Will hire out equipment. Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm. |
Ability Lifts | Ability Lifts were formed in 2004 with the goal of providing access products for those with mobility impairments. |
Ability Shetland | Ability Shetland is a charity which provides direct support to children, families and adults with disabilities and additional support needs. Responding to identified needs, we run groups and clubs and outreach support to individuals. We help people wit… |
Able Community Care Ltd | Able Community Care was one of the first Live-in Care providers, est. in 1980. We support people throughout the UK and have been offering support in Scotland and the offshore islands for over three decades. We often operate where other care providers d… |
Able Deen | Loan of mobility equipment, safe space, signposting |
About purchasing zero-rated adapted vehicles | Guidance on what you need to know about purchasing adapted vehicles free of VAT if you are disabled |