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Health and social care

Assessing your social care needs

An assessment of your needs is a simple process that helps us understand what social care and support you need on a day-to-day basis - contact our Adult Social Care Team to arrange this.

Read 'A Quick guide to Adult Social Care' for details about who can get care and support through us, care assessments and choosing your support.

What to expect during an assessment

After gathering some details about you and your situation, our assessment will normally involve a conversation over the phone or in your home.

You can:

  • have someone you trust with you during the assessment
  • tell us about yourself and how you think we can help you

We may speak to other people who work with you, like your doctor, but we will only do this with your permission. We'll also look at your family's or carer's needs; they can have a separate assessment if they choose.

An assessment will help us work out how you can live independently or do things in the community. Refer to Live Well York to find out about support in your area.

Assessment timing

If your situation is very urgent or you are at risk of harm, we will aim to speak to you within 24 hours. If the person who normally looks after you is finding it very difficult to cope, we will try to speak to you within 7 days. For all other cases, we will aim to assess you within 28 days of you requesting an assessment.

Your privacy during an assessment

We respect your privacy at all times. Any information you give us will be treated as confidential and will not be shared with anyone else without your permission. However, there may be exceptional circumstances where the law says we must share it with someone else.

After your assessment

We will discuss the help and support available to you based on your needs. If you're eligible (under the Care Act eligibility criteria) we'll help to arrange your social care services.

If your needs are less severe, we will offer you information and advice about other services and organisations which may help you stay independent.

If you're unhappy with the outcome of your assessment, you can ask us to look at your situation again. If you're still not happy, you can make a comment, suggestion or complaint with us or through the Care Quality Commission’s scheme to 'share your experience’.

Also see

Adult Social Care Community Team

Telephone: 01904 555111, Textphone: 07534 437804

West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA

Adult Social Care Emergency Duty Team

Contact the Emergency Duty Team for assistance.

We're available between 5.00pm and 8.30am, Monday to Friday, 24 hours a day over weekends (between 5.00pm Friday until 8.30am Monday), and 24 hours on bank holidays.

Telephone: 0300 131 2131