Preparing for a Parent Carer Needs Assessment
If you are a parent caring for a child or young person who has additional needs, you might be wondering what extra support is out there, and if a Parent Carer Needs Assessment could be the next step for you.
A Parent Carer Needs assessment is a discussion with the local authority about your caring role, your particular needs as a carer and what support would be most beneficial to help you sustain your caring role long term. All parent carers are entitled to a Parent Carer Needs Assessment under the Children and Families Act 2014.
The word ‘assessment’ can cause worry for some parent carers but it is important to remember that the aim of a Parent Carer Needs Assessment is for the local authority to assess your needs by gaining an understanding of your situation, whilst understanding the vital role you play in your child’s life. They can then help to ensure you receive the support you need. It can sometimes feel challenging to talk to people you don’t know about such personal issues, but preparing for the meeting in advance can help you feel more confident and make the most of the conversation.
So what can you do to prepare and approach your Parent Carer Needs Assessment feeling as positive as possible?
Requesting a Parent Carer Needs Assessment
For many parent carers, a Parent Carer Needs Assessment is included as part of a Care Needs Assessment for the young person they care for. This process might also include a Young Carers Assessment for any children and young people who might also be supporting their siblings. If an assessment of your needs has not been carried out at the same time as your child’s Care Needs Assessment, you can request one yourself. It’s also important to know that your child does not need to have a diagnosis in order for you to receive an assessment and extra support as a carer.
A Parent Carer Needs Assessment is completed by your local authority, and you can contact them to begin the process via their website. You will want to contact the Children and Families Services department, and you can choose to speak to them directly or request an assessment in a letter or email that briefly outlines your situation. The council will be able to provide information about the process and timescales, and then a time will be arranged for someone like a social worker or occupational therapist to talk with you either at your home, on the phone or online.
You might also find it helpful to connect with your local carer organisation or peer support group, so you can talk with others who have been through the process themselves and get an idea as to what to expect.
Reflecting on your current situation
One point that some parent carers find unsettling when they first hear it is that by law the focus of the assessment is to ensure the welfare of the child you care for, and assess whether it is appropriate for you to provide care for them. When this comes up, it can sound frightening, but is a standard procedure that needs to be made clear in light of important safeguarding legislation. The assessment is not looking for ways in which you are falling short, but always seeking ways in which you can be better supported, and it is important to keep this in mind.
Thinking about the conversation you will have in advance will give you time to think about your specific needs and what would be most important to discuss as part of the assessment. It’s also a good idea to have your NHS number and email address handy, alongside your GP’s name, address and phone number. Writing out these and the details of the person you care for (including their name, address, date of birth and NHS number) means you will be well prepared when you are asked for them.
As a carer, your own physical, mental and emotional wellbeing is vitally important and the assessment will be focusing on your role as a carer and ensuring your needs are met. You might feel you need practical help around the house or simply want someone to talk to who understands.
You may have concerns about finances, want to pursue your own educational goals or be looking to spend quality time with your child outside of your caring role but don’t know how to access respite.
Before the assessment, using a journal to note down what tasks you do as a carer on a daily basis can be a useful way to reflect on your role and get clear as to what you will cover in your conversation. Having a checklist or bullet points written down to refer to can be a good idea and will support you to feel more relaxed.
You might also think about certain questions:
- Do you have opportunities to enjoy sports or leisure activities you enjoy?
- Are you able to pursue work, training or educational goals that are important to you?
- Do you have time to balance your caring role with other important commitments like work and relationships? On the most difficult days, do you feel any aspect of your life is suffering at all?
- Are you able to take regular breaks, and have ‘respite’ or time off from your role as a carer?
- On the most challenging days, do you ever feel emotionally drained, lonely, or physically exhausted due to the demands of your caring role?
- Do you ever lose sleep, or is your physical health affected in other ways, like experiencing backache due to lifting or moving your child?
- What has helped you to feel supported in any of these areas in the past?
- Is there anything in particular you feel would benefit you, in any area?
- What kind of support do you feel you most need so you can show up fully as the parent carer your child needs you to be?
When you think about these questions, it’s important to be honest and realistic so the right support can be put in place for you.
Lots of parent carers find that reflecting on their role as a carer and acknowledging the impact it has on their own life can be an emotional exercise, bringing up all sorts of thoughts, emotions and feelings they hadn’t even realised were there.
Taking your time and perhaps asking a friend to be there to support you as you prepare can be helpful. Our guide to Managing difficult feelings and emotions might also be a useful resource.
Self-advocacy
Self-advocacy means being able to express yourself clearly and is a vital skill when preparing for an assessment. Lots of people worry about speaking up for themselves, but don’t worry, there are some simple steps you can take to support yourself in feeling more confident.
Preparing in advance will mean you feel less anxious on the day of the assessment and be able to communicate more confidently. Having your journal, any notes or your checklist with you, as well as a pen and paper to jot down the name or contact details of the person you speak to, will make you feel more self-assured.
Taking some deep breaths before your meeting, or at any point during the conversation if you feel nervous or flustered, will soothe your nervous system and help you feel calmer.
It is also worth noting that if you would find it helpful, you can ask to have someone you trust with you for extra support during the assessment.
Being able to advocate for yourself ensures that you are able to communicate your needs and desires, and work positively in partnership with the professionals to achieve the most suitable outcomes for your and your child. Our self-advocacy toolkit has more great information on this here.
After the assessment
These conversations can be emotionally challenging and after such a build up, you might feel tired or drained when it is over. Having strategies in place to help you recharge emotionally afterwards can be hugely beneficial. You might schedule in some time after the assessment for rest and reflection, make time for an activity you enjoy or have a call with a friend to talk things through. Our article on Looking after your wellbeing as a carer is full of useful advice around this area.
If you haven’t done so already, you might also find it helpful to connect with your local carer organisation who can offer further support and advice at every stage of the process.
Shortly after the assessment, the local authority will contact you with their decision and if they feel you are eligible for extra support, a plan will be put in place for you. If you are unhappy with the outcome, you have the right to appeal.
Preparing for a review when things change
A Parent Carer Needs Assessment should always reflect your current caring situation and regular assessment reviews should be scheduled at least annually to ensure you and your child are still receiving the right support.
If ever your own needs and desires change, or you feel you require something else to ensure your needs are met, you can request a review be carried out. It may be that you are entitled to some other type of provision or a different level of support to ensure you feel fully confident and supported in your caring role.