What Is a Care Needs Assessment and How Do You Get One?

If you or a loved one is struggling to manage daily life at home, a care needs assessment is the starting point for getting help. It is free, carried out by your local council, and anyone can request one, regardless of their financial situation.

What does the assessment involve?

A social worker or occupational therapist visits to talk through what you can and cannot manage on your own. This covers personal care, household tasks, mobility, medication, meals and social contact. It is a conversation, not a test: the aim is to understand what would make everyday life safer and easier.

Family members and carers are welcome to be involved, and you can ask for an advocate if you would prefer not to speak for yourself.

Who pays for care?

Once your needs are assessed, the council carries out a financial assessment (means test) to decide what contribution, if any, they will make. For care received at home, the value of your home is not usually included in this assessment, because you're still living in it; other savings and assets can still count. If you're above the threshold you may fund care privately, but the needs assessment is still worth having, as it gives you a clear picture of what level of support is recommended. See our full guide to paying for home care for the other funding routes, including NHS Continuing Healthcare.

How to request one

Contact your local council's adult social care team directly, or ask a GP or hospital discharge team to refer you. Bolton Council handles this for Bolton residents; for Chorley residents it's Lancashire County Council, as adult social care is a county-level service in Lancashire rather than a district one. Both accept self-referrals. If you would like guidance on what to expect, or support arranging private care while you wait, the Jewel Home Support team is happy to help.