What is it?

If you provide care for someone, or if you intend to do so in the near future, you can ask the Health and Social Services Trust for an assessment of your needs.

 

How do I get it?

To arrange a carer’s assessment, you need to contact your local Health and Social Services Trust. If the person you are caring for has a social worker, you can ask them for more information, or you can ask your own GP to refer you for assessment.

 

An assessment will look at your own needs as a carer. This will include the impact on your own physical and mental health and any support that you might need.

 

The support that you could get will vary depending on the Health and Social Services Trust area that you live in. Since April 2007 there are five Trusts in Northern Ireland, and their websites are listed in the organisation search. You can also visit the new ‘gateway’ site at www.healthandcareni.co.uk