Care Needs assessment - no time limit

2oldcodgers

Can somebody explain please why someone needs or wants a needs assessment? Is it for people who need to go into a care home? I've never heard of such a thing. 

poppy123456

2oldcodgers said:

Can somebody explain please why someone needs or wants a needs assessment? Is it for people who need to go into a care home? I've never heard of such a thing. 

No, you do not need to be going into a care home for a needs assessment. A needs assessment is when a Occupational Therapist will come into your home and assessed your needs. They will ask you about your health conditions and how they affect you and they will see what help (if any) can be given. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/help-from-social-services-and-charities/getting-a-needs-assessment/

2oldcodgers

Thank you

Wibbles

I have just discovered that my application for a care needs assessment has not even been passed to the correct team yet.... I applied last September
I have asked for the HOD contact details 

onebigvoice

When saying they are looking at all the evidence provided, then by not actually showing who's HP, HCP or any reports that have "been sent" then they could be looking at their information not yours, as yours is on headed paper and shows the source details and is in your medical history, ( except support letters hand written)

poppy123456

onebigvoice said:

When saying they are looking at all the evidence provided, then by not actually showing who's HP, HCP or any reports that have "been sent" then they could be looking at their information not yours, as yours is on headed paper and shows the source details and is in your medical history, ( except support letters hand written)

I think you're confusing this thread about a needs assessment with an OT with an assessment for a benefits claim.

onebigvoice

When saying, are looking at all the evidence provided, should look at the needs of the individual, may be you don't have to have medical knowledge to assign funding but thought this would be an advantage.
  Its not only about knowing what affects what but understanding for instance if a chair lift is needed, over the bath, that the previous assessment is correct.  That people who treat you have been consulted and if they say its not needed that state this to the claimant and the reason they have been turned down.  It could be as simple as their are better things on the market like a walk in shower, or a shower that has a sealed door and chair that will give the person to choice of Bath or shower, and as you know every thing comes at a cost.  Maybe the £4000 being allocated to Low Activity Work Group combining WCA could help?
  I do not see when that is going to happen, as there are still load to do if it goes ahead at all.
  I do not see any gains since people paid in this group do not have to look for work? and need to concentrate on fixing them selves first 

Camellia

poppy123456 said:

onebigvoice said:

When saying they are looking at all the evidence provided, then by not actually showing who's HP, HCP or any reports that have "been sent" then they could be looking at their information not yours, as yours is on headed paper and shows the source details and is in your medical history, ( except support letters hand written)

I think you're confusing this thread about a needs assessment with an OT with an assessment for a benefits claim.

A needs assessment, may or may not dependent on the person’s income result in a Personal Budget being granted whereby the person can organise their own care in accordance with their care plan. In many instances it is ideal if the assessment can be done by an OT as they by virtue of their training have expertise in impairment and how this may impact the person’s day to day functioning. 

Ergo it is an assessment by an OT (ideally) for what is effectively a benefits claim - if you consider a Personal Budget - financial support from the council to help with the person’s eligible needs to be a type of benefit. That is a matter of semantics. 

poppy123456

Camellia said:

A needs assessment, may or may not dependent on the person’s income result in a Personal Budget being granted whereby the person can organise their own care in accordance with their care plan. In many instances it is ideal if the assessment can be done by an OT as they by virtue of their training have expertise in impairment and how this may impact the person’s day to day functioning. 

Yes, i know what a needs assessment is, as well as a personal budget. I used to manage my daughters direct payments and pay her PA through the bank account provided by the LA.

onebigvoice said:

 Maybe the £4000 being allocated to Low Activity Work Group combining WCA could help?
  I do not see when that is going to happen, as there are still load to do if it goes ahead at all.
  I do not see any gains since people paid in this group do not have to look for work? and need to concentrate on fixing them selves first 

I have no idea what this has to do with a needs assessment.

Wibbles

onebigvoice said:

When saying, are looking at all the evidence provided, should look at the needs of the individual, may be you don't have to have medical knowledge to assign funding but thought this would be an advantage.
  Its not only about knowing what affects what but understanding for instance if a chair lift is needed, over the bath, that the previous assessment is correct.  That people who treat you have been consulted and if they say its not needed that state this to the claimant and the reason they have been turned down.  It could be as simple as their are better things on the market like a walk in shower, or a shower that has a sealed door and chair that will give the person to choice of Bath or shower, and as you know every thing comes at a cost.  Maybe the £4000 being allocated to Low Activity Work Group combining WCA could help?
  I do not see when that is going to happen, as there are still load to do if it goes ahead at all.
  I do not see any gains since people paid in this group do not have to look for work? and need to concentrate on fixing them selves first 

Maybe some people cannot ever be "fixed"

Camellia

@poppy123456

Please be mindful of your tone towards myself and also One Big Voice. 

I never implied that you didn’t know what a needs assessment or personal budget was; only that a Needs Assessment and an OT assessment are not necessarily mutually exclusive - as your comment implied. 

I also think that OBV may be suggesting that various arms of government such as the DWP and LA and NHS who are all involved in disability assessments; should have more joined up thinking and working including possibly pooling one’s personal budget through the council with other sources of financial support. 

I agree it would obviously be extremely good if the LA could work in a much more person centred way across agencies. 

poppy123456

Camellia said:

@poppy123456

Please be mindful of your tone towards myself and also One Big Voice. 

Tone? There's no tone to text speak so i have no idea how you could detect that in my comments. I don't appreciate you telling me what to do, especially as i didn't do anything wrong here. For this reason i won't be replying to you any further.

chiarieds

As far as semantics go, I would suggest that 'benefits' are usually considered to be AA, DLA, PIP, ESA. UC, etc. Therefore part of onebigvoice's comments are a tad confusing especially his reference to yesterday's budget (as well as HCPs, which is the term used for those carrying out PIP assessments)!

Now I'm pretty sure onebigvoice will take no offence about either mine or poppy's comment, as we've discussed things before, & I'm sure he can respond for himself anyway.

That leaves poppy's reply just saying she has personal knowledge of needs assessments, etc. If you read back through this thread she has also mentioned waiting for a needs assessment herself (which is after all what this thread is about). Poppy is a very well respected member here & gives an amazing amount of advice on a daily basis. I have never known her to be disrepectful in the slightest, but it can't be easy to take an unwarranted comment when all she tirelessly does is try to help.

Now perhaps we can get back on topic, appreciating your useful contribution of your personal experience too @Camellia We're all here trying to help after all.

JessieJ

Just to throw in the way I had my needs assessment.

Mine came by way of a referral from my GP. It was to the Community Independence Team. A rehab specialist came out to me a month later, October '21, she went through what I could do & what was needed. Any simple equipment was ordered by her & she then made 3 more referrals, one being to the Housing Adaptation Team.

An OT from that team came in April last year, thoroughly went through all the adaptations I needed & more. Said that I qualified for a full Disabled Facilities Grant & she would start the ball rolling on that, but the waiting list was very long, with Covid adding to the time pressures. That was May last year. I don't know where I am on the list now, but she'll return with the grant person when the papers have to be signed. Hopefully, that will be soon. At least I'm lucky in knowing the wheels are turning though.

Sorry, that is a bit of a book. Anyway, good luck in getting your assessments.

 

poppy123456

@chiarieds thank you very much, i really appreciate it!!

onebigvoice

JessieJ said:

Just to throw in the way I had my needs assessment.

Mine came by way of a referral from my GP. It was to the Community Independence Team. A rehab specialist came out to me a month later, October '21, she went through what I could do & what was needed. Any simple equipment was ordered by her & she then made 3 more referrals, one being to the Housing Adaptation Team.

An OT from that team came in April last year, thoroughly went through all the adaptations I needed & more. Said that I qualified for a full Disabled Facilities Grant & she would start the ball rolling on that, but the waiting list was very long, with Covid adding to the time pressures. That was May last year. I don't know where I am on the list now, but she'll return with the grant person when the papers have to be signed. Hopefully, that will be soon. At least I'm lucky in knowing the wheels are turning though.

Sorry, that is a bit of a book. Anyway, good luck in getting your assessments.

 

  This is what can be done when departments and people are all working from the same direction.
Yes, there is some work to be done because of the pandemic and the back logs that has caused.
BUT, that was then this is now, if some one has already been assessed and given the grant then to me its only a matter of ordering the appropriate equipment and then having it fitted.
  This applies to everything.  you cannot keep blaming the pandemic for every thing since it has been a long time gone, but if the person came out in the pandemic to assess you then it should have been done quite quickly as no one was out and about and limited people were being seen both at home and in hospitals.
  again one body one medical history, for all to see, and am now glad that we are moving again, and appreciate any assessments being done, as it at least means I'm not on the back burner so to speak.
  Maybe a call to see where you are on the list may benefit? 

JessieJ

It seems there is joined up thinking here. I've yet to be officially told I have the grant, but my circumstances are such, that it should go through with no problems. I have been in contact with the OT & it is still a waiting game, so I'm waiting for her call. I'm in the system though & am happy with that & muddling through.

Wibbles

I have just been refused a care needs assesment AGAIN 
On grounds that I have too much savings
I keep on telling them that I am ENTITLED to an assessment but they don't think so....

Camellia

They are wrong. If you are open to my suggestions and are happy for me to try and help, I can try and look up some ways you may be able to get limited amounts of specialist free legal advice to do with the care act- have been accessing such support myself from time to time.  

onebigvoice

Wibbles said:

I have just been refused a care needs assesment AGAIN 
On grounds that I have too much savings
I keep on telling them that I am ENTITLED to an assessment but they don't think so....

This was part of my initial post, where I stated that we are being vetted in the start by some one on the phone who may not have a medical knowledge of your illness.
 They may deal with hundreds of applications a day for access to benefits but, what are you supposed to do when that persons opinion of whether you should receive an assessment is based on exactly that?
  Other I have dealt with have more serious problems than you, and they are not claiming?  Is a classic answer. 
  I cannot give to much advice since I am on a two strike warning, yet everything I have stated is correct.
Ring again and if you have received a letter saying you need an assessment or you have already been granted funding, types of letters see who is on the bottom and ring them, if its from the DWP or Pip's then re-ring and ask them why you have been refused an assessment, as you will make arrangements for an assessment from the people that already treat me?  and just send in that report.
  Is it to much to ask for an assessment by the people that are being paid to give you an assessment? and write a report on you?