Organising and preparing for an assessment or statement

How to get an assessment or statement

If you have already spoken to someone about being a carer, for example a social worker, teacher or young carers support worker, they may have told you about assessments.

They may also have set one up for you. In Scotland, these discussions are called statements, but we have called the discussions an assessment throughout this section.

If you haven’t been offered an assessment, or if no one knows you are a young carer yet, you can ask for one yourself.

You will need to contact your local council if you live in England, Scotland or Wales or your Health and Social Care Trust if you live in Northern Ireland. If you are under 18, your parent(s) can also ask for you to have an assessment.

Your assessment, your way

This is your assessment, so it’s okay to say how you want it to be. For example, you can say when and where you would like it to take place and bring someone you trust along to support you.

Finding the right time

It is okay to tell the council or trust what time of the day or week suits you and your family best. For example, if you go to college on a Thursday, another day might be better for the assessment. Or if your dad’s medicine means he is often sleepy in the mornings, you can suggest an afternoon.

You will then be told when your assessment will happen. If you can’t make it, you will be able to arrange another time and date.

How long it will take

You can ask the council or trust how long they think the assessment might last. It is okay to say you have other things to do, like schoolwork. The time the assessment takes will vary.

It might need to take place over more than one day. For example, if you or the person you care for gets tired easily, or can’t concentrate, or if things are very complicated.

Where it will happen

The assessment might happen where you live, or in a young carers centre. You can tell the people organising the assessment where you would prefer to speak to them.

The person doing the assessment

You might want a certain type of person to do the assessment. For example, a man or a woman, or someone who understands your particular culture or background. It may not always be possible for the council to do this, but it is okay to ask.

How many people will carry out the assessment?

Sometimes there might be more than one person carrying out the assessment. But you should be told who they are, what they do and why they are there.

Tips from a young carer

“The people who came to our house didn’t put any pressure on us, they gave us the time needed to fully explain our specific situation in a way which was best for me.”

People you might want to be involved

You can ask for people to be at the assessment. This might be someone who:

• will help you speak up.
• is good at saying things if you get stuck.
• will help you be less worried.

You should be asked in advance who you would like to have at the assessment. But if you’re not asked, then you can just say so – you don’t have to wait to be asked.

There may be adults you can think of who know your situation really well, like a teacher, a doctor, a family friend or someone else.

You can ask for them to talk about what they know about you at the assessment to help build a picture of your caring role and your life. If you want someone with you but don’t know an adult who could come along, then you can ask to have an advocate.

An advocate’s job is to stick up for what you want. They can also help you get ready for the assessment before it takes place. If you would like to have an advocate, you should ask the person who is planning the assessment.

Getting ready for your assessment – things to think about  

It is a good idea to think about your assessment before it happens. The assessment is a time to talk about you. We know this can be difficult but it is important to tell the person doing the assessment about all the different ways caring affects you.

Some of the things you might want to think about might include the different ways you provide care and support, for example:

•  cleaning and helping around the house.
• helping with medicine.
• getting food ready.
• cheering someone up when they are sad, worried or hear voices.
• getting someone to bed when they have had too much to drink or taken drugs.
• keeping an eye on, or looking after, your brother or sister.

You might also want to think about:

• how the demands of your caring role can go up and down.
• the ways that caring affects you – good and bad.
• whether it is different on some days. Maybe things feel better or worse on school or work days than they do during holidays or at weekends.
• if you think it is okay for you to carry on as a carer or should it change a bit or change completely. Remember it
• is okay to say that you would like to stop being a carer or stop parts of it.
• the impact on your education (school, college or university) and planning for your studies in the future.
• the impact on your paid job if you work or on your plans to look for one.
• how being a carer affects your health and your feelings.
• whether you feel you have someone to talk to.
• what your dream life would be in ten years’ time and how your plans will be affected if your caring role stays the same, gets less or more.
• what services help you now and why they are good or bad.
• what services you don’t have but think would help you.

Tips from a young carer

“Maybe just write down a list of the main points you’d like to discuss or the main jobs you do around the house. Maybe consider the type of support you’d like from them. Above all, just remember, they are there to help you. So be honest.”

You may have questions about what will happen after the assessment. You can also write these down or record them to remind you at the assessment.

Some ideas are:

• what happens next?
• will I be sent a record? When? Who gets sent a copy?
• what do I do if things get worse before I hear from you?
• what if things change or get worse in the future?

To remind yourself of everything you want to say you can:

• make a list.
• draw a picture.
• keep a diary for a few days.
• record a video or voice note.