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Assessment Grading

Those who receive an assessment are graded in four bands (see below) and priority is given to those who are deemed in critical or substantial need. The evaluation takes into account the loss of independence and other consequences if needs are not addressed.

Critical	Substantial	Moderate	Low
Life is, or will be threatened
Significant health problems have, or will, develop
There is, or will be, little or no choice over vital aspects of the immediate environment	There is, or will be, only partial choice over the immediate environment
Serious abuse or neglect has, or will, occur	Abuse or neglect has, or will, occur
There is, or will be, an inability to carry out vital personal tasks	There is, or will be, an inability to carry out the majority of personal care	Several personal care routines cannot be sustained	One or two personal care tasks cannot be sustained
Vital involvement in work or learning cannot be sustained	Involvement in many aspects of work or learning cannot continue	Involvement in several aspects of work or learning cannot continue	One or two aspects of work or learning cannot continue
Vital social systems cannot be sustained	The majority of social support systems cannot be sustained	Several social support systems cannot be sustained	One or two social support systems cannot be sustained
Vital family / social roles cannot be sustained	The majority of family / social roles cannot continue	Several family / social roles cannot continue	One or two family / social roles cannot continue

The assessment will have one of two outcomes:

If we can provide you with a service, we will work with you to plan how we can help.

This is written up as a care plan and you will be given a copy to keep. Social Services can arrange the services that you need. Or, under a scheme called Direct Payments, we can give you money so that you can choose which services you want to buy to meet your assessed needs. Your care manager will explain this to you.

The second possible outcome is that you do not qualify for support.

In this case we will give you as much information as we can about where to find the help you need. We have lists of agencies that provide care at home, and of voluntary and independent organisations that may be able to help.