Most people who contact us have thought about it for a while. The assessment is where we work out together whether care makes sense.
What a care assessment is
A care assessment is a free visit at the home of the person who’d be receiving care. A senior member of our team talks with them, and any family present, about what’s happening and what might help. There’s no obligation afterwards.
Who comes to see you
One of three people will visit.
- Courtney Pike, our Registered Manager. Courtney is registered with the CQC and responsible for every care plan.
- Megan Williams, our Deputy Manager. Megan started as a carer with us, qualified through NVQ Level 3 and Level 5, and now leads day-to-day clinical oversight.
- Charlotte Offord, our Care Co-ordinator. Charlotte matches carers to clients.
Whichever of them visits stays your point of contact afterwards.
How long it takes
Most assessments take 60 to 90 minutes. We allow longer for advanced dementia, complex care needs or a recent hospital discharge.
What we’ll talk about
We cover four things:
- What the day looks like now. Sleep, meals, medication, washing and dressing, getting about, and who’s already involved.
- What’s changed recently. A fall, a hospital stay, memory changes, a worn-out spouse, family too far away to help.
- What support would help. Two short visits a day, overnight care, or one longer visit so a family carer can rest. We’ll talk through options before suggesting one.
- What matters to the person being cared for. The routines and habits that make a day feel like theirs. This matters most.
If the person has difficulty making or communicating decisions, we’ll involve family carefully and follow the Mental Capacity Act. Our safeguarding page explains how we handle this.
What to have ready
Helpful but not essential:
- A current medication list, or the boxes themselves
- Your GP practice and any recent hospital letters
- A rough sense of the routines you’d want a carer to follow
- Any questions the person being cared for wants answered
If you have none of these, we’ll work it out at the visit.
What happens afterwards
Within a few working days, we’ll send you:
- A written summary of what we discussed
- A proposed visit pattern
- A cost estimate and any funding routes that might apply
- A suggested start date
If you want to go ahead, the next step is the care plan.
If you don’t, that’s the end of it. We’ll make one check-in call if you’ve asked for one, and nothing more.
Common questions
Is the assessment free?
Yes. No charge, no deposit and no registration fee.
Can my Mum or Dad say no during the assessment?
Of course. They lead the conversation wherever possible. If they want us to leave, we leave.
Can I sit in if I live far away?
Yes. We can include family by phone or video call. Tell us when you book.
What if we’re not sure care is the right answer yet?
That’s a fine reason to book one. Many families use it to find out whether help would make a difference.
Book your assessment
Call 01636 646915 Monday to Saturday between 8am and 6pm, or request a care assessment online. We’ll usually offer an assessment within a week.
