Council and democracy

Single assessment

When you come into contact with health or social care services, you will be asked a range of questions. We call this an assessment. Assessment is about collecting information about your needs, interpreting that information and discussing with you what support, treatment or care should be provided.

For older people and adults with a physical disability, the way we work is now called single assessment which is a national initiative designed to improve your experience of health and social care services. It should ensure that you receive a timely response and that your views and those of your carer (if you have one) are taken into account. It means that you don’t have to repeat the same information over and over again and that health and social care agencies work together to avoid duplicating each other’s assessments. With your permission, they can share information about your situation to ensure that you receive a good assessment matched to your individual circumstances.

These are the different types of assessment that you may need:

Contact assessment

This contains basic information, such as name and address, GP, etc., collected when you first come into contact with any health or social care service. If your needs can easily be met, there will be no need for any further assessments at this stage.

Overview

This assessment involves a wider range of questions about your medical history and home situation. This will help us to understand the problems and identify what services may be needed. It may lead to referrals for specialist assessments.

Specialist assessment

This will be completed if you need specialist help or advice, for example from a specialist nurse, doctor or social worker.

Comprehensive assessment

This will be completed if you have complex health and social care needs that involve a number of organisations.