Assessments in Community Care for Adults
The Theory
‘Assessments should be carried out in a multi-disciplinary fashion with the individual and carers participating fully. The assessment
should provide and support choices and self-determination and allow an element of measurable risk. The procedure should be flexible
and supported by individual and central case management and monitoring of the assessment process and outcome. The assessment
should take into account the wishes of individual carers and the carer’s ability to provide care.’ (DoH, 1991, ‘Care Management and
Assessment: Practitioner’s Guide’)
“Assessment is an ongoing process, in which the client participates, the purpose of which is to understand people in relation to their
environment; it is a basis for planning what needs to be done to maintain, improve or bring about change in the person, the
environment or both. The skill of undertaking and producing an assessment depends on administrative talent coupled with human
relations skills. It takes someone who can organise, systematize and rationalize the knowledge gathered together with a gift for
sensitivity in taking in the uniqueness of each person’s situation.” (Coulshed and Orme, 1998, ‘Social Work Practice: An Introduction)
The Practice
Procedural/questioning model – this feels like a form is being completed and its purpose benefits the agency more than the service
user i.e. all the boxes are ticked, risks are identified and then services offered on this basis.
Exchange model – this feels like a conversation, where the individual is fully engaged as a partner in the process, they are seen as
knowledgeable in their own condition and desired outcomes and they are given information to help them make informed decisions
about the help they require.
Outcomes focused Assessments – do not focus on the services available but on what the individual wishes to achieve. A variety of
solutions are then considered to meet the desired outcomes.
The White Paper ‘Our health, our care, our say’ (2006) outlines the aims of Community Care Services for Adults.
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Outcome 1: Improving health and emotional well being
Outcome 2: Improving quality of life
Outcome 3: Making a positive contribution
Outcome 4: Exercising choice and control
Outcome 5: Freedom from discrimination
Outcome 6: Attaining economic well being
Outcome 7: Experiencing personal dignity
When first undertaking assessments it is likely that you will need to stick to the procedural or questioning model of Assessment.
However, as you become more experienced and familiar it is intended that you will aim to develop more of a partnership approach to
assessment focusing on outcomes rather than services.
The Process
Referrals for assessment are received via:
Care First 6 (the Electronic Social Care Record)
Letter
Email
Fax
Telephone (via Care Direct or Professionals can ring direct)
Lagan (Care Direct)
After the completion of the contact assessment on Care First 6, referrals for further assessment may be made to the Complex Care
Team, the Sensory Team, the REMAS, the learning disability team, the Mental Health Team. The contact assessment should be
reassigned to the correct team and a waiting list activity opened for that team.
If no further assessment is required, a FACS eligibility criteria checklist should be completed and the case can either be closed if the
person is not eligible for services or a Care Plan should be completed and this should be reassigned to the broker or personal broker
team to commission services. A care first message should also be sent stating the type of service required, the area the person lives,
and the start or end date.
See the Adult Care Business Process Map on the intranet for further information about process:
https://staff.devon.gov.uk/acs/acsbusstructure/asbrfs/acsinftmantechnology/asssum/abpflowindex/abpflow000.htm