Falkirk Council has implemented national guidance that will introduce minimum standards for the assessment and delivery of Social Work Community Care Services.
These standards will apply to all community care service users and will help us to ensure that services and resources go first to those in greatest need.
When the assessment is complete, we establish - along with you - what your needs are. We will write a care plan that will state what support is needed to help you, and which services we can offer you.
The outcome of the assessment may range from providing a simple piece of equipment to improve an individual’s independence, to a full package of care designed to secure someone’s stay in their own home.
Please bear in mind: if you are waiting for an assessment of your needs to be carried out and your circumstances change or worsen, please let us know so that we can review the urgency of your need and if necessary give it a higher priority.
The framework is applied to all areas including referral screening, allocating priority, assessment or review and the care provision. We will apply the criteria to all assessments and services will be provided in line with the eligibility framework.
The level of priority agreed at assessment or review will indicate the nature, level and time scales for service provision to service users
However we know that people’s circumstances can change and we can review this when you or someone else tells us about a change.
The Eligibility Framework is set out in four bands. These describe your risk to independence, harm or danger. They also describe the assessed outcomes or consequences if these needs are not met. The four bands are:
-
Critical
This indicates major risk to an individual’s independent living or health and well-being that is likely to require immediate provision.
-
Substantial
This indicates significant risk to independent living or health and well-being that is likely to require imminent provision.
-
Moderate
This indicates that there are some risks to an individual’s independence, well-being or health. At this level some social care services may be managed or prioritised, with appropriate arrangements for review.
-
Low
This indicates that there may be some quality of life issues.
You may find it useful to download our leaflet (PDF, 176KB)|, which provides more information on how we carry out an assessment of needs for community care services and our leaflet Assessment and Eligibility for Community Care Services.