Carers Assessment Service
What is the Carers Assessment Service?
At Somerset Foundation Trust, we are committed to working to the triangle of care standards. We believe that for someone to make a successful and sustained recovery from mental health conditions, the patient, staff, families and carers must all work together.
The carers’ assessment service specialise in supporting the carers of people who have mental health conditions. We do this by offering you a carers assessment as well as advice, information and support.
Here are some of the things we can support you with:
- advocacy and empowerment
- getting a break or holiday (alone or with the person you care for)
- carers education sessions and workshops
- mental health carers groups (please see the poster link to the left for our most up to date groups)
- emotional support and a listening ear in times of brief crisis
- planning for emergencies
- carers peer support workers
- social events for carers
- referral to services who can provide further advice and support
- Being heard – Carers Involvement Group
- carers newsletter
Please scroll to the bottom of the page for a video summary of our service.
Having a Carer's Assessment
Under the Care Act 2014, carers are entitled to a carer’s assessment. This is an opportunity to talk about how caring affects you. The assessment can be offered in person, over the phone or via video call, whatever suits you best.
This is not an assessment of how well you care for your loved one. The assessment is to make sure that someone is looking out for you.
During this conversation you may talk about, caring and how this affects your health, work, study, social activities, relationships and more.
We will ask about things such as how you look after yourself, your physical and emotional wellbeing.
At the end of the assessment, we will understand more about the things in your life that you enjoy, the things you would like to do less and more of, and the areas you need more support. We will provide information, advice, and may signpost you to other support and resources that are available to you.
How you can access this service
You can be referred by a professional or self-refer to access our services provided that the person you are supporting is known to Somerset NHS mental health services.
A self referral form can be found on the right hand side of this page.
The carers’ services team are based within community mental health teams across Somerset. The team can be contacted by telephone or email. Please see the map of our service to find the carers assessment worker in your area.
Waiting times
You will be contacted within four weeks from accepting a referral or self-referral to be offered an assessment.