Carer’s assessment: what should unpaid carers prepare?

21 October 2026

Carers Mind Hub

A carer’s assessment looks at the support you need, separately from the needs of the person you care for.[1] Before the conversation, write down what caring involves and what you would like to change.

If you care for someone with dementia, use these suggestions to prepare for a discussion about your own day. They are practical prompts, not a test to complete or a promise that a particular service will be available.

Ask the right service for a conversation

In England, the NHS says an adult carer’s assessment is free and you can request one through your local council’s adult social services.[1] If you are caring for a child, contact the children with disabilities department instead.[1]

The names and routes differ across the UK: Scotland usually uses an adult carer support plan, Wales a carer’s needs assessment, and Northern Ireland uses local Health and Social Care Trusts.[2] Carers UK’s guidance links to information for each nation, including which authority to contact if you and the person you support live in different areas.[2]

For an initial enquiry, you could say: “I provide unpaid care for a family member and would like to discuss support for me.” Ask how to request the assessment, what information to bring and how you will hear back. Keep the date and the name of anyone you speak to.

Write down the day you actually have

Carers UK suggests recording the support you provide and considering its effect on your health, sleep, work and time for yourself.[2] Your notes can be plain and brief. They do not need to look like a formal care plan.

Try starting with yesterday morning. What did you do before breakfast? What interrupted the rest of the day? If you were awake at night, note what happened rather than simply writing “bad sleep”. Include quieter periods as well as difficult ones so the account is accurate.

You might divide a page into “what I do” and “what this means for me”. Beside a journey to an appointment, for example, you could record the time away from work. Beside an evening spent providing reassurance, you could note a plan you had to cancel. These are suggested ways to organise your own examples, not statements about what every carer experiences.

Make room to speak about yourself

Carers UK explains that the assessment is not a test of your caring abilities.[2] You can ask to have a friend or relative with you.[2] If you would find it difficult to speak openly in front of the person you care for, raise that when arranging the conversation.

Beforehand, choose something you want the assessor to understand. Perhaps you want time to attend your own appointments, or you want to discuss what happens when you are unavailable. Write it near the top of your page so you can return to it if the conversation moves elsewhere.

Consider a sentence such as: “I want to keep supporting them, but I cannot keep doing every night on my own.” Only use words that fit your circumstances. You can also explain what you are willing and able to continue doing, rather than leaving that to assumptions.

Ask what happens after the assessment

An assessment does not guarantee a particular package of help. The council or trust considers whether your needs qualify for support; Carers UK says people who are not eligible should still receive information and advice.[2] The NHS notes that help with costs may involve a financial assessment.[1]

Before finishing, ask when you will receive the outcome and whom to contact with questions. If a break from caring is discussed, ask what would need to happen for it to work, including arrangements for the person you support. Do not treat a possible service as an agreed booking.

Keep your notes and any correspondence together. If something important was missed, ask how to add it. If circumstances change while you are waiting, contact the service again and explain what has changed rather than assuming the original request tells the whole story.

Get support sooner if you need it

You do not have to use an assessment appointment as your only opportunity to ask for help. For someone to talk to, Samaritans is free on 116 123, day or night.[3] For urgent mental health help in England, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option.[4] If someone’s life is at risk or you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe, call 999 or go to A&E now.[4]

A practical first step is to write one page about your caring day, then contact the appropriate local service. You can also explore the Carers Mind hub for more information. This article provides general information and signposting, not medical, legal or financial advice.