< Previous | Contents | Next >

REPORT OF THE JPIAF SUB-GROUP ON SINGLE SHARED ASSESSMENT PERFORMANCE MEASURES
PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR CARERS’ ASSESSMENTS — CONSULTATION PAPER

ANNEX 5
RECENT DATA ON CARERS’ ASSESSMENTS FROM ENGLAND AND WALES

In England, counts of Carers’ assessments are included in the extensive annual statistical returns from Councils to the Department of Health on community care "Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care" (RAP). The RAP Project is complex and has taken considerable central and local government effort to develop since 1996. There is no equivalent in Scotland. More detailed information about RAP is provided in JPIAF Consultation Paper No. 3: Waiting times for community care assessments and services.

RAP information on Carers’ Assessments, England

According to these English figures, 75% of identified carers (of people with community care needs) in 2000-01 were assessed in that year, increasing to 78% in 2001-02. In each of these two years, carers assessed separately accounted for 16% of total carer assessments: the vast majority (84%) being undertaken as part of the assessment of the cared-for person with community care needs. These data largely precede the implementation of the Carers legislation in England (the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000).

Data are also available from a survey conducted by the Local Government Data Unit - Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government. Anonymised data were collected by Councils for all adults and children with disabilities assessed in the period 1.7.02 to 26.7.02. Almost two-thirds (65%) of adult "service users" had carers, with little variations by age-group. Very few young carers were identified in the survey. Parents were the most common carers, accounting for half of the service users with carers; a further third were partners/spouses:

Relationship between clients and carers, Wales July 2002

55% of carers were offered a separate assessment; however, for every person who accepted an offer of a separate assessment, nearly two declined (36% accepted, 64% declined). However, it would appear from the survey results that 94% of carers who declined the offer of a separate assessment had their needs assessed as part of the assessment of the service user. The published survey data is not entirely clear, but it would appear that only 22% of carers assessed had a separate Carers’ assessment. This is a little higher than the English RAP figure (16%).

< Previous | Contents | Next >