Do I have to have an assessment?

If you contact us for help, we’ll offer you an assessment to understand your needs—but it’s your choice whether to accept it.

Without an assessment, it may be harder for us to support you, though you can arrange care privately if you prefer.

Find out more about care and support services available in Flintshire.

In some cases, such as concerns about abuse or neglect, we may need to carry out an assessment even if you don’t agree. It’s also important to know that accepting an assessment doesn’t mean you have to accept any services offered.

You can still request an assessment even if your unpaid carer—such as a friend or family member—is currently meeting all your needs.

We recognise that your carer might need some support to help in their caring role, so we’ll offer them an assessment too. With your consent, we may carry out a joint assessment to look at both your needs together.

To find out more about support available for unpaid carers, visit our Carers Hub.

Will I get support?

To find out if you’re eligible for care and support services from Flintshire County Council, you’ll first need an assessment by a member of our social work team. This helps us understand your needs and whether you qualify for support under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.

To be eligible, you must meet four conditions:

1. Your needs must arise from physical or mental ill-health, age, disability, substance dependence, or similar circumstances.
2. Your needs must affect your ability to:
   • Manage daily tasks like eating, washing, dressing, or keeping your home safe.
   • Communicate effectively.
   • Stay safe from abuse or neglect.
   • Take part in work, education, or leisure.
   • Maintain relationships or care for a child.
3. You must be unable to meet these needs yourself—either because doing so causes significant pain, distress, or risk to your health or safety (or someone else’s), or because it would take too much time or effort.
4. There must be no one else (like a carer or community service) who is willing and able to meet your needs.

If all four conditions are met, you may be eligible for support. Your assessor will guide you through this process and confirm your eligibility.

It is important to remember that every assessment and care plan is tailored to your individual needs. Even if your situation seems similar to someone else's, the support you receive may be different — because what works best for you might not be the same as what works for someone else.