Knowing how to prepare for a care assessment makes a real difference to the outcome. A council needs assessment decides whether someone is eligible for help with care, and the assessor can only work with what they see and hear on the day. People who are proud, or who have a good day, often play their needs down.
The fix is simple: write down what a normal week looks like, map it against the council’s eligibility criteria, and make sure someone who knows the person well is there. This guide explains how that works in West Sussex, what to expect, and what to do if the council says no.
In short: keep a one to two week diary, describe bad days as well as good, ask for a carer’s assessment too, and ask for any refusal in writing.
What is a care needs assessment?
Under the Care Act 2014, the council must assess any adult who appears to need care and support, whatever their income or savings. The assessment is free. In West Sussex it is carried out by West Sussex County Council adult social care, which you can contact through its online referral form or on 01243 642121 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday). Our page on the care needs assessment in West Sussex covers how to request one.
The assessment looks at needs, not money. If the person is eligible, a separate financial assessment works out what, if anything, they pay.
How long does a care assessment take?
West Sussex County Council says it aims to complete an assessment within 28 working days of you contacting it. How long the conversation lasts depends on how complex the needs are. It may be in person, by phone or by video, and sometimes takes more than one contact, so allow plenty of time.
We have not found published West Sussex waiting-time figures, and actual waits vary with demand and urgency. If someone is at risk now, for example after a fall or because a carer can no longer cope, say so clearly when you call and ask how the case will be prioritised. If the person is in hospital, assessment and support are usually arranged through the discharge team instead: see our guide to care after hospital discharge.
Before the assessment, the council also offers a Care Needs Checklist and a self-assessment form on its website. A relative can complete the self-assessment on the person’s behalf, and it is a useful way to organise your thoughts.
Can I refuse a care needs assessment?
Yes. An adult can refuse a needs assessment, and the council does not then have to carry one out. There are two exceptions under section 11 of the Care Act 2014: the council must still assess if the person lacks the mental capacity to refuse and an assessment would be in their best interests, or if the person is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect.
Refusing is not final. The person can ask for an assessment later, and the council can offer one again if circumstances change. If a parent is refusing because they fear losing their home or being “put in a home”, it often helps to explain that most support is provided at home and the assessment is free. Our guide to talking to parents about care has practical ways to start that conversation.
How to prepare for a care assessment: step by step
- Keep a diary for one to two weeks. Note what help is needed, when, and how long it takes: washing, dressing, meals, medication prompts, toileting, nights, falls, confusion. Include what family members already do.
- Map needs against the eligibility outcomes (see the table below). The council must decide whether needs meet the national criteria, so frame your notes in the same terms.
- Describe the worst days as well as the typical ones. A person who can dress on a good morning but takes an hour and is exhausted afterwards may count as “unable to achieve” that outcome.
- Arrange for someone to be there. A relative or friend who sees the day-to-day reality can gently fill in gaps. Agree beforehand that it is fine to correct “I manage” if it is not true.
- Ask about an advocate. If the person would have substantial difficulty taking part and has no suitable family member or friend to help, the council must arrange an independent advocate.
- Gather paperwork. Medication list, recent letters from the GP or hospital, and any equipment or occupational therapy reports.
- Ask for a carer’s assessment. Any unpaid carer has a right to their own assessment, which can lead to support such as respite or a break. See carer support in Worthing.
The eligibility outcomes
Under the national eligibility criteria, a person is eligible if their needs arise from a physical or mental impairment or illness, they are unable to achieve two or more of the outcomes below, and as a result there is, or is likely to be, a significant impact on their wellbeing. “Unable to achieve” includes managing only with help, with significant pain or distress, by putting themselves at risk, or taking much longer than normal.
| Outcome | Examples to note in your diary |
|---|---|
| Managing and maintaining nutrition | Forgetting meals, unable to prepare food safely, weight loss |
| Maintaining personal hygiene | Unable to wash or bathe without help, not changing clothes |
| Managing toilet needs | Incontinence, needing help getting to or using the toilet |
| Being appropriately clothed | Help with buttons, stockings, dressing for the weather |
| Being able to make use of the home safely | Falls, stairs, using the cooker or heating safely |
| Maintaining a habitable home environment | Cleaning, laundry, bills, keeping the home warm |
| Developing and maintaining family or other personal relationships | Isolation, loneliness, losing contact with friends |
| Accessing work, training, education or volunteering | Unable to continue volunteering or activities |
| Making use of facilities or services in the community | Unable to get to shops, GP, library or public transport |
| Carrying out any caring responsibilities for a child | Relevant where the person cares for a child |
What happens after the assessment?
The council tells you in writing whether any needs are eligible. If they are, it works with you on a care and support plan and a personal budget, which can be arranged by the council or taken as a direct payment so you choose your own care. Our guide to direct payments and personal budgets explains the options. The financial assessment then decides the contribution: for care at home, the value of the person’s home is not counted, and savings over £23,250 usually mean paying the full cost. Our free funding checker gives a quick indication.
If needs look mainly medical, complex or unpredictable, ask whether NHS continuing healthcare should be considered. See NHS continuing healthcare at home.
Council refused care: what can I do?
First, ask for the decision and the reasons in writing. The Care Act requires the council to give a written record of its eligibility decision, and where needs are not eligible it must give information and advice on what can be done to meet or reduce those needs. Then work through these steps:
- Check the reasoning. Compare the written decision with your diary and the outcomes table. Were any needs missed, or was the assessment done on a good day?
- Ask for a review or reassessment. Send the extra evidence and ask the council to look again. If needs increase later, you can ask for a new assessment at any time.
- Make a formal complaint through West Sussex County Council’s complaints process if you believe the assessment was wrong or unfair.
- Go to the Ombudsman. If the council’s final response does not resolve it, you can complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, which is free.
- Get advocacy or advice. Age UK, Citizens Advice and Carers Support West Sussex can help you put your case.
Even without council funding, you can arrange care privately. Attendance Allowance is not means-tested and can help pay for it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a care needs assessment free?
Yes. The assessment is free for everyone, whatever their income or savings. Whether you pay for the care itself is decided by a separate financial assessment.
Can a family member be present at a care assessment?
Yes, and it usually helps. The person being assessed should be involved, and they can have a relative, friend or advocate with them to support them and add information.
What should I not say in a care assessment?
Do not say “I manage” if managing means struggling, taking hours, or relying on family help. Describe what happens on a typical and a bad day, including the help others already give.
Can I refuse a care assessment for my parent?
Only the person themselves can refuse, if they have capacity to make that decision. If they lack capacity, the council must assess if it is in their best interests, and it must also assess where there is a risk of abuse or neglect.
How often are care needs reassessed?
Under the Care Act statutory guidance, care and support plans should be reviewed at least every 12 months, and councils often check in a few weeks after care starts. You can ask for a review or reassessment at any time if needs change.
The Care Panel is an independent publication. We are not a care provider and are not regulated by the Care Quality Commission, because we do not deliver care. Always check a provider’s own CQC registration and inspection report before you commit.
Written and fact-checked by The Care Panel. Last updated September 2026. Sources: Care Act 2014 (legislation.gov.uk); Care and Support (Eligibility Criteria) Regulations 2015; West Sussex County Council adult social care; Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman; Age UK. General information, not financial, legal or medical advice — figures are indicative and subject to change.