Asking for a needs assessment in Plymouth

Requesting an assessment from Plymouth City Council

Anyone who appears to need care and support can ask, including a relative on their behalf. Use the online request form or call adult social care on 01752 668000. Say clearly that you are asking for a care needs assessment under the Care Act 2014.

You can start an online social care self-assessment for yourself or someone else and then ask for a full assessment. The council contact centre is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Care in Plymouth: the local figures

CQC registers 87 care homes in Plymouth. 85 are rated, and 79% of these are Good or Outstanding; the England figure is 83%. 20 of them (23%) are registered as nursing homes. 52 home care agencies are registered with CQC in Plymouth. Of the 32 with a rating, 88% are Good or Outstanding, much the same as the England figure of 88%.

CQC added 8 home care agencies and 5 care homes in Plymouth to its register over the past year; new services may not be rated yet. Among agencies in Plymouth, Well-led is the area most often rated below Good: 5 of the 33 with a Well-led rating. Caring has the most Outstanding ratings (6 of 33).

CQC has yet to rate 20 of the area's home care agencies and 2 of its care homes. In the past year, 11 new CQC ratings came out for Plymouth, and 1 went up, 3 moved to a lower rating; the latest is dated 20 October 2026.

Data: CQC, Oct 2026.

Disagreeing with the council

Start by getting the reasons on paper and asking for a fresh look. A formal complaint comes next, and after that the independent Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, which costs nothing.

Preparing well

• Explain what goes wrong on difficult days. Pride often leads people to say they cope.
• For seven days beforehand, note each difficulty, when it happened, and the result.
• Ask for a copy of the written assessment and care and support plan.
• Have the medicines list and diagnoses to hand, plus any falls or admissions.
• A friend, a relative or, where nobody is available, an independent advocate can support you.

Support for the people who care

Even before the person you look after is seen, Plymouth City Council must assess you as a carer if you ask, free. Plymouth City Council: support for carers. Local carers' support: Caring for Carers (Improving Lives Plymouth).

What happens at the assessment

A social worker or occupational therapist, in most cases, goes through these areas with the person and, if they choose, their family:

• a habitable home
• dressing
• washing
• getting about the home safely
• staying in contact with people
• eating
• managing the toilet

To be eligible under national rules, needs must harm wellbeing significantly, are linked to an impairment or illness of body or mind, and leave them unable to manage at least two of the outcomes. Before the full assessment, the council may talk things through by phone and arrange equipment or reablement; reablement costs nothing for up to six weeks.