Assessing needs

Quality statement

We expect providers, commissioners and system leaders live up to this statement:

We maximise the effectiveness of people’s care and treatment by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them.

What this quality statement means

• People are involved in the assessment of their needs, and support is provided where needed to maximise their involvement.
• People are confident that their individual needs have been appropriately assessed and are fully understood.
• People’s communication needs are assessed and met to maximise the effectiveness of their care and treatment.
• People’s needs are assessed using a range of assessment tools to ensure their needs are reflected and understood.
• Assessments consider the person’s health, care, wellbeing, and communication needs, to enable them to receive care or treatment that has the best possible outcomes.
• Assessments are up-to-date and staff understand people’s current needs.
• People’s care needs are routinely reviewed.
• The needs of carers of people using services are also assessed and met. This supports their health and wellbeing in their carer roles and helps them to provide safe and effective care to the people they support.

I statements

I statements reflect what people have said matters to them.

• I can get information and advice about my health, care and support and how I can be as well as possible – physically, mentally and emotionally.
• I have care and support that is co-ordinated, and everyone works well together and with me.
• I have care and support that enables me to live as I want to, seeing me as a unique person with skills, strengths and goals.

Subtopics this quality statement covers

• Assessing people’s needs (including accessibility and communication needs)
• Person-centred approach
• Carer assessments/support
• Care planning
• Clinical assessment tools

Local authority assessments

We consider this quality statement, assessing needs, under theme 1: working with people.