A lot of families in Camden reach a point where they know, clearly, that something needs to change. Their parent is not managing at home the way they used to. There have been falls, or missed meals, or a crisis that got handled by A and E rather than anyone with a plan. And yet when the family tries to find out what help the council might offer, they hit a wall of hold music and generic web pages that use phrases like 'assessed eligible needs' without ever explaining what that actually means at street level.

If that is where you are, this is for you.

What a social care assessment actually is

Under the Care Act 2014, any adult in England who appears to need care and support has the right to a needs assessment from their local council, regardless of their financial situation. Camden is bound by this. It is not a favour they do. It is a legal duty.

The assessment is usually a conversation, not a clinical test. A social worker or care coordinator from Camden's Adult Social Care team will speak with your parent, and ideally with you, about how your parent manages day-to-day life. They will look at ten areas of what the Care Act calls 'wellbeing': things like getting in and out of bed, washing and dressing, preparing meals, managing medication, being able to leave the house safely, maintaining relationships, and having any role in work or education that matters to them.

They are not looking for your parent to be perfect. They are looking for where things are breaking down.

How to request one

You can contact Camden Adult Social Care directly by phone or through the Camden Council website. You can refer your parent yourself, or your parent can self-refer, or a GP, hospital discharge team, or community nurse can refer on their behalf. You do not need a diagnosis. You do not need to have had a crisis first.

When you make that first contact, ask for the referral to be logged with a date. That matters if there is any dispute later about how long things took.

If your parent is in hospital and the team is talking about discharge, ask explicitly for a 'section 2 referral' under the Care Act. The hospital has its own discharge-to-assess pathway, but you want Camden's social care team involved before your parent goes home, not after.

What happens after the assessment: the eligibility threshold

Camden, like every council in England, applies the national eligibility threshold set by the Care Act regulations. To qualify for funded support, your parent needs to have a physical or mental impairment or illness, and as a result of that condition, be unable to achieve two or more of the specified outcomes listed in the Act, AND that inability must have a significant impact on their wellbeing.

In practice, this means the assessment needs to capture the real picture, not just the polished version your parent presents on a good day. Families often tell us their parent minimises things when a professional is in the room. If that is a risk, it is worth asking whether you can be present, and worth sending a written note to the social worker beforehand describing what you actually observe on a difficult day.

If your parent is assessed as eligible, Camden will then carry out a financial assessment (a means test) to work out how much, if anything, the council will contribute. If your parent has savings and assets above the current threshold set by the government, they may be asked to contribute to or fully fund their own care.

If Camden finds your parent is not eligible, they must still give written reasons and provide information about other support. You have the right to request a review, and if you believe the assessment was carried out incorrectly or unfairly, Citizens Advice can help you understand the complaints route, or you can escalate to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman at lgo.org.uk.

If Camden does fund support: direct payments

One outcome worth knowing about is direct payments. Rather than Camden arranging a care agency for your parent, direct payments put the money into a personal budget that your parent (or you, if you have power of attorney) manages directly. This means your parent can choose their own carer rather than accepting whoever the council assigns. Many families find this route gives them far more continuity and say over who is actually in the house. Carers UK on 0808 808 7777 and Age UK on 0800 678 1602 can both talk you through whether this route makes sense for your family.

Hibant works with families who receive direct payments from Camden, as well as those paying privately. The introductory agency model sits neatly alongside a personal budget: the family uses the direct payment to fund a carer they have actually chosen themselves.

One thing worth doing this week

If you have not yet requested an assessment, do it this week rather than waiting for another crisis to force the moment. Ring Camden Adult Social Care, give your parent's name and address, describe briefly what is not working, and ask for the referral to be logged. Write down the name of whoever you spoke to and the date. That one call starts the clock, and it protects you if things get complicated later.

If you have already had an assessment and you are not happy with the outcome, or if you have been waiting more than a few weeks for any response, the Carers UK Helpline on 0808 808 7777 is genuinely good at helping families work out what their next move should be.

If you are finding that what Camden can offer will not cover everything your parent needs, or that the carer they want is someone chosen by the family rather than allocated by the council, this is exactly the situation Hibant exists for. We are a London introductory care agency, and we work with families across Camden and the rest of London. Every carer we introduce has been DBS-checked and insurance-verified before we put them in front of any family, and you meet the carer in person before any arrangement begins. You choose the person yourself. If you are using a Camden direct payment, our model works alongside it. If you want to talk it through, email us at hello@hibantcare.com or visit hibantcare.com.

Hibant

Useful links to keep handy

Looking for care or thinking of joining Hibant?

Whether you are a family navigating care for a loved one or a carer looking for fairer, more meaningful work, we would love to hear from you.

Find a carer Join as a carer
← Back to Understanding Care Questions? Get in touch