An updated Research in Practice brief guide explores assessment in adult social care.
An adult social care assessment is a process which identifies what adults want to achieve in order to maintain or improve wellbeing, whilst having as much independence and control over day-to-day life as possible.
The open access guide, intended for adults, carers and their advocates, explains in simple terms what an assessment is and how it works, along with practical advice to help ensure they are effective. Our brief guides aim to provide guidance for practitioners to use with people accessing services, families and carers, to help them understand important issues and the support available to them.
More detailed information and advice regarding assessments can be found in the Good assessment Practitioners’ Handbook which is available to Research in Practice Partners with adults membership. The handbook sets out the law, ethics, evidence, practice approaches and theory that underpin good assessments. It helps assessors and organisations improve assessments in line with best practice and with the Care Act 2014.
This Brief Guide explains in simple terms what an adult social care assessment is and how it works, along with practical advice to help ensure they are effective.
Research in Practice resources to support assessment in adult social care
Assessment is central to adult social care, as a gateway to support and an intervention in its own right. These resources aim to support good assessment in adult social care:
Good practice in assessment is essential to improve the experience and outcomes of adults and carers, to meet the expectations of law and policy, and to use resources in the most effective way. This handbook helps assessors and organisations improve assessments in line with best practice and with the Care Act 2014.
This podcast explores the Good Assessment Practitioners’ Handbook, reflecting on underpinning themes in assessment practice, helping practitioners to navigate and use the handbook effectively.
Human rights ethics, law and practice underpin assessment for care and support. This Frontline Briefing focuses on the activity of assessing adults and carers who may have care or support needs. It provides an overview of legislation and policy, bringing together evidence of different approaches to upholding human rights in assessment.
Assessment: Brief Guide (2023)
The purpose of an adult social care assessment is to ensure that you have the right information and support to achieve your individual outcomes. This Brief Guide explains what an assessment is and how it works, along with practical advice to help ensure that the assessment process is effective.
Good Assessment Practitioners' Handbook: Second edition (2022)
Good practice in assessment is essential to effective social care. This handbook (second edition) sets out the law, ethics, evidence, practice approaches and theory that underpin good assessments. It helps assessors and organisations improve assessments in line with best practice and with the Care Act 2014.
The Good Assessment Handbook
The Good Assessment handbook, written primarily for practitioners completing assessments under the Care Act, has been recently updated. This podcast explores these changes, reflects on underpinning themes in assessment practice, and helps practitioners navigate and use the handbook effectively.