Assessments for care and support
Welcome to Sunderland Adult Social Care
Our priority is to help people in Sunderland access the care and support they need, at the right time, and in the right place. We'll do this by working with you to find out what's important to you, and helping you find the services and groups who can help you achieve your goals.
Your care journey starts here
A great way to begin your care journey is by watching our 'Care journey' video below. It walks you through the steps of accessing adult social care in Sunderland, including:
- How to get help, support and advice early
- What kind of support is available
Finding support for yourself
If you need care and support, there are a number of organisations that may be able to help you. Sunderland Information Point contains information about services and activities for adults, older people and their carers:
Visit Sunderland Information Point
If you feel you may have a need for equipment to help you live safely and independently, AskSARA may be able to support you with possible solutions tailored to your situation:
How to explore further support through Adult Social Care
If you need to contact Adult Social Care because you think you might need to explore support, one of the first steps is completing a self-assessment. This can be completed by you or someone else on your behalf, for example a relative or advocate.
To be able to receive any care and support from us you need to meet the national minimum eligibility criteria (opens new window).
We will use the information you give us to help us meet your needs. Find out how we how we use your information in adult social care.
Online self-assessment for Sunderland residents
The self-assessment will let you communicate with us 'up front', at your own pace, at a time suitable for you and will help us make a more informed decision about what happens next. It's a quick and easy way to find out:
- what support there is in your local community to help you stay independent
- what care and support needs you may have, and whether you have eligible needs under the Care Act 2014. Find out more information about the national minimum eligibility criteria (opens new window)
- whether you require further adult social care involvement
You can read more about how we use your information in adult social care.
If you're unable to complete a 'self-assessment' you can make a referral for an adult needs assessment.
If you're already receiving a service but feel that your needs or circumstances have changed, you can request a review.
We have a duty to make sure you are fully involved in understanding and making decisions about the care and support you need. If you find it hard to be involved in the care process or don't have anyone who can help you, we offer an independent advocacy service through Total Voice Sunderland - VoiceAbility who is the contracted provider for advocacy services in the city.
Professionals making a referral for an assessment
If you are a professional, you can make a referral for an adult needs assessment.
Make a referral for an adult needs assessment
Paying for care
If you have been assessed to receive care and support from us, you will receive a financial assessment to work out how much you may need to pay towards these services. Information can also be found on the council's Deferred Payment Scheme and independent financial advice.
Providing feedback
Your feedback is really important to us. Sharing your experience helps us understand what's working well and where we can improve. You can give feedback at any time using our compliments, comments and general feedback page.
If you've been in contact with Adult Services or are receiving support from us, we may get in touch in different ways to check how you're doing and make sure you're continuing to improve and managing well at home. This could include:
- An automated telephone call before your annual review
- A follow-up telephone conversation with an Adult Social Care Worker
These contacts help us understand your progress and ensure your support continues to meet your needs.
If you receive support, find out more about how we will contact you and how you can give your feedback:
