Eligibility Criteria for Community Care Services

In assessing need Social Care Services will assist people towards a basic level of living and independence. The assessment process takes into account:-

Essential care services will be provided to assist people towards a basic level of living and independence where:-

The Community Care Eligibility Framework is used to assist the process of determining who is eligible for services. It is graded into 4 bands, which in order of priority, which describe the seriousness of the risks of loss to independence or other consequences if steps are not taken to minimise these. Services will be focussed on those with greatest, immediate or long-term needs and will aim to maintain a basic level of living and independence.

For people whose eligible needs fall within the:-

Critical and Substantial categories the Department will normally expect to provide essential community care services

Moderate category essential community care services will only be provided if the support needed is essential to maintaining a basic level of living and independence or to prevent further loss of skills and increased risks or where short term rehabilitation would enable skills to be regained

Low category are most likely to receive advice or guidance or to be referred to other agencies.

In applying the eligibility framework only one eligibility decision is made; is the risk sufficient for the Department to help or not? There are no further eligibility criteria for services. The most appropriate services will be arranged to meet the essential care needs that have been identified and in the most cost-effective manner possible. For example, the provision of equipment and adaptations will be considered where this may be more economic than the provision of paid care.

The same Eligibility Framework is used for everyone, so that similar outcomes are achieved for individuals in similar situations. The framework itself makes no reference to age; gender; ethnic group; religion; disabilities, impairments or similar difficulties. In themselves these factors do not threaten independence but must be taken into account as needs are assessed and services delivered.