City of Edinburgh Council


Assessment of need
City of Edinburgh Council make decisions about who can receive care and support are based on an assessment of need. They have to give priority to people who are at the greatest risk.

To make sure their decisions are fair, they use agreed criteria to identify how serious the risk is of someone losing their independence if their needs are not met. These are known as eligibility criteria and they take account of each person's circumstances. 

The Council's criteria is outlined in their Guide to Adult Care Services


What will the assessment be like?
A social worker, occupational therapist or community care assistant will make contact to arrange a meeting for the assessment. With the cared for person’s consent, carers can be present at the assessment.

It is worth preparing for the assessment in advance. There will be questions about the person you care for’s lifestyle, their hopes and concerns for the future and how they manage with daily living tasks.

Once complete, the assessment is written down as a record which needs to be signed by the person you care for, and they will be given a copy. If they do not agree with the record then their views are written alongside those of the social worker. Once a decision is made on the services needed, a care plan is drawn up which outlines, in timetable format, what services are being provided.


Cost of care
Full details about the cost of care, calculations and your contributions can be found in the cost of care section of the Council's website.


Direct Payments
More information on accessing direct payments can be found on the Edinburgh Council website.