Somerset Council: Hundreds waiting for care assessments

The report showed 910 people had been waiting more than 28 days for an assessment

Hundreds of older people in Somerset are waiting too long to have their care needs assessed.

A recent council report showed 910 people had been waiting more than 28 days to have a Care Act assessment, in December 2023.

The council report blamed a rising demand and shortage of staff.

The government said it was supporting local authorities to "streamline their assessment processes".

A Care Act assessment is how a local authority decides whether a person needs care and support to help them live their day-to-day life.

The assessment must be carried out by an appropriately trained assessor, like a social worker.

After carrying out the assessment, the local authority will consider whether that person is eligible for support.

Laura Limrick from Age UK Somerset has warned clients they will be waiting months to be assessed

Age UK Somerset said people are facing an average wait of three months for their initial assessment, against a 28 day target.

The charity said it has supported some people who are waiting eight to ten months, or more.

The council's target is no more than 200 people having to wait more than 28 days for an assessment.

In the five months from July to November 2023 an average of 850 people were having to wait more than 28 days in the Somerset Council area.

A spokesperson for the authority said: "Although we complete more than 800 Care Act assessments every month, we recognise that people are still waiting.

"We have a clear criteria for monitoring and managing waiting lists and work is underway to reduce waiting times."

'Could have died'

Laura Limrick, Age UK Somerset's wellbeing coordinator, said when she refers clients for a care assessment by the council, she warns them "you're going to be waiting probably three months, four months before they actually contact you and then possibly even longer before they actually put something in place".

She had one elderly gentleman with dementia left waiting for eight months to be assessed.

"He was wandering, not 'with it', having a lot of difficulties," she said.

"He was vulnerable to being scammed, vulnerable to falling, he wasn't eating properly and was wandering into the road.

"It took such a long, long time - months and months - before anyone helped him. In that time period he could very easily have died without any support," Ms Limrick said.

That client is now in a care home but it took around a year for all the assessments to be completed.

"I know that adult social care is very pushed. I know they have good staff who are trying their best," said Ms Limrick.

"Everyone is trying to help but the trouble is there's not enough funding going into it."

A spokesperson for Department of Health and Social Care said: "The government has made available up to £8.6bn over this financial year and next to support adult social care and discharge.

"This includes £500m announced this January which has specifically been made available to support local authorities with the cost of social care in 2024/25.

"This funding will enable local authorities to buy more care packages, help people leave hospital on time and reduce waiting times for care.

"We are also supporting local authorities to address workforce pressures, drive improvements in their local area and better streamline their assessment processes."