Single Assessment

What is Single Assessment?

The Single Assessment Process is a new way of assessing and planning care, common to all agencies providing services to people aged over 65. It has two principal aims:

• To place the older person and their perceptions of their difficulties and desired outcomes at the centre of the care process and to deliver the services that they want, rather than simply those that are available
• To make sure that, with the consent of the person involved, information gathered once is shared efficiently with others involved in that person's care

How is it different from before?

Previously, different agencies, (hospitals, clinics, district nurses, GPs, social workers etc) have carried out assessments and planned care separately from the perspective of their own speciality. This frequently involved a duplication of information gathering. The Single Assessment Process initially involves just one person carrying out an Overview Assessment that covers all basic health and social care needs. If this highlights a need for specialist help for a specific problem, then the information already gathered will be available to the specialist service and will form the core of their assessment.

What does it involve?

Contact Assessment
When a person first makes contact with any health or social care service, basic information such as name, address, date of birth, next of kin, GP etc is collected. At this stage, we consider whether the matter is straightforward, complex or somewhere in between.

Overview Assessment
It may be that a more detailed conversation is needed, possibly covering subjects like current health problems, previous medical history, the family, housing or financial situation, or issues to do with personal care. You’ll be helping us to understand the problem(s) and identify the help that you need.

Specialist Assessment
One or more of these issues may lead to the involvement of another professional who can make a specialist assessment to decide what help or treatment is needed. The Single Assessment Process is designed to save you from having to repeat your personal details and needs to a range of different professionals.

Comprehensive Assessment
Information collected through all of the above may, if appropriate to your care, be collected together to form a complete picture of your health and social care needs

What are the benefits?

Just say it once - You will not have to start at the beginning every time you meet a new health or social care professional

With your permission, that person will already know about your situation without your having to explain all over again

Your information will be safely stored (by the end of 2005 some of it will be stored electronically) and professionals will be able to access it only with your permission

It will be easier to co-ordinate the planning and delivery of services to adults and older people

Last Updated: 08 August 06,
Review Date: 20 September 2005