Adult Social Care Glossary, v 0.6

The process by which a local authority works with a person to identify their needs and the outcomes they would like to achieve to maintain or improve their wellbeing. The local authority's aim is to determine how it should respond to meet the person's needs.

A local authority needs assessment (or care and support needs assessment) focuses on the eligibility criteria set out in the Care Act. A care provider may also carry out their own assessment to identify the details of a person's wishes and needs for care and support.