Carers who are "providing or intending to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis" are entitled to ask Social Services for an Assessment of their own needs. "Substantial" and "Regular" are not defined in the relevant legislation, but if your caring role is having a significant impact on your life, then you are very likely to be entitled to an assessment.

You do not have to be living with the person you care for to receive an assessment, nor do you have to be the sole carer. You can also request an assessment if you are planning to provide care in the near future - for example, if you expect to be looking after someone who is being discharged from hospital with on-going care needs.

You can ask for the assessment to be private, as it can be difficult to speak about your problems of caring in front of the person you care for. The assessment should be a face-to-face interview, and not questions asked over the 'phone.

An assessment is for two purposes. Firstly, it takes into account the carer's needs when deciding what services to provide for the person they are caring for. So, for example, a Carers Assessment could highlight the carer's need for a regular break from caring, and therefore result in respite provision for the cared-for person. Or a Carers Assessment could show the carer's difficulties with helping the cared-for person bath, and result in bathing aids being provided.

The second purpose of a Carers Assessment is to determine the carers own need for services. Since April 2001, Social Services have had the power to provide services to carers in their own right, not just the person they care for. There are few such services available as yet in West Sussex. Prior to April 2001, Social Service Departments were not able, by law, to provide services directly to carers, and the type of services that develop in the future depend to some extent on what carers start asking for, now that Social Services have been given the power. Social Services have also now been given the power to give carers Direct Payments - that is, payment of money with which the carer themselves can purchase services for themselves. The power to give carers Direct Payments has not yet been implemented in West Sussex.

The important thing to remember is that if you, as a carer, are finding it difficult to cope, it is important to ask for a Re-assessment of the person you care for, and also to ask for a Carers Assessment at the same time. As things stand at the moment in West Sussex, a Carers Assessment may well affect the services the person you care for receives, even though there are few direct services for carers themselves as yet.