Chief Social Worker for Adults and principal social workers issue guide on proportional assessment approaches

The Chief Social Worker for Adults, Lyn Romeo, and principal social workers have issued recommendations on “using flexibility and innovation” in approaches to adult social care assessments.

The document, Proportional assessment approaches: a guide from the Chief Social Worker for Adults and principal social workers, is intended to set out how professionals conducting adult social care needs assessments can:

• use the flexibility within the Care Act 2014 to be innovative in practice (while adhering to the legal requirements of the act)
• consider a range of assessment approaches leading to the best outcomes for people in need of care and support.

The guide covers:

• Forewords
• Introduction
• What we mean by proportionality
• Principles of a good assessment under the framework of the Care Act 2014
• Types of assessment method
• Draft checklist for trusted or delegated assessments
• Choosing methods of assessment
• Mental capacity and deprivation of liberty
• Case studies
• Further information

This is a supplementary guide to the Care Act 2014 and the Care and support statutory guidance.