What happens at a home care assessment?
A home care assessment is a conversation, usually at home, about what help would make daily life easier. With Cott’s Care it is free, usually arranged within 48 hours, and carries no obligation. Afterwards we give you a clear plan, and you can ask for a clear price when you enquire.
For England. Last checked 13 November 2026. Next check by 13 February 2027. The council’s needs assessment is a different thing: see the section below.
In short
- Our assessment is free, at home or by phone, and usually within 48 hours, with no obligation.
- Afterwards we give you a clear plan, and you can ask for a clear price when you enquire.
- There is no arrangement fee, and just 48 hours’ notice if you ever need to stop.
- Start with a couple of visits a week, and build up only if you want to.
- It is different from the council’s needs assessment, which is also free and which anyone can ask for.
Before the assessment
You do not need to prepare much, but a few notes help. It can be useful to have to hand:
- a short list of the things that are hardest at the moment, and the things Mum or Dad want to keep doing themselves
- their usual daily routine, including mornings and evenings
- a list of their medicines and any health conditions, if they are comfortable sharing it
- the names of family, neighbours or professionals already involved
The person who will receive care is at the centre of the conversation. Family members are welcome to join.
What we talk about
Your Cott’s Care manager will discuss your requirements and learn about the type of care you are after. A good assessment covers the following, and you can add anything that matters to you:
- what a normal day looks like, and where help would make the most difference
- what the person wants to keep doing for themselves
- how they like things done, and what is important to them at home
- safety at home, and anything that worries the family
- how often help is needed, and at what times of day
At home or by phone
Your free assessment can be at home or by phone, and it is usually within 48 hours. We can usually confirm availability within 2 hours of your enquiry, depending on needs. Call 01242 371048, day or night: our on-call team answers.
After the assessment
Afterwards we give you a clear plan, and you can ask for a clear price when you enquire. There is no obligation, and no arrangement fee.
Start with a couple of visits a week, and build up only if you want to. If you ever need to stop, we ask for just 48 hours’ notice.
Free assessment in as little as 48 hours, and care can start the same week, depending on needs.
This is different from the council’s needs assessment
A care needs assessment from the council is a separate, free assessment that anyone can ask for. It looks at what help someone may need, and if it finds they need help, a financial assessment follows to see whether the council will pay towards it. Our assessment is a conversation with a home care provider about the care you would like us to provide. You can have either, or both. Our guide on how to arrange home care for a parent explains the council route.
Sources we used
- NHS: Getting a care needs assessment (read 13 November 2026)
How we wrote this guide
This guide is general information for England, written by the Cott’s Care team. Cott’s Care Limited (registered with the CQC as Cott’s Care Solutions) is a family-run home care provider in Cheltenham with over 20 years of experience.
Every public fact comes from the official pages listed above, which we read on 13 November 2026. We do not quote benefit amounts, fees or thresholds, because they change: the sources give the current figures. We will check this guide again by 13 February 2027, and sooner if the rules change.
It is not financial, legal or medical advice, and we cannot say whether any person will qualify for a benefit or service. If you spot something that looks out of date, please tell us on 01242 371048.
Cite this guide: Cott’s Care Limited (13 November 2026). What happens at a home care assessment?. https://cottscareltd.co.uk/guides/what-happens-at-a-home-care-assessment/
