Eligibility Criteria
Many people need support to enable to them to continue to live
independently and safely at home. In Perth and Kinross there
are growing demands on care services for people of all ages with a
wide range of different needs, including services to support
carers.
If you, or someone you know, needs support, an assessment can be
carried out by a qualified and experienced worker in line with
national legislation. This is the basis on which we will work with
you to decide if you are eligible for support and then agree the
type and level of support needed.
As a Council we need to make sure that those in greatest need of
care and support receive essential help within the funds that are
available.
In Perth and Kinross we make sure that this is done in a fair way
by having criteria for access to all community care services. These
are known as eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria used by
Perth & Kinross Council is based on the national eligibility
criteria issued by the Scottish Government.
What are the eligibility criteria?
Our eligibility criteria are divided into levels of risk, each
of which indicates a person's priority for support services:
- Critical risk - where there is life threatening harm, or
a major risk to a person's independence;
- Substantial risk - where there is significant risks of harm or
danger, or to a person's independence;
- Moderate risk - indications that there are some risks to
independence or occasional difficulties;
- Low risk - potential to maintain health with minimum support,
and little or no risk to independence.
Our resources are targeted to those people described as being at
Critical, Substantial or Moderate risk. People in these categories
are in the greatest need of support to allow them to maintain their
independence safely.
People whose needs fall into the Low risk group may not
automatically qualify for services. However, they will receive a
full assessment of their needs and expert advice on suitable
alternatives.
