A requirement of the grant will be for local authorities to consult carers about current services and look into the possibility of greater diversity. Our policy, then, is to extend support, particularly in the form of breaks, to more carers. And this is beginning to happen. In this the proper assessment of people's needs is crucial and local authorities are best placed to decide how best to balance the needs of their local population. They are required to assess people who they think may require community care services, and to decide on the basis of that assessment what, if any, services they should provide to meet those needs.
Authorities are responsible for arranging services which are appropriate to a person's needs.
Local authorities have a responsibility to all those in need in their local population and must set their eligibility criteria and use their resources accordingly. In doing so, they will need to take into account local priorities and other sources of support available to individuals. Authorities will need to give full weight to the views and preferences of users and their carers when making any decisions about service provision. Local authorities should involve any other appropriate professionals, including health professionals, in the assessment process so that a complete picture of an individual's needs can be built up. Just as importantly, they will also need to give full weight to the individual's views and preferences and the carer s views when making any decisions about service provision.