Local authority social care departments have duties to provide help to ‘persons in need’ and are responsible for the provision of a range of care services. Social care departments and health boards have set up pooled budget arrangements and community healthcare partnerships with single shared assessments. There is free nursing and personal care (see below).

If you have difficulty managing at home because of age, illness or disability, you can ask your local authority adult social care department for an assessment of your needs. If you are assessed as having eligible care needs, you will be allocated funding to provide that support: an ‘individual budget’.
Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 , Ss.12 & 12A; Chronically Sick & Disabled Persons Act 1970, S.2 ; Chronically Sick & Disabled Persons (Scotland) Act 1972, S.1

Assessments for carers – If you are an adult carer (but not a paid carer