Single Shared Assessment

Under section 12A of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, the local authority has a duty to assess any person over 18 years where it is indicated that the person may have community care needs.

The Single Shared Assessment was introduced across Scotland In 2002 and importantly stressed the importance of different professionals working together to assess and respond to an individual’s care needs. These professionals include social workers, care managers, nurses, medical practitioners and allied health professionals.

This is the approach currently used in Highland to assess a person’s needs and to inform the approach to be taken in shaping any care response. There are plans to replace the SSA with a new Personal Plan during 2011.

The Single Shared Assessment contains information gathered by a professional about the person and with the person. Information will be gathered from a number of sources including other professionals and if relevant, the person’s informal carer(s). We believe that it is important that the individual user is always at the centre of the assessment process. A professional person will be identified to work with the service user to coordinate information, produce a single summary of needs and develop a care plan.