5 Things to Do Before Your CHC Assessment

Receiving a date for a CHC assessment can feel both like a relief and a source of anxiety. Relief, because the process is finally moving. Anxiety, because you may not know what to expect — or what you are supposed to do to prepare.

The good news is that preparation is possible, and it genuinely matters. Families and carers who arrive at a DST meeting informed and ready are better placed to ensure the person being assessed is represented fairly.

Here are five practical things you can do before your CHC assessment.

1. Understand what the DST actually assesses

The Decision Support Tool covers 12 care domains: behaviour, cognition, communication, psychological and emotional needs, mobility, nutrition, continence, skin, breathing, drug therapies and medication, altered states of consciousness, and other significant care needs.

Before the assessment, take time to understand what each domain covers and what the different levels of need look like. This is not about trying to influence the outcome — it is about making sure you can describe the person's needs accurately and in terms that assessors will recognise.

Many families arrive at DST meetings not knowing that "severe" needs are defined in specific ways, or that a need which fluctuates unpredictably can carry more weight than one that is constant. Knowing this in advance means you can present the full picture, not just the parts that happen to be visible on the day.

2. Gather evidence before the meeting

Assessors rely on evidence. The more specific and documented a person's needs are, the more accurately they can be reflected in the DST.

Before the meeting, gather:

• GP and hospital letters, discharge summaries, and clinical correspondence
• Care plans and risk assessments from any current care providers
• Medication records, particularly for complex or frequently changing regimes
• Any incident reports or records of falls, episodes of distress, or other significant events
• Notes from district nurses, occupational therapists, or other professionals involved in the person's care

If you keep a care diary — even informal notes about day-to-day needs and incidents — bring that too. First-hand accounts from family members and carers carry real weight, particularly for needs that are not always visible in a clinical setting.

3. Think about how to describe needs clearly

One of the most common mistakes families make is describing what a person can do, rather than what they cannot — or describing needs in general terms rather than specific ones.

For example, saying "Mum struggles with mobility" is less useful to an assessor than saying "Mum cannot stand unaided, requires two-person assistance to transfer, and has fallen three times in the past month." The second description gives assessors something concrete to work with.

Before the meeting, think through each domain and ask yourself: what does this person's need actually look like day to day? What happens when that need is not met? How often does it occur? What level of support is required?

Writing this down in advance — even in rough notes — means you are less likely to forget important details in the meeting itself.

4. Know your rights as a family member or carer

You have the right to attend the DST meeting and to contribute to the assessment. You also have the right to request a copy of the completed DST and the eligibility decision in writing.

If the person being assessed lacks capacity to participate fully, family members and carers play an especially important role in ensuring their needs are accurately represented. You can speak on their behalf, provide evidence, and challenge any aspect of the assessment you believe is inaccurate.

If you feel the meeting is moving too quickly, or that important needs are not being given adequate consideration, you can ask for the discussion to slow down or for a point to be revisited. This is your right — and a well-run assessment should welcome it.

5. Download our free DST Preparation Pack

We created the DST Preparation Pack specifically for families and carers preparing for a CHC assessment. It covers each of the 12 domains in plain English, explains what assessors are looking for, and gives you a practical framework for gathering and presenting evidence.

It also includes a notes template you can use during the meeting itself — so you can keep track of what is discussed and flag anything you want to return to.

Download the free DST Preparation Pack — no sign-up, completely free.

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A final word on preparation

Preparing for a CHC assessment is not about trying to manipulate the outcome. It is about making sure the person being assessed is represented as fully and accurately as possible — and that their needs are not underweighted because the right evidence was not available, or because the right words were not used.

The CHC process can feel opaque and intimidating. But it is navigable, and preparation makes a real difference.

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*This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or clinical advice. For complex cases, we recommend seeking professional support.*