Definition
Where an adult who appears to need care and support chooses not to have an assessment, for example because they feel they do not need or want support.
Local councils do not have to carry out an assessment if a person chooses not to have one, unless the council identifies that the adult lacks capacity to make a decision about the assessment and that it would be in the adult’s best interests to have one. If the adult is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse and neglect councils must carry out as much of an assessment as possible.
The bigger picture
This term should be used with caution. To learn more about why, visit the related term Assessment.