Residential Care

The National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 places responsibilities on Local Authorities for the provision of Community Care Services for people who require residential care.
Residential Care for children under 18 is provided under the Childrens Act 1989.
Where any person seeks this service and requires assistance with the cost, an assessment of need will be necessary.

The Assessment Process

The assessment of need will be led by a "Key Worker", the key worker will contact other agencies and organisations which may already be concerned with your care, for example your Doctor, Health Visitor, District Nurse, Housing Warden etc., in order to assist in the assessment. You will be a full participant in the assessment process and will have access to information and assessment documents prepared by the key worker.

The Care Plan

When the assessment is complete and agreed the key worker will discuss with you your residential care needs.
This will be written down at the end of the assessment and a copy given to you detailing the "Care Plan" and how and when the care will be delivered.

Cost of Services

You may have to pay for Residential Care according to your income, the amount is calculated from National Scales. The key worker will help you to complete a financial assessment form and tell you how much you may be required to contribute if you are to enter Residential Care. If you are in a Local Authority home or a Local Authority is funding your place in an independent home, any Income Support you are entitled to will be clawed back in weekly charges, together with most other income you have.

The main features of the Self Funding & Local Authority and/or Income Support charging rules are:
If you have more than £23,250 capital, you will be assessed as being able to meet the full cost of your care.

Property is treated as for Income Support but:

• property up for sale is not disregarded.
• property occupied by any one can be disregarded.
• the share of a jointly owned property may be valued differently.

Notional capital rules are similar to the Income Support rules.

If you cannot afford to pay your charge because your capital is tied up in a property, the Local Authority can place a legal charge on the property and collect the debt when it is sold.

If you have less than £23,250 capital your charge will be:

• Your total weekly income (including tariff income, see below) from Capital
  over £14,250.00 but excluding most income disregarded under the Income Support rules.
  
• A personal Allowance of at least £22.60 a week - i.e., you must be left with at least this amount after paying your charge.
  
• You cannot be charged more than the full fees for the home.
• Unlike the Income Support rules, only your income and capital counts - not your partner's.
• Joint savings are divided in half.
• The Local Authority can impose a standard reasonable charge for temporary placements of up to eight weeks.

Tariff Income

For the Local Authority assessment, savings of £14,250 or less will be ignored. Savings between £14,250 and £23,250 will be counted as though you have an additional £1.00 a week income from every £250 (or part of £250) over £14,250. This is called 'tariff income'.

The average cost of Residential Care is £394.66 per week.
EMI Residential Homes - £431.48 per week.
Nursing Homes - £434.67 per week.
EMI Nursing Holmes - £486.41 per week.

Complaint

If you are unhappy about any aspect of your care, you should first try to talk it over with the staff at the home, they may be able to sort things out and solve your problem quickly. If this is not possible or the result is unsatisfactory you are then advised to refer the complaint by completing the necessary form or writing to the Customer Service Team, Customer Services, P.O. Box 251, Council House, College Road, DN1 3DA. If you would rather not write, or need help, ask someone to help fill out the form or telephone 01302 737 788.

Care Quality Commission

Residential Care is regulated by the Care Quality Commission. The CQC makes sure that quality standards are met and maintained where care is being provided and work towards the improvement of Care Services.
For further information please contact:
Tel: 03000 61 61 61
E-mail: enquiries@cqc.org.uk
Website: www.cqc.org.uk

DIAL Disclaimer
Whilst all the information given in this fact sheet was correct at the time of going to press,
DIAL Doncaster cannot be held responsible for any subsequent changes.