The Council Can Contribute towards You Care Home Costs
If the council is contributing towards the cost of your home, you still have the right to choose any care home you like in England and Wales, as long as the council agrees it meets four key points:
• it is suitable for your care needs
• there is a place available (but seepage 14)
• the council and the owner of thehome can agree a contract to ensure that you are properly cared for
• the cost is not more than the councilwill normally pay for someone withyour assessed needs.
The council should help you to find a homewhich meets your assessed needs and whereyou do not need a supplementary (top-up)payment from a third party, as explained inthe following section.
If you are not able to pay for the whole costof the care home fees yourself, the councilwill tell you the weekly amount that theywill normally pay for your assessed needs.
They should also give you information oncare homes in their area which will meetyour assessed care needs.The Elderly Accommodation Counsel has lists ofcare homes by local area for the whole of the UK(details at the end of this guide).The Commission for Social Care Inspection(CSCI) regulates care homes, ensuring that theymaintain specified national standards.
They canprovide a list of care homes in your local area,if you live in England. They also keep copies ofthe latest inspection reports for all care homesin England (www.csci.org.uk).
