Important Information for Care Providers

We know many providers have private enquiries or placements in residential and nursing care homes. Recently, Essex County Council (ECC) has received queries from people and/or their representatives who:

• Are close to the capital threshold of £23,500, or
• Are already below the threshold when they arranged a private placement and are now asking about Local Authority funding to continue their placement.

 

Why this matters

People often aren’t aware of the process for moving from a private arrangement to Local Authority support. We want to make sure care home providers share the right information at the right time with people, so that choices are sustainable and the person stays in control as much as possible; avoiding possible challenge and distress later for people and/or their representatives.

 

Key points

• ECC must assess needs under the Care Act, but this does not guarantee funding for residential care.
• People should contact ECC 4–6 months before their funds drop below the capital threshold to request a Care Act assessment.
• If eligible needs are confirmed, ECC will also complete a Financial Assessment to decide if financial support is available.
• How assessed needs are met will be considered at this stage, with a focus on choice and control for the person.
• People can choose a care home, but:
  
  • It must meet assessed needs.
  • The care home provider must accept ECC contract terms.
  • If the chosen care home costs more than the personal budget (this is the amount the Local Authority calculates is necessary to meet a person’s assessed needs), a third-party top-up is required for as long as the care home placement lasts.
  • If top-up arrangements fail, the person may need to move to a suitable alternative care home that is within their personal budget amount.

 

Advice and resources

• ECC relevant Adult Social Care guidance to:
  • https://www.essex.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-09/Guide-to-adult-social-care-2023.pdf
  • https://www.essex.gov.uk/care-contribution-calculator
  • https://www.essex.gov.uk/adult-social-care-and-health/paying-care-and-support
• ECC Adult Social Care:
  • Phone: 0345 603 7630
  • Mon–Thu: 8:45am–5pm | Fri: 8:45am–4:30pm
  • Email: socialcaredirect@essex.gov.uk
• More information on paying for residential care:
  • https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/paying-for-care/paying-for-a-care-home/
• Age UK Advice Line: 0800 678 1602 (8am–7pm, 365 days/year)

 

Care Home Provider responsibilities

• For each person considering moving to your care home, check their financial viability: ECC recommends that each person has at least two years of care home fee funding, including any likely care home fee increases during that time.
• Explain at the point a person moves into your care home on a private arrangement:
• ECC will not agree to pay until assessments are complete and eligibility for Local Authority support has been determined, and
• to remind people / their representatives, that if the chosen care home is more than the person’s personal budget, and a top-up (third party or first party) is not possible, the person may need to move to a suitable alternative care home.

 

Why this matters

Sharing this information with people upfront helps avoid:

• Unexpected costs or non-payment
• Emergency moves when people's funds run out
• Complaints and distress for people and their families

 

Our aim is to support informed decisions that keep the person in control of their lives and able to make sustainable choices.

Questions? Contact: IRN.ProjectTeam@essex.gov.uk

More info: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/