Arranging care in Blackburn with Darwen
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is a unitary authority in the North West of England, covering the town of Blackburn, the town of Darwen and the villages and neighbourhoods between them. Because it is a unitary authority, the council is responsible for adult social care across the whole borough, so families do not need to work out whether to contact a county or district council. Everything goes through one team.
The first step for most families is to contact the Adult Social Care team at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and ask for a needs assessment. This assessment is free, regardless of income or savings, and looks at how someone is managing day to day, what they find difficult, and what kind of support would help them stay safe and well. If the assessment shows that care is needed, a financial assessment follows to work out how much the council can contribute and how much the person will pay themselves.
Choosing from the local care market
There are 72 CQC-registered care homes across Blackburn with Darwen, giving families a reasonable choice of residential care homes and nursing homes within a short drive of home, whether relatives live in central Blackburn, out towards Darwen, or in the surrounding areas. Home care providers also cover the borough for those who would rather stay in their own house with visiting support.
Paying for care
Funding usually comes from one of three routes: full council funding for those with savings below the national lower threshold, part funding on a sliding scale, or self funding for those above the upper threshold. NHS Continuing Healthcare may cover the full cost where needs are primarily health related. Deferred payment agreements can also help homeowners avoid selling a property immediately.
As a guide for the North West, weekly fees typically fall around £18 to £25 per hour for home care, roughly £800 to £950 for residential care homes, and around £950 to £1,200 for nursing homes, with actual prices depending on the provider and level of need. The Blackburn with Darwen team can talk families through options before any decisions are made.
