Arranging care in Bracknell Forest
Bracknell Forest Council is a unitary authority in the South East of England, covering Bracknell, Sandhurst and the surrounding villages and neighbourhoods. Because it is a unitary authority, Bracknell Forest is responsible for adult social care directly, so families do not need to navigate a separate county tier when looking for help.
The first step for most families is to contact Bracknell Forest Council's adult social care team and ask for a needs assessment. This is free, regardless of income or savings, and looks at what daily support the person needs, whether that is help at home, a move into one of the local residential care homes, or specialist nursing care. If the assessment shows eligible needs, a financial assessment follows to work out how much the council will contribute towards the cost of care.
Choice of care across the area
There are 44 CQC-registered care homes across Bracknell Forest, which gives families a reasonable choice of settings when weighing up home care against a move into residential care homes or nursing homes. Options range from smaller homes in residential parts of Bracknell and Sandhurst to larger providers with dedicated dementia or nursing units. Home care agencies operating across the borough add another layer of choice for anyone wanting to stay in their own home for longer.
Paying for care
Funding usually comes from a mix of council support, NHS Continuing Healthcare where eligible, and self funding. National capital thresholds decide whether Bracknell Forest Council contributes, and deferred payment agreements can sometimes be arranged if most of a person's wealth is tied up in their home.
As a rough guide for the South East, home care typically averages around £25 to £30 per hour, residential care homes sit in the region of £1,100 to £1,300 per week, and nursing homes are higher again at around £1,300 to £1,600 per week. Getting the assessment booked early with Bracknell Forest is the best way to understand what support is realistically available for your family.
