Arranging care in the City of London
The City of London Corporation is the local authority for the Square Mile at the heart of London, covering the City of London itself and its distinctive wards from Aldgate and Bishopsgate through to Farringdon, Cheapside and the residential neighbourhoods around the Barbican and Golden Lane. Although it is one of the smallest London Boroughs by population, the Corporation has the same adult social care duties as any other council in the capital.
How adult social care works locally
Families usually begin by contacting the City of London Corporation's Adult Social Care team, who arrange a free needs assessment for the person requiring support. The assessment looks at daily living, mobility, health conditions and the wishes of the individual and their family, and it is the starting point whether you are considering help at home, a move into one of the local residential care homes, or specialist nursing homes.
If the assessment shows eligible needs, a separate financial assessment is carried out to work out how much the person contributes towards their care. National capital thresholds apply, so savings and, in some cases, property are taken into account. The City of London Corporation can then help arrange a care and support plan, a direct payment, or a placement funded in part or in full by the council.
Local care choices and typical fees
Despite the compact size of the area, there are 13 CQC-registered care homes linked to the City of London, giving families a reasonable choice of residential care homes and nursing homes within or close to the Square Mile. Home care is often the preferred option for residents who wish to stay in familiar surroundings around the Barbican or Mansion House area.
As a rough guide for London, weekly home care fees typically fall in the region of £25 to £30 per hour, residential care homes around £1,200 to £1,600 per week, and nursing homes from about £1,400 to £1,900 per week depending on needs. Funding routes include full council funding, part funding with a client contribution, NHS Continuing Healthcare, and self funding, and the City of London Corporation team can talk you through which is most likely to apply.
