Arranging care in Dudley Metropolitan Borough
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council serves communities across the West Midlands, covering Dudley itself along with Stourbridge, Halesowen and Brierley Hill. Families looking for support for an older relative or a working age adult with care needs will usually start their journey with the council's adult social care service, which coordinates assessments, safeguarding and care planning across the borough.
Assessments and how the process works
As a Metropolitan Borough, Dudley is the single local authority responsible for adult social care in this area, so there is no separate county council involved. The first step is to contact Dudley Council's adult social care team and request a needs assessment. This assessment is free and looks at how someone manages day to day, from washing and dressing to keeping safe at home. If the person is eligible for support, a financial assessment then looks at income, savings and assets to decide how much, if anything, they will contribute towards the cost of their care.
Choosing a care home locally
The care market across Dudley is well established, with 154 CQC registered care homes spread across the borough. That gives families a genuine choice between residential care homes for those who need help with daily living, and nursing homes for people with more complex medical needs, whether they are looking in central Dudley, the Stourbridge area, Halesowen or around Brierley Hill.
Paying for care in Dudley
Funding usually comes from one or a mix of sources: council funded support following the financial assessment, NHS Continuing Healthcare where health needs are the main driver, and self funding for those whose savings sit above the national capital thresholds. Deferred payment agreements with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council can also help homeowners who do not want to sell property immediately.
Typical weekly fees in the Dudley area are around £20 per hour for home care, £900 to £1,200 for residential care homes, and £1,100 to £1,400 for nursing homes, depending on the setting and level of need.
