Arranging care in Essex
Essex County Council is the upper tier authority for much of the East of England, covering a large and varied area that includes Chelmsford, Colchester, Basildon, Brentwood, Harlow, Braintree, Witham and Clacton-on-Sea. Southend-on-Sea sits within the historic county but has its own unitary council, so families there should contact Southend directly. For everywhere else across Essex, adult social care is the responsibility of Essex County Council.
How the council supports adult social care
If you or a relative are starting to think about care, the first step is to contact Essex County Council's adult social care team to request a needs assessment. This assessment is free, regardless of income or savings, and looks at the daily support someone needs, whether that is help at home, a move into one of the local nursing homes, or a place in residential care. If eligible needs are identified, a financial assessment then follows to work out how much, if anything, the council will contribute towards the cost.
Choice of homes across the county
Essex has one of the largest care markets in the East of England, with 878 CQC registered care homes spread from the coastal towns around Clacton through to Harlow and Brentwood on the London fringe. That scale gives families real choice when comparing home care providers, residential care homes and specialist nursing homes, and it means options are usually available reasonably close to family and friends.
Paying for care in Essex
Funding can come from Essex County Council, from NHS Continuing Healthcare where health needs are the main issue, or from the person themselves if their capital sits above the national thresholds. As a general guide, home care in Essex tends to average around £22 to £28 per hour, residential care homes typically cost in the region of £1,000 to £1,300 per week, and nursing homes usually run higher at around £1,200 to £1,600 per week, depending on the town and level of need. Essex County Council can also advise on deferred payment agreements and direct payments for those arranging their own support.
