Arranging adult social care in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire County Council is the upper tier authority for much of the East of England county, covering communities from Hertford, St Albans and Watford through to Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, Hitchin and Letchworth. If you or an older relative is starting to think about support at home or a move into a care setting, Hertfordshire County Council is the single point of contact for adult social care across all of these towns and the villages around them.
The first step is to request a free care needs assessment from Hertfordshire's adult care services. A social care practitioner will look at everyday tasks such as washing, dressing, mobility, medication and staying safe at home, and then talk through what would help. If the assessment shows eligible needs, a separate financial assessment follows. This looks at income and capital to work out how much, if anything, you contribute. In line with national rules, people with savings above the upper capital threshold generally pay the full cost, those below the lower threshold may have their care fully funded by the council, and people in between contribute on a sliding scale.
Choice of care across Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire has a large and varied care market, with 585 CQC registered care homes spread across the county. That gives families real choice between residential care homes for personal support, nursing homes for those with more complex health needs, and home care providers who visit people in their own houses in places like St Albans, Watford or Hitchin.
Funding can come from several directions. Some people are fully self funding, others receive a council personal budget or direct payment following assessment, and a smaller group qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare when needs are primarily health related. As a general guide, home care in Hertfordshire tends to be charged by the hour, while residential care homes typically cost more per week than home care packages, and nursing homes sit at the higher end because of the registered nursing on site.
Taking the first step can feel daunting, but requesting an assessment from Hertfordshire County Council costs nothing and opens the door to advice, whatever route you eventually choose.
