Arranging care in Kent
Kent County Council is the upper tier local authority for much of the South East, covering a wide stretch from the county town of Maidstone through the cathedral city of Canterbury and the spa town of Tunbridge Wells, out to the coastal communities of Folkestone, Dover, Margate and Ramsgate, and inland towns such as Sittingbourne, Ashford and Tonbridge. Whether a relative lives on the Isle of Thanet, on the North Downs or close to the Channel ports, adult social care across the county is coordinated by the same authority.
How adult social care works locally
As a County Council, Kent is the body families should contact when an older or disabled adult needs support. The first step is to request a free needs assessment through Kent County Council's adult social care team. A social care practitioner will look at everyday tasks, safety at home, and whether care at home or a move into a care setting would suit best. If care is recommended, a separate financial assessment then looks at income, savings and assets to work out how much Kent will contribute and how much the person will pay themselves.
Choice across the county
Kent has one of the largest care markets in the South East, with 896 CQC registered care homes spread across the county. That means families in places like Canterbury, Ashford or Tunbridge Wells usually have a real choice between smaller residential care homes, larger nursing homes with on site clinical staff, and specialist dementia units, as well as domiciliary providers offering home care visits.
Funding and typical fees
Depending on the financial assessment, care in Kent may be fully funded by the council, part funded with a client contribution, or paid for privately. Some people qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare or NHS funded nursing care contributions. As a rough guide across Kent, home care tends to cost around £22 to £28 per hour, residential care homes around £900 to £1,200 per week, and nursing homes around £1,100 to £1,500 per week, with fees varying by town, provider and level of need.
