Arranging care in North Northamptonshire
North Northamptonshire Council is the unitary authority for a swathe of the East Midlands that takes in Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, Rushden, Thrapston, Raunds and Desborough. Formed in 2021, it brings adult social care, housing and community services under one roof, so families across these market towns and former borough areas now deal with a single council rather than a separate district and county.
If you are starting to think about care for yourself or a relative, the first step is to contact North Northamptonshire Council and request a needs assessment. This is free, regardless of income or savings, and looks at everyday tasks such as washing, dressing, mobility, medication and social contact. A social worker or assessor will then recommend the level of support required, whether that is home care, a move into one of the local residential care homes, or nursing homes for people with more complex health needs.
Where the council believes support is needed, a financial assessment follows to work out who pays. National thresholds apply, so people with capital above the upper limit are usually treated as self funders, while those below may receive full or partial help from the council. North Northamptonshire also offers direct payments so families can arrange their own care package rather than having services commissioned for them.
Local choice and typical costs
The area has a sizeable care market, with 259 CQC registered care homes across North Northamptonshire, giving families genuine choice between smaller family run homes in places like Thrapston and Raunds and larger providers in Kettering, Corby and Wellingborough.
As a rough guide for planning, typical weekly costs in the region tend to sit around £900 to £1,100 for home care based on daily visits, £1,000 to £1,300 for residential care homes, and £1,200 to £1,600 for nursing homes where registered nursing input is included. Alongside local authority funding, families may also draw on NHS Continuing Healthcare, Funded Nursing Care, Attendance Allowance or equity from a property to help meet fees.
