Arranging care in Portsmouth
Portsmouth City Council serves the island city of Portsmouth in the South East, including the seafront neighbourhoods of Southsea as well as the wider urban areas around the harbour and Cosham. As a unitary authority, Portsmouth City Council is the single point of contact for adult social care across the whole city, which can make things simpler for families juggling several concerns at once.
How the process works locally
If you or a relative is struggling to manage at home, the first step is to contact the Adult Social Care team at Portsmouth City Council and ask for a needs assessment. This assessment is free, regardless of income or savings, and looks at everyday tasks such as washing, dressing, cooking and mobility. If eligible needs are identified, a separate financial assessment will follow to work out how much, if anything, you contribute towards the cost of care. National capital thresholds apply, so savings and property (in some circumstances) are taken into account.
Choice of care across the city
Portsmouth has a busy and varied care market for a compact geographic area. There are around 92 CQC-registered care homes across the city, giving families a genuine choice between smaller residential care homes in quieter residential streets and larger nursing homes closer to Queen Alexandra Hospital and the main road links. Home care agencies also operate widely across Portsea Island and Southsea for those who would prefer to stay in their own home.
Paying for care and typical fees
Funding options in Portsmouth include full council funding for those with low savings, part funding with a personal contribution, self funding, direct payments so you can arrange your own support, and NHS Continuing Healthcare where health needs are primary. As a rough guide for the South East, weekly fees tend to sit around £900 to £1,100 for home care packages, £1,100 to £1,400 for residential care homes and £1,300 to £1,700 for nursing homes, with actual costs depending on the provider and level of need.
If you are just starting out, a call to Portsmouth City Council to request an assessment is usually the most useful first step.
