Royal Borough of Greenwich

Adult social care contact details, funding information, and care home listings for Greenwich.

Arranging care in the Royal Borough of Greenwich

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is a London Borough covering Greenwich, Woolwich, Eltham, Charlton and Kidbrooke, along with the surrounding riverside and suburban neighbourhoods of south east London. Whether a family lives near the town centre or further out towards Eltham, the same local council is responsible for adult social care across the borough.

How adult social care works locally

If you or a relative are starting to think about support, the first step is to contact the Royal Borough of Greenwich adult social care team. They arrange a free needs assessment under the Care Act, which looks at daily tasks, mobility, memory and safety at home. If the assessment shows eligible needs, a financial assessment then follows to work out what the council will contribute and what the person may need to pay themselves. Greenwich uses this two step process for anyone considering home care, a move into residential care homes, or more clinical support in nursing homes.

Choice of care across the borough

There are around 145 CQC registered care homes serving the Greenwich area, which gives families a reasonable choice when comparing locations, specialisms such as dementia or nursing, and the general feel of a home. Many people also prefer to stay in their own property with visiting carers, particularly in the more residential parts of Eltham, Charlton and Kidbrooke where family often live close by.

Paying for care

Funding usually comes from one or a mix of sources: council funded support after the financial assessment, NHS Continuing Healthcare where health needs are primary, and self funding where savings and property sit above the national capital thresholds. As a rough national guide, home care tends to work out around 20 to 30 pounds per hour, residential care homes around 1,000 to 1,300 pounds per week, and nursing homes around 1,200 to 1,600 pounds per week, with London boroughs including Greenwich often sitting towards the higher end. Getting the council assessment booked early makes it much easier to plan.