Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Adult social care contact details, funding information, and care home listings for Kensington & Chelsea.

Arranging care in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a central London borough covering Kensington, Chelsea, Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove. Families starting to think about later life support here are often balancing the pace of inner London life with the wish to keep a loved one close to familiar streets, community centres and long standing neighbours.

As a London Borough, adult social care in Kensington and Chelsea is arranged through the council's Adult Social Care team, which is the first point of contact for anyone worried about themselves, a parent or a partner. The starting point is a free needs assessment, where a social worker looks at daily tasks, mobility, memory and safety at home. If eligible needs are identified, a financial assessment then follows to work out how much the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea will contribute and how much the person is expected to pay themselves, taking savings, income and property into account under the usual national thresholds.

Local care choices and typical costs

There are around 25 CQC registered care homes across Kensington and Chelsea, giving families a reasonable choice of residential care homes and nursing homes within the borough, as well as options just over the border in neighbouring London boroughs. Many households also arrange home care so that a relative can stay in their own flat or house in areas such as Notting Hill or Chelsea, with visiting carers supporting washing, medication and meals.

Central London tends to sit at the higher end of the national fee range. As a general guide, home care in the capital typically costs from around £25 to £35 per hour, residential care homes commonly range from about £1,200 to £1,800 per week, and nursing homes often run higher again once nursing needs are factored in. Actual fees vary by provider and room type, so it is worth asking each home for a written breakdown.

Ways to pay for care

Funding can come from several places: local authority support following the financial assessment, NHS Continuing Healthcare where health needs are primary, NHS funded nursing care contributions in nursing homes, attendance allowance, and self funding from savings, pensions or housing wealth. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea can also point families towards independent financial advice, carer support and reablement services to help make confident, unhurried decisions.