Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

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

Arranging care in Solihull

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council serves communities across the West Midlands, covering Solihull town itself along with Knowle, Dorridge, Shirley and Chelmsley Wood. As a metropolitan borough, the council is the single point of responsibility for adult social care, meaning families do not need to navigate a separate county or district authority when arranging support for an older relative or a loved one with a disability.

The first step is to contact Solihull Council's adult social care team and request a needs assessment. This assessment is free, regardless of income or savings, and looks at the daily support a person requires, whether that is help at home, a move into one of the residential care homes in the borough, or specialist nursing care. If the assessment identifies eligible needs, a financial assessment will follow to work out how much, if anything, the person contributes towards their care.

Local care choice and funding

Families in Solihull have a reasonable degree of choice, with 118 CQC-registered care homes across the borough spanning the leafy villages around Knowle and Dorridge through to the more urban areas of Shirley and Chelmsley Wood. This mix means options exist for different budgets, cultural preferences and levels of clinical need, from home care visits for someone still living independently through to nursing homes for those with more complex health conditions.

Funding usually comes from one or a combination of sources: council funding following the financial assessment, NHS Continuing Healthcare where the primary need is a health need, Attendance Allowance, or self funding. National capital thresholds apply when the council assesses contributions, so savings and property are taken into account in the usual way.

As a broad guide for the West Midlands, home care typically costs around £22 to £28 per hour, residential care homes tend to sit around £900 to £1,100 per week, and nursing homes are usually £1,100 to £1,400 per week, with fees in Solihull often at the higher end of these ranges reflecting the local market. Speaking to Solihull's adult social care team early on helps families plan with confidence.