Arranging care in Surrey
Surrey County Council is the upper tier authority for much of the South East, covering communities from Guildford and Woking in the west through to Reigate, Redhill, Epsom and Leatherhead in the east, and taking in Farnham, Camberley and Dorking in between. If you are starting to think about care for yourself or a relative living anywhere in these towns or the surrounding villages, Surrey County Council is the first point of contact for adult social care.
Needs and financial assessments
Families usually begin by contacting Surrey Adult Social Care to request a free needs assessment. A social care worker will look at how someone is managing day to day, whether that is at home in Woking or in a supported setting near Epsom, and identify what support would help. If the assessment shows eligible needs, a separate financial assessment follows to work out what Surrey will contribute and what the person needs to pay. National capital thresholds apply, so savings and, in most residential cases, the value of a property are taken into account.
Choosing from the local care market
Surrey has one of the larger care markets in the region, with around 663 CQC registered care homes spread across the county. That gives families a genuine choice between home care in a familiar neighbourhood, residential care homes offering companionship and daily support, and nursing homes for those with more complex health needs. The Council keeps a directory of providers and can point you toward services in your specific town, whether that is Farnham, Reigate or Camberley.
Funding your care
Depending on the financial assessment, care may be fully funded by Surrey County Council, part funded with a client contribution, or paid for privately through self funding, a direct payment, deferred payment agreement or NHS Continuing Healthcare where clinical needs qualify. As a rough guide across Surrey, home care typically costs around £22 to £30 an hour, residential care homes around £1,200 to £1,600 a week, and nursing homes around £1,400 to £1,900 a week, with premium providers in areas like Guildford and Dorking charging more.
