Arranging adult social care in Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Council is the upper tier local authority for a large stretch of the West Midlands, covering Warwick, Royal Leamington Spa, Nuneaton, Rugby, Stratford-upon-Avon, Kenilworth and Bedworth, along with the villages and rural communities in between. As a county council, it holds the legal duty for adult social care across all of these areas, working alongside district and borough councils that handle other services like housing and council tax.
If your family is starting to think about care, the first step is to contact Warwickshire County Council's adult social care team and ask for a needs assessment. This assessment is free, regardless of income or savings, and looks at the day to day support the person needs, whether that is help at home, a move into a care setting, or something in between. If the assessment identifies eligible needs, a financial assessment follows to work out how much, if anything, the council will contribute towards the cost.
Choosing from the local care market
Families in Warwickshire have a broad choice when it comes to care providers, with 309 CQC registered care homes across the county. That includes residential care homes for people who need help with daily living, nursing homes for those with more complex medical needs, and specialist dementia settings. Home care agencies also operate widely across towns like Rugby, Nuneaton and Leamington Spa for people who would rather stay in their own home.
Paying for care and typical fees
How care is paid for depends on your financial assessment. People with capital above the national upper threshold usually pay their own fees, while those below it may receive full or partial council funding. NHS Continuing Healthcare, direct payments and deferred payment agreements are also worth exploring with Warwickshire County Council.
As a rough guide for the area, home care typically costs around £22 to £28 per hour, residential care homes tend to sit in the region of £900 to £1,200 per week, and nursing homes generally range from £1,100 to £1,500 per week depending on location and needs. Getting a clear picture of fees early on makes the next steps far less daunting.
