Arranging care in West Berkshire
West Berkshire Council is the unitary authority covering a large stretch of the South East, from the market town of Newbury and neighbouring Thatcham through to Hungerford in the west, Lambourn on the downs, and Pangbourne and Theale in the east. Because it is a unitary authority, the same council handles both community services and adult social care, so families have a single point of contact when they need help.
How adult social care works locally
If you or a relative living in West Berkshire needs support, the first step is to contact the council's Adult Social Care team. They arrange a free needs assessment to understand the day to day help required, whether that is support at home, a short stay for respite, or a longer term move. If care is recommended, a separate financial assessment then looks at income and savings to work out how much the council will contribute. The team can also signpost carers, unpaid family members, and people being discharged from the Royal Berkshire Hospital back into the local community.
Choice of providers across the district
The local care market is reasonably well developed for a largely rural area. There are 85 CQC registered care homes across West Berkshire, giving families a genuine choice between smaller village homes around Hungerford, Lambourn and Pangbourne, and larger providers closer to Newbury and Thatcham. Alongside residential care homes and nursing homes, there is an active domiciliary market offering home care visits for people who want to stay in their own property for as long as possible.
Paying for care
Funding usually comes from one or a mix of sources: full self funding, a council contribution following the financial assessment, NHS Continuing Healthcare where health needs are primary, or attendance allowance and other benefits. National capital thresholds apply when the council assesses contributions. As a general guide in West Berkshire, home care tends to sit around £25 to £32 per hour, residential care homes typically range from £1,000 to £1,400 a week, and nursing homes are usually higher again due to the registered nurse on site. Getting quotes from two or three providers is always worthwhile before deciding.
