Westminster City Council

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

Arranging care in Westminster

Westminster City Council is the local authority responsible for adult social care across central London neighbourhoods including Westminster itself, Paddington, Pimlico, Mayfair and Marylebone. As a London Borough covering some of the capital's most densely populated and diverse communities, it supports older residents and disabled adults who need help to live well at home or in a care setting.

If you or a relative is starting to think about care, the first step is to contact Westminster City Council's adult social care team. They will arrange a free needs assessment, which is a conversation about daily life, health, mobility and the kind of support that would make a real difference. This is offered to anyone who appears to need care, regardless of income or savings. If the assessment shows eligible needs, Westminster will then carry out a financial assessment to work out what, if anything, you contribute towards the cost.

The local care market

Central London has a compact but varied care landscape, with 30 CQC-registered care homes across Westminster. That gives families a genuine choice between smaller residential care homes and larger nursing homes, as well as a wide network of home care agencies serving flats and townhouses from Marylebone down to Pimlico.

Paying for care

Funding usually comes from one or a mix of sources: Westminster City Council support following the financial assessment, NHS Continuing Healthcare where needs are primarily clinical, Attendance Allowance, or self funding using savings, pensions and property. National capital thresholds apply, so people with higher savings typically pay their own fees, while those with lower means receive council contributions.

Care in central London tends to sit above the national average. As a rough guide for Westminster, home care is often around £25 to £35 per hour, residential care homes commonly range from £1,200 to £1,800 per week, and nursing homes usually cost from £1,400 to over £2,000 per week depending on the provider and level of care. Getting quotes from several homes and agencies is always worthwhile before deciding.