Arranging care in Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Council is the upper tier authority covering much of the West Midlands county of Worcestershire, including Worcester, Kidderminster, Redditch, Evesham, Malvern, Droitwich and Bromsgrove. As a county council, it holds statutory responsibility for adult social care across these towns and the surrounding rural areas, working alongside the district councils that handle housing and local services.
If you or a relative is starting to think about support at home or a move into a care setting, the first step is to contact Worcestershire County Council's adult social care team to request a Care Act needs assessment. This assessment is free, regardless of income or savings, and looks at daily living, mobility, safety and wellbeing to work out what support would help. Where the assessment identifies eligible needs, a financial assessment follows to see how much, if anything, you would be asked to contribute. National capital thresholds apply, so people with savings above the upper limit are usually treated as self funders, while those below may receive help from the council toward the cost of their care.
Choice of care across the county
Families have a genuinely wide choice locally, with around 291 CQC registered care homes across Worcestershire. That includes residential care homes offering personal care and companionship, nursing homes with qualified nurses on site for more complex health needs, and specialist dementia settings. Home care agencies operate across all the main towns, from Bromsgrove and Redditch in the north down to Malvern and Evesham in the south, so it is usually possible to find support close to family.
Paying for care
Funding can come from the council following a financial assessment, from NHS Continuing Healthcare where health needs are the primary reason for care, from Attendance Allowance, or from personal savings, pensions and property. As a rough guide for planning, home care in Worcestershire typically costs around £20 to £25 per hour, residential care homes around £900 to £1,100 per week, and nursing homes around £1,100 to £1,400 per week, with individual fees varying by provider and needs.
Worcestershire County Council can also arrange a direct payment so you can choose your own carer or provider, giving families more control over how support is delivered.
