Nursing Homes in Barnet

Barnet has 26 CQC registered nursing homes. 21 are rated Good, 2 Requires improvement, and 3 have not yet been rated. 13 of the 26 were last inspected more than three years ago.

Source: Care Quality Commission register, kept up to date as ratings change.

Planning and Paying for Nursing Care in Barnet

Money and eligibility are best settled before rooms are viewed, since the answers change which homes are realistic. An assessment comes first, the financial assessment second, and the shortlist follows from both.

Requesting a care needs assessment

Anyone who appears to need care and support can ask for an assessment, and a relative, a GP or a hospital discharge team may request one on their behalf. There is no charge, whatever the household income. London Borough of Barnet Adult Social Care carries out that assessment and the financial assessment that follows, the second of which decides how much of the fee the council meets and how much the resident pays. Having eligible needs recorded in writing helps even families who intend to fund privately.

Where the funding comes from

A nursing placement rarely draws on a single source. A contribution towards care delivered by a registered nurse is paid by the health service directly to the home rather than to the resident. Where someone's main need is a health need rather than a social one, a separate assessment can lead to the entire package being funded through the health service. What remains is divided between the council and the resident according to the financial assessment.

Understanding the weekly fee

Ask every home for its fees in writing rather than accepting a figure on the telephone, and check what sits outside the weekly charge, such as hairdressing, chiropody or escorted appointments. Ask how often fees are reviewed and how much notice precedes an increase. Ask what happens to the room during a hospital stay and what the home does when private savings fall to the level where council support begins.

Choosing a Nursing Home in Barnet and What to Check

Reading the ratings

Twenty one homes on this list are rated Good, two are rated Requires Improvement and one is not yet rated. A rating summarises one inspection on one date, so open the report, check when the visit took place and look at which of the five key questions were marked down. A home rated Requires Improvement is not out of contention on that basis alone, but expect the manager to explain precisely what has changed.

Questions about clinical care

Ask how many registered nurses are on duty by day and at night, how much agency cover is used and how long the current manager has been in post. Ask what the home is experienced in handling, from pressure care and diabetes to catheter care and support at the end of life. Ask what would happen if a resident deteriorated and whether a move elsewhere would be needed.

What to notice while you are there

Visit when the home is busy rather than at a quiet hour. Watch how staff greet residents who are not expecting a visitor, whether people are occupied and how promptly call bells are answered. Ask to see a room that is genuinely available, and stay for a meal if the timing allows.

Related searches

• Care Homes in Barnet
• Home Care in Barnet

Nursing Homes near Barnet

• Borehamwood
• Edgware
• Stanmore
• Enfield
• Hatfield
• Harrow
• Wembley
• St Albans
• Watford
• Pinner