Nursing Homes in Washington
Both of the nursing homes registered in Washington hold a rating of Good from the Care Quality Commission, which makes the inspection picture here an uncomplicated one. Two providers match this search, each registered for care that includes qualified nurses on the staff rota rather than care workers alone, so clinical needs can be met without moving somebody elsewhere. A short list of this kind reflects what the register currently holds for nursing care in Washington rather than any gap in the Care Assura directory. Sunderland City Council is the body responsible for carrying out a care needs assessment and for deciding what funded support somebody is entitled to, and the council can also advise on homes covering the surrounding area if neither of these two has a suitable room. With only two to weigh up and an identical rating on each, the reports are what will separate them. Open both profiles and read what inspectors recorded about nursing cover and medicines before you arrange a visit.
Arranging nursing care in Washington and working out who pays
The care needs assessment
Establishing what level of care somebody needs, before a home is chosen, keeps the conversations that follow far more straightforward. Any adult who appears to need help with daily living is entitled to a free care needs assessment, and a relative may request one on their behalf. Sunderland City Council carries out that assessment for people living in Washington, identifies which needs are eligible, and records how they should be met.
Funding, fees and the part the NHS plays
A financial assessment follows and takes account of income, savings and usually the value of a property in order to decide whether the council contributes. Where nursing needs are the dominant reason for the placement, funding may come through the NHS instead, in part or in full, and the assessment should raise that. Nursing fees are quoted weekly and sit above residential rates because qualified nursing forms part of what is being bought, so ask each home for its current figure in writing.
Choosing between the two homes and what to check
Where an identical rating leaves you
Donwell House and Washington Lodge both hold a rating of Good, so the badges will not choose for you. Read what inspectors said about staffing levels, how medicines are handled and how each home responded when a resident's condition changed, because that is where two similarly rated homes begin to differ.
Questions worth asking on a visit
Ask how many registered nurses are on duty during the day and overnight, and how the rota is filled when a nurse is off sick or on leave. Find out how the home works with general practitioners and community health teams, and at what point a resident would go to hospital rather than be cared for on site. Ask how the home supports someone approaching the end of life, and how families are told when something changes.
2 nursing homes in Washington
- Donwell House · Washington, Sunderland · CQC Good
- Lodge · Washington, Sunderland · CQC Requires improvement
What care costs in North East, per week
| Type of care | What the council pays | What self-funders are typically asked |
|---|---|---|
| Residential care Middle half of prices from 13 North East homes. Median £1,369. | Varies by council | £1,331 to £1,392 |
| Nursing care England figure, because too few North East homes publish this price. 140 homes. Median £1,916. | Varies by council | £1,600 to £2,071 |
| Residential dementia care Middle half of prices from 14 North East homes. Median £1,458. | Not published separately | £1,268 to £1,548 |
| Nursing dementia care England figure, because too few North East homes publish this price. 75 homes. Median £2,050. | Not published separately | £1,890 to £2,221 |
Published prices are often starting prices, and come from homes that publish fees, so treat them as a guide. What a council pays differs from council to council. Ask the home for its own price. Powered by Orrery Intelligence.