Help with funding
All about the options of services you can receive help from regarding payments.
At Bluebird Care Essex West, we understand how important it is to have the right level of care and support at home. You may need:
- Advice about the care and support you need
- Information about the services available
- Information about funding the costs of your home care
See our page 'Homecare for you' for advice on choosing the right kind of service for you. Here we give you some information about how you can meet the costs of your home care.
Self-funding
Many people pay for their homecare and support using their own private funds or with help from family or friends. See our 'How to pay for your homecare' page for more information about how to pay.
NHS Continuing Healthcare
If you have a long term medical condition that requires substantial continuing health care at home, then you may be entitled to have your home care costs paid for by the NHS.
You must be over 18 years of age and have a primary health need. This means your main need for home care and support must be due to your health. If you are assessed as needing continuing healthcare then, as with other NHS services, the care you receive will be free. Unlike social care it will not be dependent on your ability to pay.
In practice it is often difficult to judge whether a person’s need for home care and support is because they have a primary health care need.
For example, many people with dementia are not eligible.
The first step is to ask for an assessment by a health professional or social worker. They will using a short screening tool to see if you may qualify for NHS continuing healthcare. If this suggests you may be eligible, they will refer you for a full assessment using a decision support tool.
You and your family will be fully involved in this assessment alongside other professionals related to your health care and support. You will be able to see a copy of the decision support tool and the assessment questions that you will discuss together. You will receive a letter confirming the decision.
Health Cover Insurance
If you have health insurance, check to see if this covers you for home care and support.
Social Services
Ask your local adult social services department of your local authority for an assessment to see what practical support they may be able to offer. UK law entitles adults in need of care and support to an assessment.
A member of Bluebird Care Essex West staff (often a registered manager) will talk to you about your health, the home care you need, what support you currently have and the things that are important to you about how you live your life.
We aim to ensure you still have all the important things in your life with you during care.
If you are an unpaid carer providing substantial care for someone, social services will look at your needs as well as the person you provide care for. You should be able to have a separate carer’s assessment in the following situations:
- Where you are providing regular and substantial care to someone
- When the person you are looking after is someone who may be entitled to community care services
- As part of the process of assessment when the person you are looking after is being discharged from hospital
- When you are looking after someone with mental health problems who is on the Care Programme Approach
- As a parent carer of a disabled child under 18, if the assessment of the child does not fully take account of your needs
The above assessments will be used to determine your home care and support needs. You may choose to use this information to find out more about the services available and then independently make your own arrangements.
Alternatively, the local authority will use the care assessment to measure whether you meet their criteria for help with home care and support services. This is called the ‘eligibility’ criteria. If you meet the eligibility criteria, the local authority will then carry out a further assessment of your financial situation to see whether you will be charged for the home care and support and if so, how much.
Types of support that the local authority may be able to provide include practical help and personal care from care agencies such as Bluebird Care Essex West, mobility aids to help the person be more independent, or respite care to give you a break.
Personal budget/direct payments
If you are entitled to care and support funded by the local authority, you may receive a direct payment or a personal budget. The advantage of these types of payments is that you have more choice and control over the services you use.
Direct payments are cash payments to cover the cost of services that you have been assessed as needing. You can use these to directly employ your own personal assistant or to buy services from a registered care provider such as Bluebird Care Essex West.
Personal budgets refer to an allocated amount which you can either take as a direct payment or ask the council to buy home care services on your behalf.
If you’re being discharged from the hospital, the staff on your ward might be able to arrange homecare services to make sure you’re safe and properly supported at home, or to help with rehabilitation.
See Age UK's 'Paying for care at home' for more information.
How to find the right care for you or your relative
1. Find your local office
Bluebird Care delivers care from locally based offices, find yours to start your care journey today.
2. Get in touch with us
Fill in our call back form or give us a call to find out how we can help you.
3. Assessment
We’ll come out to you to find out what you or your loved one needs to help stay independent at home.
4. Care team chosen & care starts
You'll be cared for by our specially trained team to support you to remain at home for as long as possible.