Residential (care homes) and nursing home (care homes that provide nursing care) care is provided to members of the community by the private for profit sector, the not-for-profit sector or the charitable sector and residential care only, by the council.
All of the care homes and care homes that provide nursing care must be registered to operate with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). CQC inspects all care homes to encourage them to meet a set of National Minimum Standards. Inspection Reports are produced as a result; these are available to the public on request from CQC or on the CQC website.
CQC Address:
2nd and 3rd Floor
77 Paradise Circus
Queensway
Birmingham,
West Midlands
B1 2DT
Telephone No. 0121 600 5300
Web: http://www.cqc.org.uk/
Although some people are able to pay for their own care in care homes and care homes providing nursing care, many are financially supported by the local authority. The local authority has a duty under the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 to assess the needs of individuals who might be in need of community care services, including care homes and care homes providing nursing care.
An assessment of this kind will help to identify what an individual’s needs are and whether they are best met by a care home and if so, what type of home. If assistance from the local authority with the costs of the care home is being sought a needs assessment is essential. The local authority will not provide assistance unless an assessment is conducted by them to establish the type of care an individual needs.
Contact in the first instance with the Access Team: Tel: 0300 555 0055
There are different types of care home and care homes providing nursing care. Some care for older people only for example, others may also or exclusively care for older people with mental health problems.
Choosing a residential or nursing home
The Care Quality Commission, with which all care homes and care homes providing nursing care must be registered, can provide a list of all homes registered in any given area. The Adult, Community and Housing Services Directorate can provide a list of care homes with which it has a contract to provide care to individuals to whom it provides financial support.
The National Minimum Standards, supported by the Care Standards Act 2000, require care homes and care homes providing nursing care to make it very clear what level of care they will provide and how they will meet each individual ‘s care needs.
Each care home is required to produce and make available an up-to-date statement of purpose setting out the aims, objectives, philosophy of care, services and facilities of the home. They must also provide a service user guide to the home for their existing and prospective service users.
These documents will assist individuals to choose suitable care homes, given other considerations such as geographical location. Social workers from the local authority will be able to assist with any queries individuals may have.
It is advisable for individuals considering entering care homes to visit potential homes if possible, to meet staff and residents and form an opinion about the suitability of the home for them. Moving into a care home is a major decision and it is advisable to prepare questions before visiting any home and deciding what to look for, particularly to meet any special needs an individual may have. We produce a series of useful information booklets to help when choosing residential or nursing home care. These are available upon request or can be downloaded:
Further information
