CQC Quality Statements
Theme 1 – Working with People: Supporting people to live healthier lives
We Statement
We support people to manage their health and wellbeing so they can maximise their independence, choice and control. We support them to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce future needs for care and support.
What people expect
I can get information and advice about my health, care and support and how I can be as well as possible – physically, mentally and emotionally.
I am supported to plan ahead for important changes in my life that I can anticipate.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Paying for Residential and Nursing Home Care (opens in Bury Directory website)
Paying for Services Provided in the Community (opens in Bury Directory website)
CONTENTS
1. Who are Self-Funders?
Self-funders are adults who pay for the costs of their own care and support in full. This may be funded from their own finances, or another source such as a family member.
Self-funders can include the following:
- adults who have chosen not to approach adult social care for help;
- adults who have had an assessment of needs which has found that their needs do not meet the eligibility criteria (see Eligibility chapter);
- adults who have chosen not to have a financial assessment;
- adults who have been assessed by adult social care as having eligible needs for care and support services, but who have savings or assets which are above the upper capital limit of £23,250.
2. Local Authority Duties towards Self-funders
2.1 Information and advice
Self-funders are entitled to help with accessing information and advice services (see Information and Advice chapter).
Independent financial advice is particularly important for adults when they are making decisions about how to pay for their care and support.
2.2 Assessment and care and support planning
Self-funders who appear to have needs for care and support are entitled to an assessment of needs (see Assessments chapter) and, if they are found to have eligible needs for care and support, are entitled to local authority support in preparing a care and support plan.
2.3 Requesting help with arranging care and support
Under the Care Act 2014, self-funders can ask the local authority to arrange their care and support for them. Where the adult requires care in a care home, the local authority may choose to respond to their request for help with making such arrangements.
Where the adult requires some other type of care, such as support to stay at home and other types of accommodation, the local authority must meet those needs.
In this situation, the local authority will pay for the care provided and then send the adult a bill to cover the this. An administration charge may also be added to cover the costs the local authority incurs in providing this service.
2.4 Reablement and minor adaptations
Some services which help adults maintain their independence are also provided without charge. This includes the provision of home adaptations and equipment under £1,000 and time-limited, reablement support after a stay in hospital.
2.5 Deferred payment agreements
Deferred payments provide a way for adults to pay for their care without having to sell their home or possessions during their lifetime. For more information see Deferred Payments Agreements chapter.
2.5 Section 117 aftercare
Aftercare services under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act are provided to meet needs arising from or related to a person’s mental disorder and are intended to reduce the risk of a deterioration of their mental condition (and them needing to be readmitted to hospital for treatment as a result). They are provided free of charge to all people. See Section 117 Aftercare chapter.
3. Mental Capacity
Where an adult who does not capacity to make their own decisions has finances above the upper capital limit, their representative can ask the local authority to arrange the adult’s care and support . The person making the request on behalf of the adult can only do so if this is in the adult’s best interests (see Mental Capacity chapter).
4. Depleting Funds
If the self-funder’s savings and capital look set to fall below £23,500 they (or their representative) should contact the local authority for a financial assessment to identify the amount of financial support that the adult may be entitled to once they are below the threshold.
4.1 Ordinary residence issues
Where a self-funder has chosen to move to another area and then finds that their funds have depleted, they can apply to the local authority area that they have moved to for an assessment. If it is decided that they have eligible needs for care and support, the person’s ordinary residence will be in the place where they moved to and not the first authority.
5. Further Reading
5.1 Relevant chapters
Financial Information and Advice
