Residential homes and nursing homes must be registered with the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Homes can only admit you if they are registered to meet the sorts of care need you have:

  • Any home wanting to take people over 65 years must be registered for the category ‘Old Age’. People over 65 who are physically frail can be admitted to these homes
  • Any home wanting to take people with other conditions, eg. dementia, mental illness, learning disability etc., must have the appropriate registration, ie. ‘Dementia’, ‘Mental Disorder’, ‘Learning  Disability’ etc.

Similarly, care homes providing nursing care (known as nursing homes) must be registered for the appropriate categories of care needs.

If you or your family want to search for a care home, check it’s registration or look at it’s inspection reports, you can visit the Commission for Social Care Inspection website and use the ‘advanced search’ option.

Level of care needs

Every person going into a care home will have a variety of needs and some people will need more care than others, and therefore the cost of placements will also vary. In Waltham Forest we have two levels of dependency for residential homes and for residential homes for people with dementia/mental illness.

Likewise people going into a nursing home will have different levels of need. In Waltham Forest, Social Services will pay a standard rate for your accommodation and board and the Primary Care Trust will pay a contribution to cover your assessed nursing needs. The RNCC (Registered Nurse Care Contribution, formerly known as "free nursing care").is assessed by health service staff and has three levels: low, medium and high band. The banded level of financial support provided is reviewed on an annual basis.

You, or your relative, will receive a letter from the panel advising you of the way in which the local authority can meet your assessed care needs.

If you have any concerns please feel free to discuss this with us. Please click the link for information on paying for your care.

Can care homes look after people with various religious, cultural and language needs?

Waltham Forest is a very diverse community, with people from many parts of the world. You may be from one of these communities but now need to live in a care home. The local authority accepts that these individual needs must be met if you are to be cared for properly in a home and will try to find a home for you that will meet these needs.

At the start, when we are assessing your need for a service, we will take into account those needs. Our social workers and managers come from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and religions. Therefore we can understand and accept your individual needs.

The care homes, owned and managed by Waltham Forest council, have managers and care staff from the various communities living in our area. They will be able to provide the personal and social care that you require to meet your individual needs.

If we cannot meet your needs in this way, we will discuss with you alternative placements in the independent sector. Some care homes provide care only to people from a particular background, e.g. Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Irish, Afro-Caribbean or Chinese people. Not all homes are located in the Borough.

Social Services contracts with care homes

If you need our help to live in a care home we may offer you the option of moving  to an independent care home. We will need to agree a contract with the home before you move into that home. This contract sets out the services you will get and how much the home costs. Once we release funds for your care home, we will start this process. You should not move into a home until you have been informed that this contract is agreed.

Some of the care homes in Waltham Forest and surrounding areas have existing contracts with the department. Your social worker or care manager can advise you about this.

If you are making your own arrangements, we will not be involved in the placement but you and your family should ensure that you get a written agreement about the services you will receive and their costs now and in the future.

Useful links

  • Commission for Social Care Inspection - Information on how to find a care home and homes inspection reports
  • Counsel and Care -  Information on care in a home, particulary paying for and choosing care homes
  • Housing Care - This site aims to help older people make decisions about where to live, and any support or care they need. It will help you maintain, adapt or improve your home or consider alternative types of accommodation that might be available e.g. extra care housing
  • Benefits and pensions
  • Age Concern Waltham Forest - Provides information, advice and home-finding services for older people. Call them on 020 8558 0455

Contact us

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