We will offer you a placement in a home that meets your assessed needs. Also, the home must be registered with the Commission for Social Care Inspection to meet your needs. All residential homes and nursing homes are registered and inspected by the Commission. Click here for more information.

If you need a place in a residential home we can offer:

  • A place in a residential home owned and run by Waltham Forest Council
  • A place in an independent home
  • Funding for a placement in an independent residential home

In some circumstances we will discuss with you the possibility of transferring to a transitional or intermediate care placement.

If you need a nursing home we can offer:

  • A place in an independent nursing home, purchased by Waltham Forest Council, as part of a ‘block’ contract, or
  • funding for care commissioned in an independent care home

Prior to the local authority funding care in a registered care home, the following would need to be confirmed:

  • The home must be registered with the Commission for Social Care Inspection
  • The category of home is suitable for your assessed care needs
  • The home does not cost more than the agreed maximum levels of local authority support
  • A contract, setting out the conditions of your placement is agreed

If a placement costs more than the local authority maximum levels of support, a ‘top-up payment’ can be paid by a relative, but this must be agreed in writing. Please click here for more information.

You may not need to ask Social Services for help to go into a care home. However, if you are undecided or if you are not sure about your options or the alternatives you can ask for information and an assessment of your needs. This can help clarify the best way forward for you in the immediate and longer term.

If you are likely to need nursing home care then you may be entitled to a continuing care assessment. Click here for more information on NHS Continuing Care. Most people who require a nursing home should be entitled to some help towards the assessed nursing level of care, RNCC (Registered Nurse Care Contribution, formerly known as "free nursing care").

However, not everyone is entitled to local authority financial support to go into a care home. If you can make your own arrangements, then the local authorities will have no legal responsibility to assist you.

You can make your own arrangements if -

  • you have enough available income and/or capital to pay for the home, and
  • you can make the practical arrangements yourself, either alone or with help of your family, friends, voluntary organisations etc.

Your finances

If you have enough income from pensions, interest, dividends etc. to meet the cost of a care home, leaving you with the nationally agreed personal allowance, then you will be financially able to organise your our care home. If you have enough capital, i.e. savings, shares, other investments etc. above the nationally agreed limit, (in 2005-2006 £20,500) then you will be expected to arrange and pay the the full cost of your care. If you only have a little above this limit, it would be advisable to get information and advice about how to proceed.

For further information on paying for your care please click here.

How do I arrange residential or nursing home care

If you are able to make the practical arrangements yourself, either on your own or with the help of family, friends, voluntary organisations etc., then you may not need help from Social Services.

The tasks involved will include, finding a suitable home, visiting it yourself or getting your family to visit, agreeing a weekly cost and agreeing what services are covered, looking at the inspection reports and agreeing a written contract with the home.

Here are some organisations that can help with these tasks:

Contact us

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