Care homes with nursing

Care homes with nursing provide care for people who cannot remain safely at home because of complex physical and nursing care needs. These homes are registered with the Commission for Social Care Inspection and are inspected on a regular basis to ensure they meet specific standards. Inspection reports for residential and care homes with nursing are available to the public.

Care homes with nursing provide a service for people who have no serious medical conditions, but who can no longer manage in their own home (because of their illness, disability or frailty), even with support from social services, friends and carers.

How can I apply?
If you have problems living at home because of a medical condition, you should contact your care manager. If you do not have a care manager you should telephone the customer contact centre on (020) 8825 8000; email: sscallcentre@ealing.gov.uk or make contact in person at one of the social services reception points

You will be asked for more information about yourself. This information will be used to decide whether you will receive a visit from a care manager/organiser who will assess your needs and circumstances. They will also need to contact your doctor or district nurse. This would be done with your permission. Following your assessment, you and your care manager will decide together what care services, if any, are most suitable for you.

The Data Protection Act 1998 defines the rules for processing personal information and applies to most paper and computer records.

Will I qualify for a place in a care home?
The criteria for admission into a care home is complex, but in general you will qualify if you live in the borough, meet the fair access to care criteria and are one of the following:

so restricted in your movements that you can only be moved from a bed to a chair
very vulnerable because there is no one who can look after you
needing nursing care which cannot be provided in an ordinary residential care home
frail to the extent that you spend most of the day in bed
in need of specific care which can only be managed by a person with professional nursing training

Your medical needs must not, however, be so severe that you need admission to hospital. You will be assessed individually according to your physical and nursing care needs to see if a care home would be the best option for you. Depending on the outcome of your assessment, your place in a care home will be funded either by the council or Ealing Primary Care Trust. Your assessor will explain this in more detail, at the time of your assessment.

Information regarding NHS-funded care can be obtained from:

Ealing Primary Care Trust
1 Armstrong Way, Southall, Middlesex UB2 4SA
Tel: (020) 8893 0303
Website: www.ealingpct.nhs.uk

Will I have to pay for the care I receive?
The council, depending on the levels of nursing care required, provides funding. The council is responsible for fully funding those with the greatest level of nursing need and no charge is made to the service user. If the council is responsible for paying for your care, government regulations require the council to charge based on your income and savings/assets.

How much will I have to pay?
In general, people who have savings and/or assets of more than £20,500 (figure as at April 2005) will usually have to pay the full cost of their care. People who have less than this amount will probably have to make a contribution to their care. You can find out more about these charges from the social services finance team on (020) 8825 7066.

What if I am able to pay for myself?
If you are able to pay for yourself, or if you have sufficient savings such that we are not able to provide you with financial support, then we can provide you with a list of nursing homes to choose from. Your care manager/assessor will be able to discuss your decision with you. Ealing Primary Care Trust may also be able to provide further advice and information.

Feedback
We welcome your comments and suggestions about any of our services and how they may be improved. The customer care unit can deal with your comments or complaints, and they can be contacted on (020) 8825 8100; email: sscallcentre@ealing.gov.uk; or write to Social Services, Perceval House, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, London W5 2HL.

Ealing Care Directory
A directory of residential and nursing homes is available in pdf format.