Residential care and nursing homes

Main Details

There may come a time where you can no longer manage at home with help and after discussions with family and friends you feel that residential care would be best for you. Some care homes offer specially trained staff or practical adaptations for certain disabilities, impairments or illnesses. Meeting your health and wellbeing needs will also include giving you advice about finding a home that fits your lifestyle, interests and cultural and religious preferences.

Services you should expect at a care home:

• meals and accommodation
• help with personal care like bathing and dressing
• staff available 24 hours a day
• physical and emotional care
• care through short illnesses.

See our checklist for choosing a residential home.

Care homes with nursing
For people who need frequent nursing care there is a qualified nurse on duty 24 hours a day in care homes with nursing (nursing homes).

The Care Home Preferred Provider Scheme has been introduced to help raise the standards of care available in residential and nursing care homes within the county, and also to assist those care homes committed to continuous improvement and provision of a quality service.

Residential care providers are expected to aspire to specific performance targets. Their progress is monitored against these and they are regularly required to provide us with information about their performance.

Regulation of home care and residential and nursing home providers
Home care, residential homes and nursing providers have to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). There are national minimum standards and regulations that agencies must follow. The CQC covers matters including the way in which supervision is carried out or the qualifications the provider manager needs to have. The CQC has the power to inspect agencies and enforce standards.

For more information Telephone: 03000 616161 or visit their website www.cqc.org.uk.

Helping you make the right decisions and choice
We can support you if you fund your own care and, if we as a council fund your care, to choose the right services for you. We offer impartial advice and information to help you make the choice that is right for you. You can choose providers who are on our preferred provider list, or you can choose providers that are not. However it is important to note that there are implications if you choose your own provider that is not on our lists. For more information telephone 0800 053 0009.