Is there a charge for services?

There is no charge for any assessment.

A charge may be made for services we provide to the person you are caring for; depending on their financial circumstances (charges for services are in accordance with the Government’s Fairer Charging Policy). Following a financial assessment, we will give a clear idea of what can be expected to be paid and how the charges are calculated.

For a copy of the Fairer Charging leaflet, contact Oxfordshire County Council’s Social & Health Care Team 0845 050 7666 or you can find the online leaflet on www.Oxfordshire.gov.ukby searching for “Fairer Charging”.

There are no charges for services for children under 18.

We do not charge for the services we provide to Carers.

Direct payments

If someone is eligible for services, Direct Payments is a way to provide finance so they can purchase the services themselves. They can be used as part of self-directed support. (Direct Payments leaflets are available from the Direct Payments Team on 01865 797445)

Intermediate care

If care is arranged as part of a package of rehabilitation or ‘intermediate care’, where you are having short-term therapy or treatment, either following some time in hospital or to avoid having to go into hospital, it will be free for the first six weeks.

Residential / Care Home Charges

Most people have to pay something towards the cost of their care in a Care home. The amount you pay depends on how much money you have and will normally come from your income – for example, a private or state pension and some benefits such as pension credit – and any capital over a certain amount (£23,250 from April 2010). Your capital will include any savings or investments you have and may include property you own or jointly own.

 To discuss financial assessments further, please contact Oxfordshire County Council’s Financial Assessments team on 01865 797530.

NHS Continuing health care in a care home

The NHS is responsible for meeting the full cost of care in a care home for residents whose ‘primary need’ for being in care is health based. This is called NHS continuing healthcare and is often described as ‘fully funded care’.

Care provided by registered nurses in care homes

The NHS is responsible for meeting the registered nursing costs of all residents in care homes that provide nursing care.

Nursing care is the care given by a registered nurse in providing, planning and supervising your care in a nursing home. It does not include time spent by any other staff involved in your care. Responsibility for meeting the cost of your nursing care lies with your primary care trust (PCT). If you move to a home in a different PCT area, you will become the responsibility of that PCT when you register with a GP there.

In March 2010, the Department of Health announced that the single rate for provision of NHS-funded nursing care for the financial year 2010/11 is £108.70. The higher rate payment for certain residents who were already in a care home on 1 October 2007 is £149.60 per week.

Continence services

The NHS is responsible for providing continence services to residents in homes providing nursing care and for meeting the cost of any continence supplies (such as continence pads) that those residents are assessed as requiring, including any equipment needed.

Community health services such as continence supplies and district nursing should be provided to residents of care homes that do not provide nursing care using the same criteria as for people living in their own homes.

Buying care services

You can get in touch with care providers privately to organise caring services you wish to pay for

It is sometimes possible to obtain services, or the funding for them, from other sources, for example the Social Fund (contact the Department for work & pensions) or charities such as the Family Fund (Phone 0845 130 4542)

Local contacts

Carers Oxfordshire

http://www.oxonCarers.org.uk

Age UK

Oxfordshire, City and County
Tel: 0844 8870005

Age UK

Chipping Norton
Tel: 01608 643458

The Oxfordshire Continence Advisory Service

Witney Community Hospital
Tel: 01993 209434

Citizens Advice Oxfordshire

For the following offices telephone or to get information about sub offices within their district

Tel: 08444 111 444

• Abingdon
• Banbury
• Bicester
• Chipping Norton
• Didcot
• Henley
• Oxford
• Thame
• Witney

National Contacts

Age UK

Tel: 0800 169 6565

Please note: The organisations listed on this page are not endorsed or recommended by Oxfordshire County Council and the contact details are provided for information only.

Please feel free to contact any of the organisations on this fact sheet yourself. If required, Carers Oxfordshire can also help you further. You can contact them on 0845 050 7666, Monday to Thursday 0830-1700, Friday 0830-1600