Accessing Care

Realising that you or someone close to you may need additional help can bring lots of questions.

What support is available? Who do I contact? Will the council pay? Can I choose my own care provider? What happens if I want to pay privately?

There isn’t one answer that suits everyone. The right route will depend on the individual’s needs, circumstances, finances and preferences.

At MasterStaff Healthcare, we’re happy to help you understand the options available.

Support through Lancashire County Council

If you are finding everyday activities difficult because of illness, disability, age or another reason, you can approach Lancashire County Council Adult Social Care and ask for an assessment of your care and support needs.

The assessment looks at the difficulties you are experiencing and the things that are important to you. If the council decides that you have eligible care and support needs, it will discuss how those needs could be met.

A separate financial assessment may then be carried out to establish whether the council will contribute towards the cost of your care and how much you may be expected to contribute yourself.

Eligibility for financial assistance should therefore never be assumed simply because someone has been assessed as needing care.

Useful contact: Lancashire County Council Adult Social Care – 0300 123 6720.

Personal Budgets and Direct Payments

If Lancashire County Council assesses you as being eligible for funded care and support, you may be given a Personal Budget.

Rather than the council arranging all of your support for you, you may be able to receive some or all of that budget as a Direct Payment.

A Direct Payment can give you greater choice and control over how your agreed care and support is provided. For example, subject to the terms of your care and support plan, it can be used to pay a registered homecare provider.

The money must be used to meet the needs and outcomes agreed in your care and support plan, so it isn’t simply an unrestricted payment.

If you think Direct Payments may be suitable for you, speak to your social worker or Lancashire County Council Adult Social Care.

Paying privately for care

You don’t have to receive council funding to arrange care at home.

Many people choose to arrange and pay for their own care. You may hear this described as private care or being a self-funder.

Private care can be appropriate if you are not eligible for financial assistance, don’t wish to have a council assessment, want additional support beyond that funded by the council, or simply prefer to make your own arrangements directly with a care provider.

With privately arranged care, we can discuss your needs directly with you and create a personalised care package based around the support you want.

How much does homecare cost?

There is no single cost for homecare because everyone’s needs are different.

The overall cost will depend on factors such as:

• how many visits are required
• the length of each visit
• the type and complexity of support required
• when care is required
• whether additional or specialist support is needed.

If you are arranging care through Lancashire County Council, the amount you personally contribute will depend upon the outcome of the council’s financial assessment.

If you are arranging care privately, MasterStaff Healthcare can explain our charges clearly before you make a decision.

Choosing a care provider

Choosing someone to provide care in your home is an important decision. As well as considering practical issues such as availability and cost, you should feel confident that the organisation is properly managed and that its carers have the appropriate training and support.

Homecare organisations providing regulated personal care in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The CQC is England’s independent regulator of health and social care. Its website allows you to check whether a provider is registered and, where applicable, read its latest assessment or inspection information and rating.

MasterStaff Healthcare (Preston) is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide personal care.

Lancashire County Council and finding providers

Lancashire County Council can also provide assistance with finding appropriate care services.

Its Care Navigation Service is available to adults in Lancashire and can help people identify personal care services that match their needs and preferences. You do not need to have had a social care assessment to use the Care Navigation Service, so it may also be useful if you intend to fund your own care.