CQC Quality Statements
Theme 1 – Working with People: Supporting people to live healthier lives
We Statement
Within Salford Care Organisation, we support people to manage their health and wellbeing so they can maximise their independence, choice and control. We support them to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce future needs for care and support.
What people expect
I can get information and advice about my health, care and support and how I can be as well as possible – physically, mentally and emotionally. I am supported to plan ahead for important changes in my life that I can anticipate.
CONTENTS
1. Who are Self-funders?
Self-funders are adults who pay for the costs of their own care and support in full. This may be funded from their own finances or another source, such as a family member.
Self-funders can include the following:
- adults who have chosen not to approach adult social care for help;
- adults who have had an assessment of their care and support needs which has found they do not meet the eligibility criteria (see Eligibility chapter);
- adults who have chosen not to have a financial assessment;
- adults who have been assessed by adult social care as having eligible needs for care and support, but who have savings or assets above the upper capital limit of £23,250.
2. Local Authority Duties Towards Self-funders
2.1 Information and advice
Self-funders are entitled to help with accessing information and advice services (see Information and Advice chapter).
Independent financial advice is particularly important for adults, and their family members where relevant, when they are making decisions about how to pay for their care and support.
2.2 Assessment and care and support planning
Self-funders who appear to have needs for care and support are entitled to an assessment of needs (see Assessments chapter) and if they are found to have eligible needs for care and support, are entitled to local authority support in preparing a care and support plan.
2.3 Requesting help with arranging care and support
Under the Care Act 2014, self-funders can ask the local authority to arrange their care and support for them. Where the adult requires care in a care home, the local authority may decide to help with their request in making such arrangements.
Where the adult requires some other type of care, such as support to stay at home and / or other types of accommodation, the local authority must, if requested to do so, support them in making those arrangements.
In this situation, the local authority will pay for the care provided and then invoice the adult for those costs. An administration charge may also be added to cover the costs the local authority incurs in providing this service.
2.4 Reablement and minor adaptations
Some services, which help adults maintain their independence, are also provided without charge. This includes the provision of home adaptations and equipment under £1,000 and time-limited reablement support after a stay in hospital.
2.5 Deferred payment agreements
Deferred payments provide a way for adults to pay for their care without having to sell their home or possessions during their lifetime.
For more information see Deferred Payment Agreements chapter.
2.6 Section 117 Aftercare
Aftercare services provided under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 to meet needs arising from or related to a person’s mental disorder, are free of charge to all people. However, where a person who is self-funder also has other care and support needs (not related to their mental disorder) they will be required to meet the cost of any services to address these needs. For more information see Section 117 Aftercare chapter.
3. Mental Capacity
Where an adult who has been assessed as not having mental capacity to make their own decisions has finances above the upper capital limit, their representative can ask the local authority to arrange their care and support. The person making the request on behalf of the adult can only do so if this is in the adult’s best interests (see Mental Capacity chapter).
4. Depleting Funds
If an adult who is a self-funder has savings and capital that are likely to fall below the upper capital limit, they (or their representative) should contact the local authority for a financial assessment to identify the amount of financial support that the adult may be entitled to once they are below the threshold of £23,350.
4.1 Ordinary residence issues
Where an adult who is a self-funder has chosen to move to another area and then finds that their funds have reduced below the upper capital limit of £23,250, they can apply to the local authority area they have moved to for an assessment of their care and support needs. If the assessment finds they have eligible needs, they will be considered to be ordinarily resident in the place where they moved to (the second authority) and not the first authority (see Ordinary Residence chapter).
5. Further Reading
5.1 Relevant chapters
Financial Information and Advice
