Navigating the Funding Maze

More people face paying the full price for their residential care after the government opted to freeze charging thresholds for a ninth year in a row.  The upper and lower capital limits, which determine who must pay the full cost of their care and how much others should pay from their assets, will remain at the same level in 2019-20 as they have done since 2010-11.  The lower and upper capital limits will remain at £14,250 and £23,250 respectively in 2019-2020.

Residential Care

Individuals with less than £14,250 in assets (in most cases, including any property) do not have to pay for their residential care from their assets.  Residential care fees may be paid for by the local authority, though individuals must contribute to this from their income (including state benefits but excluding earnings).  Individuals are left with a weekly personal expenses allowance of £24.90 per week.

If an individual has assets of over £23,250, the upper capital limit, they must pay the full cost of their residential care.

Community Care Services

Individuals with over £14,250 will be assessed to contribute towards their care and support.  A fairer charging assessment will be completed by the Local Authority to calculate this contribution.  For individuals with over £23,250 they will have to pay the full cost of their care.

Individuals with over the capital threshold are termed ‘self funders’ and Local Authorities often do not have the capacity to assess their needs and find suitable care and support services to meet these needs.

The Care Advice Centre is an Independent Social Work consultancy service.  We are experienced social workers who can assist you to navigate the complex care system.  We can provide independent assessments of need and help you to find suitable care and support to meet your needs.

Services offered by the Care Advice Centre:

·         Advising, assessing for and arranging care and support in the community or residential placements

·         Support with hospital discharges

·         Support with hospital discharges under the Mental Health Act and support at tribunals

·         Support with benefit applications

·         Review of care and support needs

·         Visiting services

·         Certificate providers for Lasting Powers of Attorney

·         COP3 and mental capacity assessments

·         Applications for NHS and Continuing Healthcare and support with appeals

·         Case management

·         Expert witness reports

Please contact us on 07764480565 to discuss any of our services.

The Care Advice Centre - who we are and what we do!

As we start the new year, just a quick reminder about who we are and what we do.

The Care Advice Centre was established in 2011 by qualified social worker Aleisha White.  In 2018 Anna Callow joined the business as it expanded due to the growing need for Care and Advice services.

Anna qualified with a Masters in Social Work in 2006 and has worked within Local Authority Adult Teams since this time, being promoted to Senior Practitioner.  Anna is also a Practice Educator for trainee Social Workers.

As Independent Social Workers (ISW) we have the knowledge and skills to support people who require our expertise within the care sector.  Choosing an ISW with this level of experience is crucial to ensuring competent advice and assessments.

Some of our services include:
• Advising, assessing for an arranging care and support in the community or residential placements
• Support with benefit applications
• Certificate providers for LPA
• COP3 and mental capacity assessments
• Applications for NHS and Continuing Healthcare and support with appeals
• Case management
• Expert witness

If we can be of help to you please contact us on 07764480565.

Choosing the Right Independent Social Worker

Choosing the right Independent Social Worker

There are new Independent Social Worker agencies popping up regularly, but how do you know which one to use?  It is essential that you take time to consider this decision and choose the right person.

At the Care Advice Centre, we have over 20 years’ experience practicing within adult social care.  All practitioners have worked within Local Authority adult’s teams so have a good understanding of the care and support system which can be complex and difficult to navigate.  Independent Social Worker, Anna Callow has gained a senior level of practitioner within Local Authority teams and within this role managed and supervised a team of social workers.  Anna is also a qualified practice educator – supporting trainee social workers through their practice placements.  This role involves teaching the students the core values and ethics of social work as well as the legislation to which we practice and the theories that guide us.  All trainee social workers must meet the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) and as a Practice Educator, Anna guides them through attaining these standards.  The PCF are hosted by the British Association of Social Workers, which all Independent Social Workers at the Care Advice Centre are registered with.

The Care Advice Centre is an affiliated member of the Society of Later Life Advisors, a not for profit organisations that provides advise regarding financial products and services to the later life market.

All Social Workers must register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and their registration can be checked online.  To practice as a social worker, you must complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which ties in with registration to the HCPC.  Workers are audited randomly by the HCPC to ensure they are completing their CPD to enhance their practice with clients.

The Care Advice Centre is a friendly, approachable team of professionals providing experienced support and advice.  We provide a flexible service to meet the client's needs.  The Care Advice Centre offer a 7-day completion of COP3 forms from day of instruction.  We aim to complete all other instructions within a 7-14 day timescale.  We appreciate how important it is to receive a quick response.

Please call the Care Advice Centre to have a chat regarding our services on 07764480565.

This is how the Care Advice Centre can help you

• Making sure you are ready for hospital discharge
• Assistance to find care home/ care at home
• Applying for benefits, including Attendance Allowance (AA), NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC), Personal Independent Payment (PIP)
• Certificate Provider for Lasting Power of Attorney
• Mental Capacity Assessments
• Pre-paid funeral plans

Call us on 07766490473 or email info@care-advice-centre.co.uk

The varying roles of an Independent Social Worker

The Care Advice Centre was established in 2011 due to a growing demand for the services of Independent Social Workers.  The need for our services is increasing for several reasons.  Firstly, Local Authorities across England face their budgets being cut whilst at the same time there are increasing demands on their services.  Therefor the Local Authority has less capacity to support clients who are deemed as ‘privately funded’.  Independent Social Workers have the experience, knowledge and time to support these clients with finding the right care and support for them, whether in the community or residential settings.

Secondly, there is an increasing need for Certificate Providers for Lasting Powers of Attorney applications.  Independent Social Workers can provide this service.  It is beneficial to have a Certificate Provider to prevent the Lasting Power of Attorney being challenged at a later date.  If a person has lost capacity to make a Lasting Power of Attorney, then Independent Social Workers can complete the capacity assessment required to make the application to the Court of Protection to grant deputyship to a person.

Thirdly, there continues to be a lack of knowledge and support to people with the application for NHS Continuing Healthcare.  Independent Social Workers are experienced in the application for this funding stream and are able to support with appealing outcomes.  If you awarded NHS Continuing Healthcare then your care and support needs could be funded entirely by the NHS, in the community or a residential placement.

Fourthly, with the changing demographics of the population and families no longer living near to each other, many individuals do not have the opportunity to see loved ones regularly.  Independent Social Workers can provide a visiting service or regular reviews to ensure their wellbeing.

Fifthly, Independent Social Workers can help to maximise a person’s income by advising on benefit entitlement and supporting with their application.

As Independent Social Workers we are also asked to complete expert reports for solicitors and use our experience of adult social care to support with insurance claims or immigration disputes.

With over 20 years’ experience within adult social care, the Care Advice Service provides an Independent Social Work service that can be trusted.

Please contact the Care Advice Centre on 07764480565

Getting affairs in order

Hopefully your parents will have made a Lasting Power of Attorney and will have made a Will. If not, it is very important to get these documents in place as soon as possible. Elderly parents can find discussing these subjects quite difficult and they might refuse point blank to even consider them! It might help if you can offer some examples of how helpful having these documents in place can be. Give a couple of scenarios where it would be difficult for you to act for them without a Lasting Power of Attorney in place and also how important it is for them to make a Will so that their wishes are followed after death. Keep talking and hopefully they will see that this makes sense.

Facing denial, anger and frustration

People who are losing control and independence over their life will be feeling scared and frustrated, which can result to angry outbursts. Try to keep calm and don’t resort to arguing. It is sometimes a good idea to introduce someone as a befriender first, someone who can help a little around the house and take your parent out for a coffee. It will be helpful for your parent to build up a relationship with a potential carer first and this is a useful way to find out how your parent is really feeling and coping