A Guide to Adult Social Care

When someone you love needs care, it can feel like you’re suddenly expected to understand a whole new system. We know this can be stressful, especially when you’re trying to do the right thing. 

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Understanding capacity

Sometimes a person may not be able to make certain decisions for themselves. This is called lacking mental capacity. It doesn’t mean they can’t make any decisions - just that they may need support with specific ones. Professionals use the Mental Capacity Act to check this fairly and to make sure every decision is made with the person’s rights, wishes, and wellbeing at the centre.

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Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

An LPA is a legal document that lets someone choose a trusted person to make decisions for them if they can’t do so in the future. It can cover health and welfare or property and finances.
Having an LPA in place makes things much smoother for families when important decisions need to be made.

It is important to remember that having an LPA for one aspect does not provide an automatic right to be able to make decisions in another aspect.  

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If there is no LPA: deputyship

If someone has already lost capacity and there is no LPA, the Court of Protection may appoint a deputy. A deputy has similar authority to make decisions, but the process takes longer and can delay access to funding or financial arrangements.

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Why the right authority matters

Without an LPA or deputyship, relatives may find it difficult to speak to banks, manage bills, arrange care, or access funding on someone’s behalf. Having the correct legal authority simply ensures that the person’s needs can be met without unnecessary barriers.

If you are having difficulties navigating the system, our team may be able to help provide information.  You may also find it helpful to seek legal advice or information from a charitable organisation, such as Age UK.

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Most people start with a care needs assessment from the local authority to understand what support is required. If the person may need help with fees, the council will also carry out a financial assessment.

 

In England, for 2025/6, if someone has more than £23,250 in savings or assets, they are usually classed as a self‑funder. If their assets fall between £14,250 and £23,250, the local authority may contribute towards the cost of care, and if they have less than £14,250, the council generally pays more of the fees (though the person still contributes from income).

 

Having the right legal authority in place, such as an LPA or deputyship,  makes this process much smoother, as the council will need permission to discuss finances and confirm eligibility.

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If you are supporting someone whose funds are approaching the threshold, it is important to try to speak to the local authority at the earliest opportunity before this, as assessments and arrangements can take time.

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For people in the BCP area, the contact number for Adult Social Care is: 01202 123654 and the email address is asc.contactcentre@bcpcouncil.gov.uk. 

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Continuing Healthcare

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is funding provided by the NHS for people who have significant ongoing health needs. If someone’s care needs are mainly health‑related, the NHS may cover the full cost of their care home fees. To decide this, a team of professionals carries out an assessment looking at the person’s day‑to‑day health needs, risks, and the level of support required. The assessment focuses on areas like mobility, breathing, nutrition, behaviour, cognition, and how much skilled input is needed. It isn’t about a diagnosis, it’s about the nature, intensity, complexity, and unpredictability of the person’s needs. If the assessment shows that their needs are mainly health‑related, the NHS may fund the full cost of their care.

When someone makes an enquiry about staying with us, whether for a short stay or a permanent move, one of our team will have a friendly conversation to understand the person’s needs and to see whether our home is likely to be the right fit.

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If it seems that we may be able to meet the person’s needs, we’ll invite you to visit the home and, if you wish to take things further, we can arrange a full assessment.

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During the assessment, we’ll ask about the person’s health, abilities, routines, and preferences. This helps us understand the type of support they may need during both the day and night, and ensures we can provide safe, personalised care.

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The assessment also helps us confirm the weekly fee that will be payable. Our rates start at £1,215 per week, but may be higher if someone needs additional support - for example with eating and drinking, mobility, or other aspects of daily living.

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Before a placement can be offered, we will also require evidence that the person will be able to pay their fees for at least two years.  If the person does not have capacity to manage their financial affairs, we will also need  evidence of Power of Attorney or Court Appointed Deputyship. 

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Without the right authority in place, access to bank accounts to be able to pay for care and cover other living costs, will be restricted, which could mean fees cannot be paid.  

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If the person does not have capacity and cannot choose to live in a care home, we will need to apply for authorisation for the person to come to Highview.  This is a legal requirement under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.  If someone lacks the ability to consent, and does not have a person acting as PoA for Health and Welfare, this may cause delays in admission. 

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If a placement has been agreed, there will be some documents that will need to be checked and signed before a person can come and stay, such as a contract.  The person or their representatives should be provided with a copy of our Statement of Purpose, which includes our Resident Guide. This contains lots of useful detail about different aspects of life in the home, including things that are charged for separately (such as chiropody, accompanying residents to appointments) and notice periods, for example.

 

We also provide forms to fill in about preferences, routines, life history and goals.  It really helps our team if these are completed, as we can begin to ensure care is personalised appropriately from the beginning. 

 

​After someone moves into our home, we take time to help them settle in gently.  We will take an inventory of the items they bring with them.  It can help to label clothing, so that it can be returned quickly. 

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Our team will get to know the person's routines, preferences, and what helps them feel comfortable. In the first few days, we’ll complete a detailed care plan, making sure we understand their needs and wishes.

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As the person settles, we review their care regularly and adjust support as needed, ensuring they feel safe, welcomed, and part of the home.

It can take some time for people to adjust to living in a new place, and we will do everything we can to make this process as comfortable as possible. 

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We will need copies of documents such as Lasting Power of Attorney (if applicable), information about the person's medical history, and also their medication.  We may need to change the person's GP to a local service. 

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We may need to carry out a capacity assessment prior to or on admission, and if the person does not appear to have capacity, we will need to apply to the local authority under the Deprivation of Liberties Safeguards, for authorisation for the person to remain in our home.  This is to protect the rights of people who may not be able to consent to being in a care setting. 

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There may be other consent forms and permission forms to sign, for which we may have to carry out capacity assessments.  This can include things like permission to share information with other agencies such as the NHS and social services, for example.