Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

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Charging and assessment

three older people talking in garden

Local authorities are responsible for interpreting and applying regulations in order to decide what to charge for social care services. The Department of Health publishes policy and guidance which seeks to ensure that the charges are fair and affordable.

Charging for social care

Charging for social care is not a new development. People have always had to pay for, or contribute towards, the cost of social care. Today there are different arrangements for charging for residential care and non-residential care that take into account the individual needs and situation of the person requiring care.

DH Consultation on the Fairer Charging Guidance in relation to personal budgets

Councils looking to revise their charging regimes may want to await the outcome of a Department of Health (DH) review of Fairer Charging guidance before implementing changes. DH is undertaking the review in relation to personal budgets as part of the work to help local authorities transform their social care systems.  A national consultation on a proposed way of calculating a person’s contribution to their personal budget began on 26 January 2009 and ends on 19 April

Single Assessment Process (SAP)

The Single Assessment Process (SAP) is an important lever in the modernisation of services for older people. It was introduced in standard 2, (person centred care) of the National Service Framework for older people.

Guidance on the Single Assessment Process

Selection of useful guidance resources including checklists and tools of interest to NHS and social care professionals involved in the assessment and care management of older people’s needs. 

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