How local residents can take control of their own care

Westmorland Homecare was founded in the Lake District three years ago by Dr Josh Macaulay, Dr Chris Moss and Director Russell Crossley, inspired by their experience of caring for people in their NHS roles and family experience.

The company, which expanded into Poulton and the Fylde area last year, has a clear mission: that every individual should be free to remain in their home as long as they wish, to be as active and independent as ever, and to continue to lead a rich and fulfilling life.

But many people may be unaware they have the power to choose their own homecare service, according to Russell, who says “that is exactly why we set up Westmorland Homecare: to allow people to access the right support in their own homes for as long as they wish”.

Depending on your circumstances, the local authority may be able to contribute to the cost of your care – leaving you free to choose how you spend your budget to find the right care for you.

The best place to start is with a needs assessment or a care consultation with the care service you want as this can identify what kind of help you need; if you're planning to make your own care arrangements, a needs assessment/care consultation will help you to explain to the agency or carer what kind of help you need.

The needs assessments are generally free, and anyone can ask for one – just contact the social services department at your local council or the provider you want to use and ask for one. They can take place face-to-face or over the phone, and generally last about an hour: someone from the council or your chosen firm, usually a social worker, care coordinator or occupational therapist, will ask you how you manage everyday tasks like washing, dressing and cooking as well as how easily you can make a cup of tea or get out of a chair.

If your needs assessment recommends care at home, you may then get help with the cost from the council; what you contribute depends on your income and savings, which the council will work out in a financial assessment.

Also known as a means test, the financial assessment considers whether the council will pay towards your care, depending on how much money you have (generally from earnings, pensions, benefits, savings or property).

According to the NHS website, the local authority usually helps to pay for care costs if you have savings of less than £23,250.

"If the council is paying for some or all of your homecare, they must give you a care and support plan," reads the official NHS advice.

"This sets out what your needs are, how they will be met and your personal budget (the amount the council thinks your care should cost).

"You can choose to receive your personal budget as a direct payment each month."

This direct payment can put you in control of your own care, allowing you to choose your own care agency like Westmorland Homecare, who can tailor their service to meet your needs.

The company offers a home help service to tackle those tasks that can become more challenging, like preparing meals, doing the laundry, collecting medication or caring for your pets. Their highly trained staff can also help with giving the very best personal care, which can include assistance with personal hygiene and washing, getting dressed in the morning or ready for bed at the end of the day.

"These are simple activities that most of us take for granted but something that can help keep us well, both physically and emotionally," adds Russell. "Having support with personal care can make a huge difference to your daily life."

The Kendal service was rated outstanding in every area by the Care Quality Commission on its first inspection in 2018, making it the only homecare provider in history to gain the highest rating on its first assessment; out of some 16,500 homecare services registered in the UK, only 14 have been rated outstanding in all areas. The Poulton service aims to receive the same recognition in its inspection this year.

If you have a specific requirement for yourself or a loved one, get in touch and one of the team will be more than happy to discuss it further in complete confidence and with no obligation to proceed further.

Call the Westmorland Homecare team on 01253 978891, email [email protected] or visit www.westmorlandhomecare.co.uk for more information.