Could the NHS pay 100% of the care?
A 60-second eligibility check shows whether your loved one qualifies for NHS Continuing Healthcare or Fast-Track funding — before you spend a penny privately.
Take the free 60-second check →
Local Authority & NHS Funded Care
Funded Home Care: Use Your Council or NHS Budget With Us
If your loved one qualifies for Local Authority Direct Payments, NHS Continuing Healthcare, or Section 117 aftercare, you can use that funding to commission us as your care provider — keeping the continuity, choice and quality of private care.
Funded Care Doesn’t Mean Compromise
Many families assume that taking council or NHS funding means accepting whichever provider the council appoints — often with rotating carers, fixed visit slots, and limited flexibility. That’s not how it has to work.
With Direct Payments, Personal Health Budgets, and CHC, you can commission us directly. Same continuity, same dedicated team, same flexibility we offer private clients — paid for by the council or NHS budget your loved one is entitled to.
Funding Routes We Accept
There are six main funding routes for home care in the UK. We accept all of them, and help families work out which one fits.
Local Authority
Direct Payments
If the council assesses your loved one as eligible, you can take the personal budget as cash and commission us directly. You keep the choice and continuity of private care, paid by the council.
Means-tested. Capital threshold 2025–26: £23,250.
NHS · Most Valuable
NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
Fully NHS-funded with no means test. For people whose primary care needs are health-related (late-stage dementia, MND, advanced Parkinson’s, complex clinical needs, end-of-life). Significantly under-claimed.
Assessed via Decision Support Tool (DST). We help with applications and appeals.
NHS
Personal Health Budget (PHB)
The CHC equivalent of Direct Payments — once CHC eligibility is awarded, you can take the budget as cash and commission us directly. Maximum control, fully NHS-funded.
Available alongside CHC. Increasingly common in 2026.
Mental Health Act
Section 117 Aftercare
For people previously detained under sections 3, 37, 47 or 48 of the Mental Health Act. Joint NHS & Local Authority funded. Free to the recipient.
Often overlooked. Worth claiming if applicable.
NHS Contribution
Funded Nursing Care (FNC)
For people who need some nursing input but don’t qualify for full CHC. The NHS pays a weekly contribution towards the nursing element of care.
2026 FNC rate: £261.92/week.
Disability Benefit
Attendance Allowance
Non-means-tested benefit for people over 66 with care needs. £73.90/week (lower) or £110.40/week (higher). Doesn’t cover full care alone but contributes meaningfully.
If your relative isn’t claiming it yet, apply.
How Funded Care With Us Actually Works
From first call to care starting — handled by us, with you in the driving seat.
We help you work out which funding route fits
A 15-minute call to understand the situation. We can usually identify which funding route to pursue and whether to apply privately first while you wait for the assessment.
Apply for the relevant assessment
Care Act needs assessment for council funding, Decision Support Tool for NHS CHC. We can support your case, attend assessments where appropriate, and help with appeals if refused.
Once funding is awarded, request Direct Payment / PHB
When the funding decision comes through, ask explicitly for a Direct Payment (council) or Personal Health Budget (NHS) so you can choose your provider — rather than letting them allocate one.
We invoice the managed account
Most Direct Payment recipients use a “managed account” service that handles invoicing and reporting on the council’s behalf. We invoice them directly. Zero accounting hassle for you.
Top up privately if you want extra hours
Council budgets are tight. If you want more visits or longer durations than the budget covers, top up with private money — managed by the same provider so you have one care plan, one team, one point of contact.
Councils We Work With
We accept Direct Payments and personal budgets from the local authorities serving each of our six regional offices.
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire County Council · Peterborough City Council
Essex
Essex County Council · Southend-on-Sea City Council · Thurrock Council
North East
Gateshead Council · Newcastle City Council · South Tyneside Council
Suffolk
Suffolk County Council
East London
London Borough of Redbridge · London Borough of Barking and Dagenham · London Borough of Waltham Forest
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Council · Nottingham City Council
Funded Care Questions
Can I really use council funding to pay a private provider?
Yes — through Direct Payments. Section 31 of the Care Act 2014 gives eligible recipients a statutory right to take their personal budget as cash and commission care from the provider of their choice. Most councils have processes for this, though some social workers don’t volunteer the option.
How do I know if my parent qualifies for NHS Continuing Healthcare?
CHC eligibility is decided via the Decision Support Tool, which assesses needs across 12 domains (mobility, nutrition, behaviour, cognition, etc.). If they have significant needs in two or more domains, or one severe need, it’s worth applying. Common qualifying conditions: late-stage dementia, advanced Parkinson’s, MND, complex spinal injury, end-of-life care.
My CHC application was refused — what now?
Refusals are common at first attempt, even for clearly eligible cases. You have the right to appeal. We can help prepare evidence, attend the appeal panel where appropriate, and advise on whether the refusal looks defensible.
How long does the council assessment take?
Typically 4–8 weeks for the initial needs assessment, then another 2–4 weeks for the financial assessment, then 2–4 weeks for the personal budget to be set up. Expect 8–16 weeks from first contact to first payment. If care is needed sooner, start privately and switch funding once it’s awarded.
Can I top up funded care with private money?
Yes, and it’s common. Council budgets are usually calculated to the minimum eligible level — many families want more hours, more flexibility, or specialist additions. You pay the difference privately. We can manage one combined care plan with both funding sources.
Can a family member be paid as the carer?
Generally not for spouses, parents, or co-resident family — most councils discourage this. Direct Payments are usually expected to be spent on professional care from a CQC-regulated provider. Exceptions exist for certain disability or cultural cases.
Do I need to manage the Direct Payment account myself?
No. Most councils contract with a Direct Payment support service that runs a “managed account” — they handle invoicing, payments, and quarterly reporting on your behalf. You just approve the care plan; we invoice the managed account.
Not Sure Which Funding Route Fits?
A 15-minute call will tell you what to apply for, whether to start care privately first, and what to expect. No obligation.
Available 24/7 for urgent funding/discharge enquiries
Get a personalised care roadmap in 60 seconds
Answer 6 quick questions about your loved one. Get a 5-step action plan, funding eligibility, and care type recommendations — shareable on WhatsApp with one tap.
Build my care roadmap →