Older people care

You can make any changes that you require at any time.

Changes and adjustments to your care are constantly monitored to ensure that you always receive the right care package for you.
Our focus is that you are always feeling well looked after and that your needs are being met. We pride ourselves on the speed of responding both to issues and to feedback that requires changes.

Most clients choose to pay via direct debit or via a bank transfer using internet or phone banking. Our bank details are on the invoice. You can also pay by cheque.

To request a direct payment you will need to contact your local social services department who will arrange a community care assessment and check your eligibility to receive a direct payment.

Once you have been assessed, there is no time limit for you to decide whether to have a direct payment or not. But if you do decide you would like a direct payment, your social worker will refer you to a direct payment support service.

If you already receive care with Radfield and you think you may be eligible for a direct payment, you can just let us know and we can assist you with the process.

You will need to make contact with your local social services department and they will be able to tell you if you are eligible for local authority funding.

Our ‘How To Pay For Home Care’ page explains applying for funding in more detail.

A direct payment is a cash payment made directly to you from your local authority, so you can choose your own care provider, rather than having it delivered to you by their contractor.

Direct payments for people who need social care support have been around for over 20 years. However, the freedom to choose your own care provider was introduced by the Government in the Care Act 2014.

The direct payment must be used to purchase services that meet your care needs. You will be required to keep a record of how you spend your direct payment which your local authority will want to see, usually once a quarter. A direct payment cannot be used to purchase residential care or other services provided directly by a local authority.

You may be required to make a contribution towards the cost of your care, just as you may already be paying towards services provided by your local authority. This will be based on the decision you make as to which care provider you choose to use.

You will need to open a separate bank account for your direct payment. Once the payments have been agreed for your care, the local authority will pay the agreed amount into your direct payment bank account. You will then pay us directly for the care that you receive.

We use the latest technology solution that enables any changes to a client’s care or medication to be immediately relayed to our Care Professionals so that they can be enacted immediately. The system also enables medication records and care notes to be immediately relayed to the office so that we can understand in great detail what is happening with each client in almost real-time. This also means that if a Care Professional is running late then the office or on-call team will be alerted and can ensure that measures are put in place to ensure our client’s safety.

The system allows family members and health care professionals to log in free of charge via an app when in the client’s home and view the care notes and medication records (with the client’s consent of course). For family members living further afield or even abroad they can log in to view the care records at any time and from anywhere.

You can cancel your care package at any time by providing two weeks notice in writing to your local care manager.