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Several assessments are carried out to determine whether you are eligible for a contribution towards the nursing element of your care, either through NHS Continuing Healthcare or Funded Nursing Care assessments. If these assessments have not been requested before you are admitted to the nursing home—for example, by the discharging hospital—our nursing staff will request them.
There is no cap on CHC payments. They are determined by the specific care needs of the resident and are paid directly to the nursing home.
FNC payments are a fixed weekly amount set nationally by the Department of Health & Social Care. These payments are made directly to the nursing home as a contribution towards the costs of nursing care for a particular resident. If you have chosen to move into a nursing home when a residential care home could currently meet your needs, you may not be eligible for Funded Nursing Care.
If your personal assets, including savings, are below £23,250, you are not expected to fund your own care and will receive funding from Social Services.
For Birmingham City Council, this funding is currently £780 per week for nursing homes and will remain valid until March 2025. Other local authorities have similar arrangements.
Usually, the weekly fee charged by a care home exceeds the amount set by the local authority. This may be due to choosing a nursing home with greater range and quality of services—classified as an ‘upgrade in service provision’ by the local authority.
BCOP nursing homes often fall into this upgraded category due to features such as larger-than-average rooms, en-suite facilities, physiotherapy, more communal facilities (on-site bistros, pubs, hairdressers, Sensory Street). As such, you or your family will be responsible for paying the extra “top-up” fee if you choose a BCOP nursing home over more basic alternatives. Please note that facilities vary between BCOP homes.
If you are referred via Social Services and the Birmingham City Council’s electronic tender process (Care Match), and there is a difference between awarded funding (via Social Services, FNC or CHC) and the costs at BCOP—you should discuss this with your social worker as soon as possible.
On admission, the nursing home will quote a weekly gross fee based on your nursing care needs.
When signing the contract, a monthly direct debit amount will be established.
If CHC or FNC payments are awarded after admission, the home will deduct these from the gross weekly fee to calculate a lower net weekly fee. A revised contract will then be issued showing this back-dated net fee.
The CHC or FNC contribution will continue for as long as you remain eligible. Any future increases in FNC payments granted by the NHS will be retained by BCOP to cover additional nursing costs. Future annual fees will reflect any increases in FNC.
You will be responsible for the gross fee until CHC or FNC assessments are complete and NG CHC/FNC payments have been received by the home.
Fees are reviewed annually and will broadly increase in line with National Living Wage and associated cost pressures.
Although CHC/FNC rates also rise over time, BCOP’s policy is not to pass those specific increases on to you, as they are already reflected in increased CHC/FNC contributions.
Residents funded by Social Services will receive an annual care review at minimum. The nursing home will notify authorities of any change in care needs that may affect funding eligibility.
The following are illustrative examples of possible funding combinations:
Certain charities may assist with covering “third party contributions” if you meet eligibility criteria. These include the Soldiers, Sailors and Air Force Association (SSAFA), armed forces benevolent funds, and the M.S. Society for residents with multiple sclerosis. Social Services and BCOP administrative teams may help with charity contacts.
Charitable funding availability will depend on individual circumstances such as employment history and profession.
Private agencies and financial advisors can guide you through this complex system—many offer free initial enquiries.
Useful freephone numbers: