!Attention Care Homes! Have you heard about the 28 day rule?

The emergency has been resolved

As part of Oxfordshire County Council's commitment to providing quality care services, I wanted to clarify our funding process for new referrals for people already resident within your care home.

1. Referral Process: When we receive a referral for a potential resident, we follow a thorough assessment process to determine their eligibility for care. This includes assessing their care needs, a financial assessment, and any specific requirements they may have. We appreciate your cooperation during this initial phase.

2. Funding Commitment: We understand that timely funding is crucial for both the care home and the resident. However, we want to ensure that our commitment aligns with the resident’s needs and our criteria. Therefore, we have implemented the following approach:

28-Day Waiting Period: After receiving a referral, we will complete a Care Act assessment to identify the person’s care and support needs and a Financial Assessment to determine financial eligibility...This process will need to conclude before Oxfordshire County Council can commit to commencing funding. The council requires 28 days from referral to allow time for these assessments to take place, so funding will not commence until, at the earliest, 28 days after referral subject to meeting the eligibility criteria concluded from the financial and care needs assessment outcome. Our commitment to funding is subject to the resident meeting our care criteria. If there are any concerns or discrepancies during the assessment, we will communicate openly with you to address them.
Financial assessment: If we are not able to complete the financial assessment within the 28 days, due to not receiving the required information, we will close the referral. Once a new referral has been received the 28-day waiting period will start from the new referral date.

3. Communication: We value transparency and effective communication. If there are any updates or changes during the assessment period, we will promptly inform you. Likewise, we appreciate your timely communication to allow for timely payment and assessment.

4. Next Steps: Once the assessments are complete, we will update you on the outcome.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.