Allocation Policy

Viewpoint Housing Association’s aim is to provide high quality care services in its Care Homes to meet the needs of its Residents. As part of this process, the Association has adopted a Care Homes Allocations’ Policy, which seeks to balance a number of often-con.icting priorities. These are:

- To identify those applicants most in need of its care home services. However the Association must take account of the level of funding available from the Local Authority for those who cannot self-fund (pay the economic room charge) and, if the funding available is inadequate, only a limited number of allocations can be made to non self-funding applicants each year.

- To provide a continuum of care to existing Viewpoint tenants. Again subject to above.

-Dependency levels within the care home.

Our objectives

The Association’s Policy is to ensure that rooms are allocated in an objective, fair, and consistent manner overall, and meet the needs of those requiring nursing and personal care. To ensure these Policy objectives are met, a priority grading and assessment process has been adopted.

Who can apply?

Anyone over the age of 60 years who has a need for a Care Home can apply.

Applicants or their representative must complete an application form, which can be obtained from the Association or the individual Care Homes.

Applications will only be accepted from those applicants requiring Care Home accommodation within the next year.

Priority Grading

All applications received will be placed on the waiting list in the following categories:

Priority 1:

Self-funding applicants who are existing Viewpoint tenants.

Priority 2:

Self-funding applicants who are not Viewpoint tenants.

Priority 3:

Local Authority funded Viewpoint tenants.

Priority 4:

Local Authority funded non-Viewpoint tenants,

Within each priority grading, those with the greatest need will be placed highest on the waiting list.

How are needs assessed?

Before being offered care and accommodation an assessment of the applicant’s needs will be carried out by the Care Home Manager or an appropriate member of staff using the information on the application form. This will be done by carrying out a visit to the applicant’s home or current location i.e. hospital. The assessment will take account of a range of factors, including:

• Current domestic situation, social and environmental factors,

• Medical needs, levels of dependency of existing residents in the home applied for.

Financial requirements

Self-funding applicants generally need to be self-funding for a minimum of three years. Proof of ability to pay the full room charge for this period will be required. All non-self-funding applicants who are to be funded by the Local Authority will be requested to make top-up .nancial contribution towards the difference between the full room charge and the amount paid by the Local Authority. Funding towards room fees is available under the terms of the Health & Community Care Act 2001. To access this funding an applicant must have an assessment carried out by their local Social Work Centre – this assessment will determine whether an applicant is eligible for ‘Free Personal and Nursing Care’. Applicants are encouraged to ask the Social Work department for the assessment to be carried out at the same time as submitting an application to the Association.

Offers of Accommodation

Where possible and subject to availability, the Association will endeavour to meet the needs and preferences of applicants. The Association will ensure, so far as it is possible to do so, that the accommodation offered is suitable for the applicant’s physical and medical needs.