A charity-run home can have self-financing places. A private home can have government-bought places. A contract home can have both subsidised and non-subsidised beds. If you compare only the operator’s label, you can miss the option that is actually available to your family.
Ask about the place, not just the building
| Label you see | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Subvented home | Is the offered place subsidised or non-subsidised? Check its admission route rather than assuming every vacancy uses the same fee. |
| Contract home | A home may offer both routes. Ask which service level, fee and application process apply to this bed. |
| Private home participating in EBPS | An allocated bought place and a privately booked bed are different offers. An EBPS sign does not give every resident the subsidy. |
| Self-financing home | Confirm any purchased-place or voucher participation separately; otherwise obtain the home’s full private quote. |
These distinctions appear in the SWD directory’s home and scheme filters. Use them to identify a route, then compare homes within that route. The same directory separately lists care-and-attention and nursing-home places: funding and care level are different questions.
Choose a route that works with your deadline
- If you need a move soon, obtain a private quote and actual vacancy while asking a social worker about interim support and any suitable subsidised application.
- If an assessed subsidised route is workable, record acceptable homes and what the family can manage while waiting.
- If invited to use an RCSV, compare the assessed co-payment and agreed extras with the other available options.
A fair comparison uses the same resident
Send every home the same care summary, request the same room type where possible and include the services the person actually uses. Visit, review regulatory records and check staff coverage separately from price. A non-profit label or a newer building does not answer who helps with toileting at night or who accompanies a hospital visit.