Care plans

If you’re found to have care and support needs after your care needs assessment, you’ll get a care plan. This plan sets out how your local council is going to meet your social care needs.

What is a care plan and why is it important?

Following your care needs assessment, if your local council finds that you have eligible care needs, then they'll prepare a care and support plan. You should be involved in putting together your care and support plan, so make sure to share your views and preferences.

Why are care plans important?

Your care plan should specify what care and support you need to meet your needs, so they are part of making sure that you're getting the right social care for you. It should cover:

• what your needs are
• outcomes you wish or need to achieve
• which needs your local council will meet and how they'll meet them
• information and advice on how to reduce your needs, or prevent more needs developing in the future
• the overall cost of meeting your needs 
• your personal budget, including how much money, if any, you must contribute to the cost of meeting your care needs
• details of any direct payment that's been agreed upon.

Find out more about personal budgets and direct payments

The council must provide you with a copy of your care plan, as well as a copy for anyone else you want, such as your carer. The council should make it clear how you can raise any concerns or questions about your care plan.

What support will be included in my care plan?

Your care plan is personalised to you so what's in it will depend on your needs. Some types of support that might be included are: 

• adaptations or equipment to make your home safer and easier to live in
• help from home carers
• a personal alarm to call for help
• intermediate care services (including reablement) to help you to regain your independence and confidence after an illness or injury
• time at a day centre, to meet people and socialise
• a permanent place in a care home.

How often is my care plan reviewed?

After a new or revised care and support plan is introduced, your local council must review it within a reasonable time frame (usually 6-8 weeks).

After this, your care plan should be reviewed at least once a year, but this might be more often if needed.

Why should care plans be updated regularly?

It's important that your care plan is reviewed and, if needed, updated on at least a yearly basis to make sure that it still reflects your specific care needs.

If you feel your care plan doesn’t support your needs, contact the adult social services department of your council to ask for a review.

What if I'm not happy with my care plan?

If you aren't happy with your care plan, for example because you believe the care being arranged is unsuitable, you should first try and resolve this informally with the council. You could raise and discuss your concerns with them.

However, if you’re still unhappy, you can raise a formal complaint.

Find out more about making complaints about care to your local council