Care Planning Checklist

Care planning is rarely done calmly. It usually starts after a fall, a hospital admission or a slow realisation that things are no longer safe, and families find themselves making permanent decisions under time pressure. Working through it as a sequence — assessment first, then funding, then choosing a provider, with the legal paperwork alongside — makes it far more manageable and produces better outcomes. Use this checklist whether you are planning ahead for yourself or responding to a change in a relative's needs.

Do these things in order

Ask the council for a care needs assessment first, before arranging or paying for anything. Anyone who appears to need care is entitled to one regardless of income or savings, and it is free. It records what support is actually required, opens the door to a separate carer's assessment for the relative providing help, and is the gateway to any council funding. Where health needs are complex, unpredictable or unstable, ask for an NHS Continuing Healthcare checklist as well — that route is fully funded and not means-tested.

  • First: needs assessment, carer's assessment, and a Continuing Healthcare checklist if health needs are significant.
  • Second: the financial assessment, so you know what will be paid and by whom before committing to a provider.
  • Alongside: the legal paperwork. Lasting Powers of Attorney can only be made while the person still has capacity, and registration takes months.

Skipping the assessment is the most costly omission. Councils are not obliged to fund an expensive placement chosen while someone was paying privately, and Continuing Healthcare is rarely awarded retrospectively. Get the assessments even if you expect to fail the means test.

Leaving the powers of attorney too late is the other. Once capacity has gone the only option is a Court of Protection deputyship, which costs far more, takes months, and removes the family's ability to choose who is appointed.

Assessments and eligibility

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Legal and financial planning

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Choosing care

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Helpful organisations

Care Quality Commission

Regulator

The independent regulator of health and adult social care in England, inspecting and rating care services.

Visit website03000 616161

Age UK

Charity

The country's leading charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life, providing advice, support, and companionship.

Visit website0800 678 1602

Citizens Advice

Charity

Provides free, confidential, and independent advice on a wide range of issues including benefits, housing, debt, and employment.

Visit website0800 144 8848

Frequently asked questions

How do we ask for a needs assessment, and how long does it take?
Contact the adult social care department of the local council where the person lives — by phone or through the council website — and ask for a Care Act needs assessment. You do not need a GP referral and you do not need the person's permission if they lack capacity, though their views must still be sought. Waiting times vary considerably between councils. If the situation is urgent, say so clearly, and ask what interim support is available while you wait.
What if we disagree with the assessment outcome?
Ask for the written assessment and the reasons, then use the council's formal complaints procedure setting out which eligible needs you believe were missed and why. If that does not resolve it, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigates complaints about councils, free of charge. For Continuing Healthcare refusals the route is different: local resolution with the integrated care board first, then independent review by NHS England. Both types of decision are overturned regularly, so it is worth challenging.
Can we choose any care provider we like?
Where the council funds the care you have a right to express a preference, and the council should meet it if the provider is suitable, available and charges no more than the council usually pays. If the chosen home costs more, a relative may be asked to pay a third-party top-up, which the resident normally cannot fund themselves. Check the CQC inspection reports before deciding, and visit unannounced at different times of day rather than only on a booked tour.
What support is there for the family member doing the caring?
Carers have their own right to an assessment, separate from the person they care for and regardless of whether that person is assessed or accepts support. It considers the impact of caring on your health, work and wider life, and can lead to practical help such as replacement care so you can take a break. Ask for it explicitly — councils do not always offer it. Also check whether you qualify for a carer's benefit, and what effect claiming it would have on the household overall.

Related guides

Care Needs Assessment Basics

A care needs assessment is a free evaluation carried out by your local council to find out what help you need with daily living. Anyone who appears to need care and support has the legal right to ask for one under the Care Act 2014, regardless of their financial situation.

6 min

Paying for Social Care

Unlike the NHS, most social care in England is not free. Whether you receive care at home or in a care home, your local council will carry out a financial assessment to decide how much — if anything — you must pay towards the cost. Understanding the rules can help you plan and avoid unexpected charges.

8 min

Lasting Power of Attorney

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you appoint one or more people (your 'attorneys') to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity in future. There are two types: one for property and financial affairs, and one for health and welfare. Making an LPA while you still have capacity is one of the most important planning steps you can take.

7 min

Questions to Ask a Care Provider

Choosing a care provider — whether a care home or a home care agency — is one of the most important decisions you or your family will make. Asking the right questions before you commit can help you identify good-quality care, spot potential problems, and understand exactly what you are paying for.

5 min

Disclaimer

This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always check official sources and seek qualified help where needed.