Adult care respite

What is Respite?

Respite care is a short stay in a care home or nursing home.
Respite is usually used 1 week at a time but can be for longer.
It gives family members and carers a break from caring.

Important things to know

Your respite allowance will be agreed with your social worker and recorded in your care plan.
Your respite allowance renews every year on the date your care plan was approved.
Your respite allowance might change after a review, so check your care plan.
You can choose a care home that can meet your needs.
You can use your respite when it suits you during the year.
If the care home you choose charges more than the cost agreed in your care plan, you will need to ask someone to pay the additional cost.
Your assessed contribution will have to be paid even if someone else pays the additional cost.

How to arrange respite care

Contact care home or nursing home that you would like to use.
Ask if they have availability for the dates you need.
The home may ask to meet the person who will have respite or see a copy of their care assessment to make sure they can meet their needs.
If the home has availability and can meet the person's needs, you can book the respite stay with them.
Contact the Social Care Business Unit in Pembrokeshire County Council and ask for a contract to be arranged for the respite stay.
The Social Care Business Unit will update your respite record and will arrange for the contract, for the respite, to be sent to the care home.

Paying for respite care

The person who receives the respite will need to pay a contribution towards the cost, if assessed to do so.

Social Care will pay the care home and then invoice you for your assessed contribution.

Your assessed contribution is based on your financial assessment. You will have completed a Declaration of Means form for the financial assessment. The maximum contribution is £100 per week.

Additional Costs

Some care homes charge more than the weekly amount paid by the Council.

If they do, they may ask for an Additional Cost Contribution (sometimes called a top-up fee).

Before booking, it is important to ask the home if there are any extra charges.

Any additional cost must be paid by a third party, such as a relative, friend, or another person who agrees to make the payment.

Emergency Respite

If you need emergency respite, the same process applies.

If you need help finding a placement or arranging respite at short notice, please contact:

Pembrokeshire Adult Care Services: Tel: 01437 764551 and ask to speak to the Duty Social Worker
Out of Hours Service: Tel: 0300 123 5519

If you need any further advice or support, please contact Social Services Adult Care using the numbers above.

Quick checklist

Before booking respite:

Check how much respite you have left.
Find a suitable provider
Obtain costs and availability.
Contact the Social Care Business Unit.
Keep a record of all respite used.

Day Centres and Respite Care