Live-in care in Westminster, London

Our care, where you live

Our live-in care in Westminster

Live-in care means one-to-one support in your own home: personal care, medication support, meals, help around the house, getting out and about, and someone close by at night. Whether it suits the person, and whether one carer can support a couple, is worked out at the free assessment. Read more in live-in care explained and how it works day to day.

How we arrange live-in care in Westminster

Day and Nightcare provides fully managed live-in care across Westminster, from £1,550 a week. One main carer lives in the home; a relief carer covers their holidays and time off, and a manager is on call. Care starts with a free assessment, a written quote and a written care plan.

Care can be paid for privately, by Westminster City Council (including direct payments) or by NHS Continuing Healthcare. We have provided Discharge to Assess (D2A) care since 2014. If someone is in hospital, tell us the expected discharge date (see care after hospital). Our care team is on 01865 715780.

Arranging care and funding in Westminster

Westminster City Council runs adult social care and collects council tax. Call the Adult Social Care team on 020 7641 2500, email adultsocialcare@westminster.gov.uk, or use the online referral form. The needs assessment is free, and anyone can ask for one. For help regaining independence after an illness, the Community Independence Team can be reached through Adult Social Care or through Central London Community Healthcare on 020 7641 4001.

Read more: arranging care and funding in Westminster

What to expect on money:

With assets above £23,250 you are expected to pay the full cost of care, but you keep your benefits, such as your state pension, to help pay for it. You will not have to sell the home you live in to pay for care at home.
Below £23,250, a financial assessment works out what you pay under government rules, looking only at your own means, not your family’s. The financial assessment team is on 020 7641 2820 (finassessment@westminster.gov.uk).
You can also arrange live-in care directly with a provider; see the cost of live-in care.

In Westminster a carer’s assessment may be carried out by the council or, on its behalf, by Carers Network (020 8960 3033).

For council tax, a carer who is the only other adult living with the person they care for (not a spouse, partner or child under 18) may get a carers discount; a home occupied only by someone who is severely mentally impaired is exempt; and the Disabled Band Reduction Scheme applies where a home has, for example, a room mainly used by a disabled person or space for a wheelchair indoors. See council tax discounts for care.

Urgent care and leaving hospital in Westminster

A&E: St Mary’s Hospital, Praed Street, Paddington: 24-hour A&E for all ages (switchboard 020 3312 6666).
A&E: St Thomas’ Hospital, across Westminster Bridge in Lambeth: a walk-in A&E open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
A&E: University College Hospital, Camden: emergency department open 24 hours, 365 days a year, entrance on Gower Street opposite Euston Square station.

At St Mary’s, ask early about the estimated discharge date and say if the home is unsafe or support will be needed: with your permission the hospital can assess for social care, home adaptations or NHS Continuing Healthcare. The discharge lounge is in the Cambridge Wing, 2nd floor (8am to 6pm). At UCH, patients aim to leave the ward by midday and may wait in the patient lounge in the ground-floor atrium (weekdays 8am to 8pm, weekends 10am to 6pm). See Discharge to Assess explained.

For NHS Continuing Healthcare, the team for Westminster is on 020 3114 7220 (weekdays 9am to 5pm).

Local help in Westminster

Carers' services, dementia support, transport, befriending and other local help, with phone numbers.

Useful contacts in Westminster

The council, NHS teams, hospitals and local services you are most likely to need in Westminster, with links to their official pages. Open any heading for the details.

Council and care assessments

Adult social care in Westminster is arranged by Westminster City Council. Anyone who appears to need care can ask for a free care needs assessment, whatever their savings. If the council funds care, you can usually take it as a direct payment and use it for live-in care from us.

Westminster City Council: ask for a care needs assessment (telephone 020 7641 2500); carer's assessment.

NHS Continuing Healthcare

When someone's main need is a health need, the NHS pays for all of their care through NHS Continuing Healthcare, and it is not means-tested. For Westminster it is arranged by NHS West and North London ICB (Continuing Healthcare information). See our NHS Continuing Healthcare guide.

Hospitals near Westminster

If someone is in hospital, tell us the expected discharge date as early as you can, and we will work with you and the discharge team on when live-in care can start.

St Mary's Hospital: Praed Street, Paddington W2 1NY; 24/7 A&E for all ages; switchboard 020 3312 6666; discharge lounge Cambridge Wing, 2nd floor, 8am to 6pm. (leaving hospital information)
St Thomas' Hospital: Westminster Bridge Road, Lambeth; walk-in A&E, no appointment needed, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (leaving hospital information)
University College Hospital: Camden; emergency department open 24 hours, 365 days a year, entrance on Gower Street opposite Euston Square station; patient lounge in the ground-floor atrium, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, weekends 10am to 6pm. (leaving hospital information)

Local support and charities

Carers Network: Carers' support (020 8960 3033)
Westminster Memory Service: Dementia support (020 3317 3666)
Age UK Westminster: Age UK (020 3004 5610)
St John's Hospice: Hospice (020 7806 4040)
People First: Local services directory
TfL Dial-a-Ride: Community transport (0343 222 7777)
Healthwatch Westminster: Healthwatch: your independent voice on health and care

Council tax

Council tax in Westminster, including discounts for people with a severe mental impairment, for disabled people and for some carers, is handled by Westminster City Council. See council tax discounts for care.

Areas around Westminster

Marylebone
St John's Wood
Maida Vale
Little Venice
Paddington
Bayswater
Westbourne
Queen's Park
Church Street
Pimlico
Belgravia
Mayfair

Your questions

Questions about live-in care in Westminster

Who do I call in Westminster to ask for a care assessment?

Call Westminster City Council's Adult Social Care team on 020 7641 2500, email adultsocialcare@westminster.gov.uk, or start with the council's online referral form. The same number reaches the Emergency and Out-of-Hours team. People First, the information website Westminster runs with Kensington and Chelsea, lists the specialist teams, including mental health and learning disability. A family carer can have their carer's assessment at the same time as the person they look after, or separately if they prefer.

Where can memory problems be checked in Westminster?

The Westminster Memory Service, a joint health and social care team, supports adults with early signs of memory problems and their carers. It is based at the Memory and Dementia Resource Centre, 42 Westbourne Park Road, W2 5PH (020 3317 3666, wmsreferrals.cnwl@nhs.net). People over 65 with a confirmed diagnosis of dementia and more advanced symptoms are supported by the Westminster Older People Community Mental Health Team (020 7854 4105), usually after a referral from the GP or another professional.

What happens when someone leaves St Mary's Hospital?

Imperial College Healthcare aims to give an estimated discharge date within 48 hours of admission, and tries to discharge people in the morning, before midday. Patients may wait in the discharge lounge on the 2nd floor of the Cambridge Wing, open 8am to 6pm. They go home with at least two weeks' supply of any new medicines and a discharge summary, which is also sent to the GP. If you need help getting home, staff can contact the British Red Cross or social services.

Who arranges NHS Continuing Healthcare in Westminster?

NHS West and North London integrated care board. Its Continuing Healthcare team for Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham is on 020 3114 7220, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (nhsnwl.chc.admin-tri@nhs.net). To start, ask a social worker or a member of the clinical team about the Checklist, the first screening step. If someone is eligible, the ICB funds their full package of health and social care.

How much does live-in care cost in Westminster?

Live-in care with Day and Nightcare costs from £1,550 a week in Westminster, the same as everywhere in England, for one person with a carer who rests at night. That includes our care team's management (the assessment, care plan, reviews, supervision and the on-call manager) and the carer's food; break cover and the carer's travel are extra. For a couple it is from £1,800 a week, where one carer can safely meet both partners' needs. You receive a written quote after a free assessment.

Can the council help pay for live-in care in Westminster?

Yes, if the person's care needs meet the national eligibility criteria and their savings are below £23,250 (2026/27). Adult social care in Westminster is arranged by Westminster City Council. Ask for a care needs assessment; if you are eligible, council funding can usually be taken as a direct payment and used for live-in care from us.

Can live-in care start when someone leaves St Mary's Hospital?

It can. Tell us the expected discharge date as early as you can, and we will work with you and the ward's discharge team on when live-in care can start. We can often start within 24 to 48 hours of the assessment, depending on carer availability, and we confirm the start date once a carer is arranged. We have provided Discharge to Assess (D2A) care since 2014.

Sources and further information

Show the 30 official sources for this page

Local information checked 31 October 2026. Links go to the official council, NHS and charity pages.

Live-in care in Westminster