Managing your money

If we are arranging care for you and you legally appoint someone to act for, they must provide us with evidence of their legal authority to act as your financial representative, such as a copy of:

• a registered Lasting Power of Attorney for property and financial affairs; or
• a registered Enduring Power of Attorney (made and signed before 1st October 2007; or
• a Court Order appointing them as Deputy for property and financial affairs; and
• the financial information required to carry out a financial assessment for the person needing care and support

We will then:

• send any correspondence addressed to the person(s) appointed for the person they represent
• require the person(s) acting to sign any financial documents or contracts on behalf of the person they represent
• require the person(s) acting to settle any invoices for care charges raised in the name of the person they represent.

If the application to be the financial representative is in process, we will give information about any potential charges for the care and support services arranged, the date these charges may start from and explain how the financial assessment is carried out to the person appointed.

Financial assessment

Where a financial assessment is able to be completed, we will send the appointed person any invoices for assessed care and support charges but allow for payments to be delayed until legal authority is received to access the necessary accounts.

Where a financial assessment is not able to be completed, we will defer the financial assessment until a person is appointed as the legal financial representative and they can provide the relevant information needed. We will backdate any assessed charges to the date of commencement of services.

Where a client lacks capacity in regard to financial decisions and there is no one appointed to make those decisions, where necessary and/or appropriate, financial decisions will be made following the guidance and best interest process set out in the Care and Support Statutory guidelines, the Mental Capacity Act and Mental Capacity code of practice.

If you have to rely on somebody to manage your financial affairs, this can be formally arranged by giving someone Lasting Power of Attorney, Deputyship or Appointeeship. If someone else does manage your finances and you are receiving care services from us, you may also want them to take responsibility for paying for your care. You should tell us if someone else is managing your finances and what sort of an arrangement you have.