This is the next step in your recovery journey.
How intermediate care can support your recovery
This type of specialist care provides a short stay in a care setting with the support you need to help you regain your independence and return home. It helps maximise your recovery and rehabilitation after being in hospital.
During your stay we will work with you, and where appropriate your family, to progress a care and support plan to help you achieve your agreed goals. This may include support from physiotherapists, occupational therapists, therapy assistants, social care workers, support workers and other care professionals.
We know this type of care and support works well with around 75 percent of people receiving bed-based intermediate care successfully achieving their goals and returning home after their short stay.
Where you can go to receive intermediate care
We will offer you a place that can meet your care and support needs and has a space available for you. Dependent upon your individual goals this is usually for three weeks, during which time the care provided will be free.
The care setting we offer will depend on what has been put in place locally. There may only be one option which can provide the intermediate care and support you need.
If there are no places available in an intermediate care setting, or they are not able to meet your needs, we will offer you a place that can meet your care needs with a space available. This is usually for three weeks, during which time the care provided will be free but it will not include intermediate care support.
Opting out of receiving intermediate care and choosing to go somewhere else
You have the right to opt out of intermediate care and choose your own care, although this means you will not receive focused recovery, rehabilitation and reablement support.
If you choose to opt out, we will offer you a care home that can meet your care needs and has space available.
This will be chargeable, subject to a financial assessment, and you may have to pay towards your care.
Only around 26 percent of people who stayed in a care home without intermediate care returned home after their short stay.
Going to a different care home to the one you have been offered
If you would like to go somewhere different to the place we have offered you we will help find an alternative.
This will be chargeable, subject to a Financial Assessment, and you may have to pay towards your care. You will not receive Intermediate Care support.
If you want to choose a different care home that is a higher cost than the first one that we offered you, you or your family may also have to pay a Top Up payment. Your social care worker can explain this in more detail to you.
Why choose intermediate care support?
- care provided is free of charge (on average three weeks, but may be extended by a further three weeks dependent upon your goals)
- specialist therapy focussed support from a team of professionals
- regain independence
- aim to return home
If you choose to opt out of intermediate care
- care provided is chargeable, dependent on financial assessment
- no specialist therapy focussed support provided
- less likely to regain independence
- more likely to remain in residential care
Other support available for intermediate care
During your intermediate care we will also check if you may need any equipment at home to help you live independently and keep you safe. This may include equipment like a shower chair or minor home adaptations like installing a grab rail. We will discuss this with you and help arrange these for your home if needed.
Contact us
For more information, please speak to your social care worker in the hospital discharge team or contact us.