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Paying for a break, without the guesswork

Who can pay for a stay: direct, a council, the NHS or a grant body, and how funding for a break usually works.

The published bungalow price, whoever is paying
Same rate
We’ll invoice your council, the NHS, a grant body, or you
Your funder
House from Restwell. Care from Continuity. Same phone number.
Two invoices

How the bills work

The house and the care can sit on different invoices

A council or CHC team will often pay for care hours, and not the bungalow, or the other way round. Continuity is our sister company, so you still ring us once.

Restwell

The bungalow

We’ll invoice whoever you ask us to, at the published rate.

Continuity

Optional care

If you want care, Continuity quotes the hours. Same number as Restwell.

Give us a ring on 01622 809881. Dates, access needs, and who should receive which invoice is plenty to start.

What each route usually pays

A starting point for the conversation with your coordinator

We’ve gone through the Care Act, NHS CHC guidance, and the main grant bodies, so you can see the pattern. Your own coordinator still has the last word. Ask us for the paperwork they need, and we’ll send it.

Care Act

Direct payments and personal budgets

If a short break would meet needs in your support plan, a direct payment can usually help. Councils aren’t allowed to ban holidays as a blanket rule. Whether the bungalow rent is in depends on what’s written down, so it’s worth asking before you book.

Usually covered

  • Assessed care hours during the break
  • Replacement care so an unpaid carer can rest
  • The bungalow, if it’s written into the plan

Usually not

  • Travel, food, souvenirs, holiday extras
  • The rent, unless the support plan names it
  • A long stay in a care home (different rules)

That’s from the Care Act 2014 (opens in new tab) and how councils write their handbooks. If you live in Kent, start with the number below.

Kent residents: 03000 41 61 61

Direct payments guide

NHS

Continuing Healthcare and personal health budgets

Continuing Healthcare is there to pay for your care, not the holiday itself. Some teams will keep paying your usual hours while you’re away, if they agree it in writing. The bungalow rent is rarely part of that, which is why we keep it on a separate invoice.

Usually covered

  • Your usual care hours, if the team says they continue
  • A personal health budget, if you’re CHC-eligible and take one
  • Care away from hospital, in a place that works for you

Usually not

  • The holiday itself: travel, food, Restwell rent
  • Extra hours just because you’re away from home
  • A scheme where the NHS pays for the holiday (there isn’t one)

That’s from the GOV.UK CHC leaflet (opens in new tab) and how ICBs write holiday-support policies. In Kent, Kent & Medway ICB decides.

Kent & Medway ICB: chc@kmicb.nhs.uk

How Continuity care is arranged

Grants and self-pay

Charity awards, or you pay Restwell

You can book and pay Restwell yourselves, or put a charity award toward the stay. Grants are usually a contribution rather than the whole week, so read the letter before you lock the dates. If it only covers part, we can split the invoices.

Usually covered

  • A contribution toward the holiday itself from Revitalise (typically £500)
  • A cover carer from Respite Association (average around £450)
  • Split invoices, if a grant only covers part

Usually not

  • The whole stay, unless the letter is clear
  • The holiday itself from Respite Association (they pay the cover carer, not the house)
  • Food, entertainment, or travel, unless the letter names them

Revitalise closed its centres in 2024 and now awards grants toward a break of your choice, typically £500. Respite Association funds the cover carer, not the house. Ask us for a quote if you need a provisional booking to apply.

Grant and advice sites

Carer assessment guide

Quick reference

Grants and key contacts

These are the organisations people actually use. We can’t say yes on their behalf, but we can send whatever paperwork they ask for.

Grant and advice sites

Who to call

  • Kent County Council

    If you live in Kent: assessments and direct payments

    03000 41 61 61

  • Kent & Medway ICB

    If you live in Kent or Medway: Continuing Healthcare

    chc@kmicb.nhs.uk

  • Your own council

    If you live elsewhere, start with adult social care where you live. We can still invoice them.

    Find your council (opens in new tab)

  • Continuity of Care Services

    Sister company. Same number as Restwell, wherever you live

    01622 809881

What we send

We’ll send what they usually ask for

Tell us the dates, the funding route, and who should receive which invoice. Continuity can quote care on the same call if you want it.

  • Written quote at published rates
  • Access statement and equipment list
  • Invoices set up for the house, and for Continuity if you want care

Common questions

Funding FAQ

It’s worth getting the yes in writing before anyone pays a deposit. We’ll send the quote and the access statement; the decision sits with your coordinator.

It can cover the care hours you’re already assessed for, if your CHC team agrees in writing. It doesn’t pay for the holiday itself, so the bungalow, travel and food are usually yours unless a panel says otherwise. Ask them which costs they’ll take, then tell us who to invoice.

Send us your dates and who to invoice.

We’ll reply with a bungalow quote at the published rates, the access statement, and Continuity care on the same thread if you asked for it. Just let us know the dates.

Enquire Now See published rates