In normal language, self-funding and private funding would mean the same thing. In technical language they mean something different. Private means you are entirely on your own in agreeing a fee with, and paying it directly to, the home. Self-funding means the social services agree the fee and collect the appropriate amount of money from you and pay it to the home.
Petrus, thank you for that explanation, I must confess I didn't understand the difference between self- and private-funding.
Jennifer, I don't think you have to have an LA contract in Scotland, it's just advisable. If you take out a direct contract with a NH, it now appears that the LA is within its rights to refuse to pay for personal care, whereas with a contract, you only pay the difference.
As a point of interest, I received a contract from our LA last week saying they would pay the NH, and would bill me for my share. Two days later I received a contract from the NH, enclosing a bill for John's first month's stay!
I rang the NH, they had a contract from LA saying I would be paying direct. Fortunately I had already signed and sent back my LA contract.
A mistake? Possibly! It could be just a coincidence that the personal care judgement had just been made. It could be that I just have a nasty suspicious mind!