How to Find Good Homecare Part 1 - Finding a Care Service

What do you do when you think that you may be needing some assistance in the home?  Perhaps  you have had an accident or just come out of hospital after an operation.  Perhaps you are finding that as you get older that those regular  heavy jobs around the house (lifting a basket of washing or carrying the hoover upstairs) is just getting a little too much.  Maybe you have an elderly relative who has been diagnosed with a long term illness and can no longer take care of the house and also needs help with personal care but doesn't want to go into a residential home?  Where on earth do you start? 

Most people would start with Social Services and they are easy to find either in the phone book or on the web.. They can help by offering an assessment of your situation and if you qualify under their strict criteria called Fair Access to Care Services  (FACS),  they can organise basic care.  Be aware though -  and this sometimes comes as a surprise -   social care is not free anymore except in a very few instances and   you will have to contribute to the cost. You won't get any choice either  in which care agency is commissioned to come into your home.

There are also private providers of Care Services that you can engage and you then have a choice of service and cost  to meet your requirements.  They might be a little tricker, to find.  You don't often see Care Services advertised in the local press for example and how do you know if they are any good? Will they be reliable?  These people have to come into your home and can be providing the most intimate personal care.....how on earth can you trust them?   

Hopefully these blogs can help navigate this difficult area  - Part 1 covers where to find a reputable Care Service in your area and Part 2 will cover how to ensure that you get a good service.

There are several routes to finding  good quality reliable and trustworthy Homecare  in your area :

1. Check with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who regulate all Homecare providers for registered Care agencies in your area.  You can download a list of providers covering your postcode area from the CQC site at http://www.cqc.org.uk/.  All reputable Care agencies will be registered with the CQC and all agencies offering personal care MUST be registered with them.

2. The United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA),  the professional association for Homecare, can also provide lists of reputable care agencies in your area.  Registering with the UKHCA means that the care agency is committed to providing good standards of care and has signed up to the Association's Code of Good  Practice.  They also have to be registered with the CQC.  You can find more information  on Homecare  services at   http://www.ukhca.co.uk/

3. Here in Warwickshire we are lucky to have an excellent organisation  sponsored by the local authority called PHILLIS ( Promoting Health and Independence through Low Level Integrated Support!) which basically a resource to find out about local services for older people in Warwickshire be it home delivered meals or dog walking services. PHILLIS also has a list of reputable Homecare services which they have referenced and have a good record.  You can find the PHILLIS service on the Warwickshire County Council website at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/vintage

4. Another good way to find a good Homecare service is to ask your friends and neighbours.  Don't be shy and don't worry about being nosy!  Even if you don't immediately need any assistance it's worth finding out which agencies are working in your local area and which ones have a reputation for good service. People who have received a good service will want to recommend their care agency and this is a good way of finding out more from the client's perspective. 

5. Google is your friend here too and good local Care Services will have their own website telling you about their service and why you should use them.  Check whether they are registered with the CQC and the UKHCA - two very good indicators of  reputable agencies.

Using all these methods you should have a good list of providers of Care Services.  So how do you whittle  down the list to find the right company to provide your care?  Check my next blog for my tips on finding the right service for you.

For more information on SureCare go to http://www.surecarewarks.co.uk/