What Homecare Do I Need To Organise?

If you think you, or someone you know is starting to need some help with day to day activities to help make their life easier, this information will help you through the process.

Ask For A Needs Assessment From Your Local Council

Although a lot of people aren’t eligible for social care support due to either not having high enough care needs, or having assets of over £23,250 (in England, 2023/24), councils are obliged to provide a free assessment, and might be able to support you to stay at home. You may be signposted to relevant services or sources of support whilst waiting for assessment.

If you are entitled to support because your needs meet the threshold and you have assets of less than £23,250, you can choose whether to get the council to organise the care they think you need, or to use the equivalent amount of money in a ‘personal budget’, which you can then use to organise the care you need, which can include working with a company like Clifton Homecare, topping up the personal budget to meet additional costs if necessary.

What To Ask At The Initial Care Assessment – Completed By A Homecare Company

This is your chance to get to know the provider and will help you make a decision as to whether you’d like to work with them. Some important questions to ask would include:

• The outcome of their latest Care Quality Commission report (you can always visit cqc.org.uk to confirm).
• How many different staff will be visiting you.
• How much the care costs are, and whether there are any hidden costs, such as mileage or assessment charges.
• What their induction process is, and the topics staff receive training in.
• What services they offer.

Remember that a care assessment is no-obligation, and you do not need to go with the first provider you meet. Care is so important that you need to be sure and confident in the integrity and professionalism of your provider.

Creating A Care Plan

The care provider will work with you to create a care plan, which will outline what the ‘package of care’ looks like. This might be a schedule of care visits throughout the week, as well as exactly what the care professional will do at each visit.

This should be a collaborative, two way process that should put you and your family right at the heart of the planning process.

Care plans are also living documents which constantly evolve and change alongside your needs. Care providers should regularly review the care plan with you and make adjustments when needed.

For all the help, support and guidance you need relating to homecare, care plans and for answers to any queries that you many have, please get in touch: