Support in my own home

Home Care

What Is It?

If you are having difficulty managing to be independent at home, you can ask for an assessment of your needs. Based on this, it may be agreed you need assistance from a home carer. The home care service operates seven days a week, every day of the year.

Depending on your assessment, your carer can assist you with domestic tasks such as shopping, cleaning and laundry. If you are having more difficulty managing your personal care, they can assist with helping you get up, washed and dressed and prepare a simple meal. You will have an agreed amount of care each week and you will be informed of this in writing. The intimate nature of some personal care tasks means that where possible you will be matched with home carers of the same sex if you prefer this.

Carers will work with you to help you stay as independent as possible. They will not do things you can manage yourself but will assist where you have difficulty. They may work on the guidance of an occupational therapist, for example, to assist you to maximise your abilities following an illness.

Who Provides It

Social Services have contracts with a number of care agencies to provide home care. We also work with other agencies to provide carers, -including agencies that have carers who speak specific languages. All agencies we work with carry out checks on their staff. We will try to make sure that carers arrive at times agreed with you and that the same person visits you where possible. This is so you know who to expect and when.

If you prefer to arrange your own care, you may be eligible for Direct Payments, which means receiving a cash payment instead of social services care, to meet your care needs.

Home carers for older people

How do I get it?

If you are having difficulty managing at home, you can ask for an assessment of your needs. Based on this, appropriate services may be arranged which may include home care. You should contact the care management team covering the area you live in to request this.

If appropriate, a member of staff will visit you at home to discuss and assess your needs.

See section on Assessment

If you are receiving care, your needs will be reassessed annually by care management staff. However, if you have any change in circumstances at any stage and think you need more or less help, you should contact your care management team and ask for a reassessment.

Who do I contact?

If you wish to discuss home care further, you should contact the team that covers your area and ask for an assessment of your needs. If you already have a care manager, you should discuss your request with them.

See Who to contact

Is there a charge?

You will be assessed to pay for the home care service by the charging team. The amount you will pay is based on your income and savings after all relevant factors have been taken into account.

The charging team will contact you about this. If you wish to discuss anything with them contact 020 7641-3379

See Payment for Care Services

Useful Website

For general information on Home Care services

Commission for Social Care Inspection