Home care or domiciliary care can be provided by friends, family or professionals in order to allow an individual to remain in their home whilst offering support with everyday tasks.  From personal care such as washing and assisting with dressing to shopping, meal preparation and household chores.

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You may pay for the care yourself, or be entitled to social funding.  This would be discussed with your social worker who can arrange a financial assessment to see if you qualify. 

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Four common options for professional home care services, and how I see them are:

 

A Care Provider

These are usually large companies with many carers.  Slots are usually available, although the time allocated for the call and its duration may change.  It is ideal for short or long term care.  You may not consistently see the same carer.  Payment is normally taken on a regular basis from a bank account.  You have little control over who visits and any extra tasks.  There should be consistent care and no missed calls.  Some companies have very high standards and good records, others, not so much.

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A Care Agency

These are also large companies with many staff.  Again the slot times and duration may change to fit in with their staff and other clients.  This arrangement is also ideal for short or long term care.  You may not consistently see the same carer, although this is less likely.  Extra requests and items not in the contract may not be completed.  Consistent care and missed calls are not guaranteed, especially if your regular carer is ill or on holiday.

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A Personal Assistant

Here you become an employer.  You are responsible for correct rates of pay and tax, declaring to HMRC and sorting out pensions.  You will need to run a DBS check to ensure they are suitable if working with vulnerable persons.  You have full control over the work to be carried out and the hours you require.  Extra tasks may form part of your contract.  You get one person to build up a rapport with and trust, although you are without care if they are sick or on holiday, which you may also need to pay for.  This may be one of the better solutions for long term or live in care although it involves the most paperwork.  

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Self-Employed Carer

This is a single person setup.  You consistently have one carer and arrange time slots and durations that fit you both.  Extra requests may form part of the contract and the contract terms may be negotiable.  Here you only pay for the service you receive.  Payment may be made in many forms, usually weekly or monthly.  The carer declares their own tax and arranges their own pension.  If the carer is sick or on holiday you will be without care, although you will not be expected to pay for it.  Consistent care and missed calls, whilst not guaranteed, are rare as this is their source of income and in their best interests to keep business running.  

 

Laura Bryant is a Self-Employed carer, please see the FAQ section for more details.     

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