Question 1

Can London Borough of Barking and Dagenham pay for care at home in Barking?

Accepted Answer

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham may fund some or all of the support once a care needs assessment has established what is required. A financial assessment then compares income, savings and capital with the national thresholds to work out any contribution from the person themselves. Where the authority does fund care, a direct payment can be requested so that the family chooses the agency rather than accepting an allocated one. If health needs are substantial, NHS continuing healthcare may cover the cost instead.

Question 2

How do I arrange a care needs assessment in Barking?

Accepted Answer

Contact the adult social care team at London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, the authority responsible for assessments covering Barking, and describe what has become difficult. The assessment is free and open to anyone who appears to need care and support, whatever their income. A social care worker will go through daily routines, health, mobility and safety at home, then record the support that would help. Ask for the written outcome, as agencies will want to see it when you arrange visits.

Question 3

How far ahead should I start looking for home care in Barking?

Accepted Answer

A few weeks of lead time is usually enough, since home care can often be set up faster than a move into a care home. Even so, well regarded agencies fill their rounds and may not have capacity at the exact times you want, particularly early mornings and evenings. Where care is needed after a hospital stay, the discharge team will help arrange an initial package, though you can change agency later if it is not working. Starting the assessment early gives you far more say in who comes through the door.

Question 4

Which home care agencies in Barking are listed on Care Assura?

Accepted Answer

Care Assura lists ninety three home care agencies covering Barking, including Wideway Care Limited, Stick Care Ltd, Supporting Care, Chinite Home Care, Pacific Care Services London, Gentle Folk Community Care London and Sarat Healthcare Ltd. Each has a profile giving the provider type and the latest Care Quality Commission rating where one exists. Thirty seven are rated Good, six require improvement and fifty have not yet been rated. Working through the profiles is the quickest way to build a shortlist worth ringing.

Question 5

What should I ask a home care agency in Barking before agreeing to visits?

Accepted Answer

Ask how many carers will be involved, whether the same faces come each week and how visits are scheduled around the person's routine. Ask what happens when a carer is delayed, ill or on leave, and how quickly you would be told. Check what training staff have for the particular needs involved, how medicines are recorded, and who answers the phone outside office hours. Ask to see a sample care plan and the complaints procedure before you commit.

Question 6

What is the difference between home care, a care home and a nursing home?

Accepted Answer

Home care brings carers to a person's own home for visits of an agreed length, so the person keeps their own surroundings and routine. A residential care home provides accommodation with help through the day for washing, dressing, meals and moving about safely. A nursing home does the same and also has registered nurses on duty at all hours for clinical needs. Every provider listed on this page is a home care agency, and the care needs assessment will indicate when support at home is no longer enough.

Home Care in Barking

94 home care in Barking (showing 51–94)