Home Care in Caer

Caer has 3 CQC registered home care agencies. 1 is rated Outstanding, and 2 have not yet been rated. 1 of the 3 was last inspected more than three years ago.

Source: Care Quality Commission register, kept up to date as ratings change.

What home care in Caer involves and what to look for

An agency is the last decision in the sequence rather than the first, which surprises most families who begin by ringing round. Support at home is arranged in visits of an agreed length at agreed times, covering things like washing and dressing, prompting medication, preparing meals and simply keeping an eye on somebody. What separates one provider from another is rarely the task list and almost always the reliability.

What the ratings show

One of the providers serving Caer holds an Outstanding rating, and the other two have not yet been rated at all. Where a report exists, open it and look at the sections on staffing and on how well the service is led, because those bear most directly on whether visits happen as promised. Where no rating has been published, the provider is generally newly registered, so ask instead about the experience of the registered manager, how long the carers have been with the agency, and whether the provider can put you in touch with existing clients.

Questions worth asking before you commit

Ask how many different carers would normally attend and what happens when somebody is off sick or on holiday, because continuity is the thing families complain about most. Ask about the minimum visit length, whether travel time is charged, and what notice is needed to change or cancel a visit. Check who handles medication, how care notes are recorded and shared with the family, and who you would reach at nine in the evening if something went wrong.

Getting an assessment and arranging the funding

Hours and money are settled before a provider is chosen, so the assessment genuinely comes first.

Requesting a care needs assessment

You can ask for an assessment on your own behalf or for a relative who consents, and the right to one does not depend on income or savings. The assessor looks at washing, dressing, eating, medication, mobility, continence and how safe the home is, then sets out in writing how much support is needed and when. Ask for a copy of the plan, because a provider will want to see it. If a hospital discharge is setting the timetable, say so, as assessments can be brought forward.

Who pays, and how much

Assessments and funded support in Caer are handled by Cheshire West and Chester Council Adult Social Care, which carries out a financial assessment alongside the needs assessment to establish the household contribution. Income and savings are taken into account, but for care delivered at home the value of the property is not, which is a significant difference from a residential placement. Where support is funded, it may be commissioned directly or paid as a direct payment so the household can choose its own provider. Hourly rates vary, so ask each agency for its rate in writing and whether evenings, weekends and bank holidays are charged differently.

Home Care near Caer

• Chester
• Ellesmere Port
• Tarporley