Home Care in Heathfield
Heathfield has 6 CQC registered home care agencies. 4 are rated Good, 1 Outstanding, and 1 has not yet been rated. 2 of the 6 were last inspected more than three years ago.
Source: Care Quality Commission register, kept up to date as ratings change.
Heathfield at a glance
What the local numbers say about home care in Heathfield, to help you judge the options below.
- Hourly care visits, South East: £28.00 to £36.96 an hour. Middle half of prices from 24 agencies.
- People aged 75 and over: 24,700. Rising to 28,800 by 2035, up 17%
- Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 3,100. Rising to 4,000 by 2035, up 27%
- People aged 85 and over: 6,300. Rising to 9,800 by 2035, up 55%
- Dementia diagnosis rate: 56%. The NHS ambition is 67%. East Sussex as a whole is 61%.
- Agencies in the borough, last 12 months: 2 opened, 1 closed. 22 registered today.
- Choice of agencies: 44 within 10 miles. In a typical neighbourhood. The nearest is under a mile away (0.7 miles).
- Compared with the rest of East Sussex: Fewer agencies. Wealden has fewer agencies than average for the size of its older population.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Market model built 22 October 2026 (ONS 2022 based population projections, CQC register), published care home prices, council planning records.
Arranging care at home in Heathfield and paying for it
Hours first, then money, then providers. Reversing that order is the commonest way families lose a fortnight, because an agency cannot usefully quote until it knows how much support has been agreed and who is paying for it. The first two steps cost nothing to establish.
The 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 at what times of day. Ask for a copy of the plan, because any provider you approach will want to see it. An unpaid carer can also request an assessment of their own needs.
How the council helps
Assessments and funded support in Heathfield are handled by East Sussex County 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, letting the household choose its own agency. If a hospital discharge is setting the timetable, say so, as assessments can be brought forward.
What it costs
Agencies charge by the hour or by the visit, and rates differ between providers and often between weekdays, evenings and weekends. Ask for the rate in writing, check the minimum visit length, and find out whether travel time is charged on top. Where the council is contributing, confirm the provider accepts the rate on offer.
Choosing a provider in Heathfield and what to look for
Reliability is very nearly the whole of it, and reliability is not something a brochure can demonstrate.
What the ratings show
QRC Dom Care holds the Outstanding rating here. Wealden community Care Limited is among those rated Good, and Delore Care Heathfield has not yet been rated. Where a report exists, read the sections on staffing and on how well the service is led, since 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 how long the registered manager has been in post, how long the carers have been with the agency, and whether you can speak to an existing client.
Questions worth asking before you commit
Ask how many different carers would normally attend and what the agency does when the regular one is off sick or on holiday. Ask about the minimum visit length, whether travel time is charged, and what notice is needed to change or cancel a visit. Check who takes responsibility for medication, how care notes are recorded and shared with the family, and who you would ring late in the evening.
6 home care in Heathfield
- 1 Southdowns View · Heathfield, East Sussex · CQC Good
- QRC Dom Care · Heathfield, East Sussex · CQC Outstanding
- County Medicare Professional Nursing & Care Services · Heathfield, East Sussex · CQC Good
- Wealden community Care · Heathfield, East Sussex · CQC Good
- Candlelight Homecare Service · Heathfield, East Sussex · CQC Good
- Delore Care · Heathfield, East Sussex
What home care costs
| Type of care | What it costs |
|---|---|
| Hourly care visits, South East Middle half of prices from 24 agencies. Median £32.92. Shown for South East because too few East Sussex agencies publish a rate. | £28.00 to £36.96 an hour |
| What East Sussex pays Average hourly rate, October 2026. | £28.16 an hour |
| Homecare Association minimum price 2026 to 2027. The Association's estimate of the lowest price that covers the cost of delivering care. It is not a legal minimum. | £34.42 an hour |
| Live in care, England Middle half of prices from 62 agencies. Median £1,455. | £1,250 to £1,668 a week |
Published prices come from agencies that publish rates, so treat them as a guide. Ask the agency for its own price. Powered by Orrery Intelligence.
Inspected most recently
- Candlelight Homecare Service Limited (East Sussex), 27 May 2026, Good
- County Medicare Professional Nursing & Care Services LTD, 7 October 2025, Good
- 1 Southdowns View, 25 June 2025, Good
Longest since a report
- QRC Dom Care, 8 February 2020, Outstanding
- Wealden community Care Limited, 1 March 2023, Good
- 1 Southdowns View, 25 June 2025, Good
Frequently asked questions about home care in Heathfield
How many home care agencies are there in Heathfield?
Heathfield has 6 CQC registered home care agencies: 1 Outstanding, 4 Good, 1 not yet rated. Counts come from the CQC register and are kept up to date as ratings change.
How much does home care cost in Heathfield?
Hourly care visits, South East: £28.00 to £36.96 an hour. Middle half of prices from 24 agencies. Median £32.92. Shown for South East because too few East Sussex agencies publish a rate. Published prices come from agencies that publish rates, so treat them as a guide. Ask the agency for its own price.
Which home care agencies in Heathfield were inspected most recently?
Candlelight Homecare Service Limited (East Sussex) (27 May 2026), County Medicare Professional Nursing & Care Services LTD (7 October 2025) and 1 Southdowns View (25 June 2025) have the most recent CQC reports.