Head First
Head First is a home care agency in Cranbrook, Kent (TN18 4AS). It holds a CQC rating of Good.
About Head First
We provide care at home in Cranbrook and the surrounding villages of Kent. We support older adults, people with physical disabilities, and younger adults who need help to manage day to day. Working across a rural area means being realistic about time and distance. A round that looks efficient on paper comes apart on a wet morning on country lanes, and it is the person waiting to be helped out of bed who pays for it. So we build schedules that survive an ordinary bad day, and we would rather take on less work than run a rota that only holds together in good weather. Isolation is a real part of what we deal with here. For several of the people we visit we are the only caller that day, and sometimes that week. We do not treat the conversation as the part of the visit to cut when we are running behind, and we would rather plan enough time for it than pretend it is optional. Our overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is good. We take it as a baseline rather than a credential. We ask the people we visit what they think of us and we act on the critical answers, which are always the more useful ones.
Care provided at Head First
- Older person care
- Physical disability support
- Younger adults care
- Covers approximately 10 miles
- Last CQC inspection: 9 January 2020
Read the full inspection report on the CQC website.
How Head First compares in Ashford
Measured against the 39 home care agencies registered in Ashford.
- CQC rating
- Good. 17 of the 39 agencies (44%) are rated Good or Outstanding. Across Kent the figure is 42%.
- Latest report
- 9 January 2020. 16 of the 39 agencies have published a newer inspection report since.
- Registered
- June 2021. 17 of the 39 agencies registered more recently.
- Provider
- One service. Head First (ARCM) Limited runs this agency only.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Data: CQC register and Food Standards Agency ratings. Counts cover registered home care agencies in Ashford.
The local picture: Ashford
What the numbers say about home care in Ashford, in Kent.
What home care costs
| Type of care | What it costs |
|---|
| Hourly care visits, Kent | £28.50 to £39.15 an hour (Middle half of prices from 7 agencies. Median £32.00.) |
| What Kent pays | £28.05 an hour (Average hourly rate, October 2026.) |
| Homecare Association minimum price | £34.42 an hour (2026 to 2027. The Association's estimate of the lowest price that covers the cost of delivering care. It is not a legal minimum.) |
| Live in care, England | £1,250 to £1,668 a week (Middle half of prices from 62 agencies. Median £1,455.) |
Published prices come from agencies that publish rates, so treat them as a guide. Ask the agency for its own price.
- People aged 75 and over: 15,000. Rising to 17,600 by 2035, up 18%
- People aged 85 and over: 3,700. Rising to 6,000 by 2035, up 61%
- Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 1,900. Rising to 2,500 by 2035, up 30%
- Dementia diagnosis rate: 58%. The NHS ambition is 67%. Kent as a whole is 62%.
- Agencies in the borough, last 12 months: 3 opened, 1 closed. 36 registered today.
- Choice of agencies: 40 within 10 miles. In a typical neighbourhood. The nearest is under a mile away (0.7 miles).
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Market model built 22 October 2026 (ONS 2022 based population projections, dementia estimates, CQC register), published home care rates, Homecare Association.
Good to know about Head First
Facts from public registers, and what the agency has told us.
- Registered with CQC
- 29 June 2021, so 5 years.
- Run by
- Head First (ARCM) Limited, which runs this service only.
- Service type
- Personal care in people's own homes (domiciliary care).
- Where it covers
- Not yet confirmed by the agency. Check that your postcode is covered before you rely on it.
- Live in, overnight and 24 hour care
- Not yet confirmed. The agency can add these when it claims its profile.
Sources: CQC register and the agency's own entries. Anything marked not yet confirmed is shown as unknown rather than guessed.
Common questions about Head First
Where is Head First located?
Head First is a home care agency based in Cranbrook, Kent (TN18 4AS), providing care to people in their own homes within approximately 10 miles of the area.
What type of care does Head First provide?
Head First is registered to provide care in people’s own homes, with support that includes Older person care, Physical disability support, Younger adults care. The full list of services is shown on this page.
What is Head First's CQC rating?
Head First is registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Its most recent overall rating is Good following its last inspection on 9 January 2020. You can read the full CQC report from the link on this page.
Questions families ask about Head First
Can they support someone living with dementia at home?
No. Head First does not list dementia care on the CQC register. Choose an agency that does if dementia is part of the picture.
Can they help with medication and nursing tasks?
Ask the home. Most home care agencies prompt or give medication but do not provide nursing tasks. Ask what their carers are trained to do.
Do they cover our area?
Yes. Head First covers roughly 10 miles from Cranbrook.
Will the council help pay?
Ask the home. The agency has not told us which funding it accepts. Most take both council funded and self funded clients; a direct payment from the council can be used to pay them.
Typical home care fees in the South East
Head First has not published its fees yet. These are typical hourly rates for the South East, so you know roughly what to expect before you call.
- Home care (per hour): £29 to £35 per hour, typical range
Indicative figures for the South East, not a quote from Head First. Actual fees depend on the room, the level of care and how it is funded.
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