Question 1

Which providers offer home care in the North East?

Accepted Answer

There are 416 home care agencies listed for the North East on Care Assura, covering every part of the region from Northumberland down to Teesside. Examples include Home Instead, Comfort Call Newcastle, Routes Healthcare Sunderland, Esteem Homecare Services and Meadowvale Homecare Ltd. Some, such as North STSS (Short Term Support Service) Alnwick, hold an Outstanding rating from the CQC. It is worth shortlisting three or four that cover your postcode and comparing how they staff and schedule visits.

Question 2

What is the difference between a home care agency and a nursing service?

Accepted Answer

A home care agency provides personal and practical support in someone's own home, such as help with washing, dressing, meals, medication prompts and companionship. A nursing service, by contrast, delivers clinical tasks that must be carried out by a registered nurse, for example wound care, catheter management or complex medication administration. Some agencies employ both carers and nurses, while others focus solely on personal care and liaise with the district nursing team for clinical needs. Ask each agency exactly which tasks their staff are trained and authorised to perform.

Question 3

What should I ask when meeting a home care agency in the North East?

Accepted Answer

Ask how visits are scheduled, whether the same carers attend regularly, and what happens if a carer is off sick or running late. Request to see the most recent CQC report and ask how the agency responds to any areas for improvement. Check how care plans are written and reviewed, and how the agency communicates with family members. Finally, be clear about pricing, including rates for evenings, weekends and any minimum visit length.

Question 4

How do I arrange a care needs assessment in the North East?

Accepted Answer

Contact the adult social care team at the local authority that covers the person's home address and ask for a care needs assessment. The assessment is free, does not depend on income, and can be requested by the person themselves or by a relative or friend with their consent. An assessor will visit at home to discuss daily routines, health conditions and the impact on any unpaid carers. The outcome is a written support plan that can be used to shape a package of home care.

Question 5

Can the local authority pay for home care in the North East?

Accepted Answer

The local authority can contribute to home care costs if the care needs assessment identifies eligible needs and the financial assessment shows capital below the national threshold. Support may be arranged directly with an agency or provided as a direct payment, which gives the person more choice over their provider. Those above the capital threshold usually self fund, though they can still ask the local authority for advice and, in some cases, for the council to arrange care on their behalf. NHS Continuing Healthcare is a separate route where needs are primarily health related.

Question 6

How far in advance should I start looking for home care?

Accepted Answer

Where possible, begin looking four to six weeks before care is needed, particularly if hospital discharge or a change in a family carer's availability is on the horizon. This gives time for a care needs assessment, quotes from two or three agencies and a home visit to set up the care plan. In urgent situations many North East agencies can start within days, but choice may be more limited. Starting early also allows the person receiving care to meet potential carers and feel more comfortable with the arrangement.

Home Care in the North East

423 home care in the North East (showing 401–423)