Home Care in Thornton Heath

Thornton Heath has 13 CQC registered home care agencies. 5 are rated Good, 3 Requires improvement, and 5 have not yet been rated. 5 of the 13 were last inspected more than three years ago.

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

What home care in Thornton Heath involves and what to look for

Care delivered at home covers a wide span, from a single short visit each morning to help someone wash and dress, through to several calls a day covering meals, medication and getting safely to bed. The agencies listed for Thornton Heath are registered to provide personal care in a person's own home, which is a regulated activity and quite different from cleaning or companionship arranged informally. Being clear about which tasks genuinely need doing, and at what times, is the most useful preparation before any agency is contacted.

Reading the inspection picture honestly

Thirteen agencies appear on this page and the published quality varies considerably. Four hold a Good rating, three are rated Requires Improvement, one is rated Inadequate and five have not yet been given a rating. A service that has not been rated is usually one that registered recently and has not had a first inspection, which is not in itself a concern. Where a rating sits below Good, read the report rather than dismissing the agency outright, because it will tell you what the specific problem was, how serious it appeared and how long ago the visit took place.

The questions that reveal how an agency really runs

Continuity matters more than almost anything else, so ask how many different carers would visit over a fortnight and whether the same small team can be maintained. Find out what happens when a regular carer is unwell, how late or missed calls are handled, and whether families can see the care plan and daily notes. Ask who supervises the carers, how often that happens, and what training staff receive for the particular conditions involved. Agencies including Mercury Care Services Ltd, Options Care Limited and Top Carers Nursing and Domiciliary Care Agency appear here holding a Good rating, though the right fit still depends on the household.

Getting an assessment and sorting out funding

Asking for a care needs assessment

Anyone who appears to need care and support can request an assessment, and it is free and entirely separate from any question of savings or income. London Borough of Croydon Adult Social Care is responsible for carrying out that assessment for people living in Thornton Heath, and for the financial assessment that follows. A practitioner will consider washing, dressing, meals, medication, mobility and the risks of remaining at home, along with the pressure being absorbed by relatives. Keep the written outcome, because it gives you a clear description of need to share with any agency you approach.

How the cost of home care works

After needs are agreed, a financial assessment establishes whether the council contributes, whether the family pays in full, or whether the two share the cost. Families arranging privately contract directly with the agency, and charges vary with the length of each visit, the time of day, weekend and holiday cover, and whether two carers are needed for safe moving and handling. Ask for the full schedule of rates in writing before agreeing anything, and check the notice period. If you would prefer to choose and manage the agency yourself while receiving council support, ask whether a direct payment could be arranged.

Related searches

• Care Homes in Thornton Heath
• Nursing Homes in Thornton Heath

Home Care near Thornton Heath

• Croydon
• Mitcham
• South Croydon
• Wallington
• Beckenham
• Carshalton
• Morden
• Sutton
• Bromley
• Coulsdon