How to find the best homecare near you

When you first start to look for homecare near you, it might feel a bit daunting, and you may not know where to start. 

Decide what you want

Before you start your search, you need to think long and hard about exactly what you’re looking for. What are the essentials and what are your preferences? Writing these down can help you clarify your thoughts. There are some obvious things you need to decide, such as the services you need and the frequency you need them. However, there may be other items on the list that may seem silly, but it is far better to be able to tell potential carers what your preferences are than be unhappy with the service.

Talk to others 

You’re not alone. There are lots of people who can help you. Check friends and family and you’ll probably find someone who has had to use carers themselves. Buy them coffee and cake and quiz them hard!  What did they get right, what have they learned?  What makes a good carer, what agency did they use? Any bad experiences? Also talk to support groups and your healthcare professionals. They know how important it is for you to have the right carer. Most people will be happy to help you get this right.  

List possible providers 

The internet is your friend and can save you a lot of time. Googling ‘homecare near me’ with the service you need, will provide you with the names of agencies that supply relevant services. There are also databases online that allow you to search using your postcode. However, don’t rely solely on the internet. Ask your doctor or other health professionals plus friends and family. The very best carer for you will probably be someone who comes with a recommendation.  You should now have a long list of possible providers.

Create a shortlist

Research all the providers on your list carefully. Things to consider:

• Do they supply the services you need? 
• Are they local or will they have to travel to you? If they’re not local, you run the risk that they may not be able to reach you one day.
• Are they within budget? Check for all additional charges as some fees may not be obvious.
• Are there any reviews of the agency or their carers?  Don’t be too influenced by the very good or very bad ones.  Most businesses have friends and people who are, often unreasonably, upset with the business. The ratings that tell you the most are the ones that are more balanced and have good and bad to say.
• Are they providing a managed service or are they an introductory agency. The managed service is preferable at it means the carers are employed directly and the agency is fully accountable for the service provided. 

• What is their CQC rating? The Care Quality Commission (CQC) are an independent regulator that grade and write reports within the health and social care industry. If you go on their website (www.cqc.org.uk) and enter the agency’s name, you can search the results. This is a good indication of how well they rank against their competitors. 

• See Right at Home Guildford & Farnham rated Outstanding CQC report here.

Meet them

Once you have your short list it’s time to get offline. Websites are often created by external agencies and so may not reflect the true character of the business. There is also a limit to what a website can tell you and nothing beats meeting the agency in person. Consider how the agency managed that meeting.  Were they warm and welcoming or cold and officious? Were you given the chance to meet the potential carer? Did they take your preferences into account, or did they dismiss them? Did they ask you questions and show a real interest in you?   Did they offer you refreshments or keep you waiting?  It’s amazing how much you can learn about a business from meeting them in person. It’s an important step. If they won’t meet you, then cross them off your list.

Make your choice

With all the information you’ve now collected you may find yourself a little bewildered.  It’s worth going back to your list of needs and preferences and tick which of the agencies met your requirements best. Are there any gaps? Against that record the fees. This should make it far easier to compare your short-listed agencies against each other and you should have a winner.

Most carers will offer a trial so now it’s time to take the plunge and try out the one you think fits your needs best.