FAQ

To protect vulnerable people, the government set up the Criminal Records Bureau, which is an executive agency of the Home Office, in March 2002. The CRB checks the backgrounds of applicants for work with vulnerable groups for any relevant criminal records or other problems.
Any individual or organisation that cares for or is in regular contact with vulnerable groups is required by law to have Standard and Enhanced disclosures. This includes teachers, nurses, carers and even people working on a one-off basis volunteering for a charity for instance.
All our carers have enhanced CRB checks, which means further research has been done into their backgrounds to check on other issues.

No, but we can provide a team to cover days and nights if that is what is needed.
Live-in care means that the carer is around the house, and we all agree what level of care is needed before it starts.

Continuity of care is important to us. We always introduce our customers to more than one carer so that a friendly familiar face is available whenever they are needed. In the unlikely event no one is available, we will inform everyone concerned at the earliest opportunity, and let them know who will be coming to their home instead. The replacement carer will always be trained and checked to the same high standards.

This is very much up to the individual, but it is always worth giving us a ring and discussing the current situation. Researching the local options, and planning what you would do in advance of urgent need, is helpful for the family’s peace of mind. You will then be clear what we can provide should the need arise.
The situation can change at any time, and we can organise the appropriate level care for your relation at short notice, either living in or visiting. For instance, your relation may have a fall or need an operation or hospital care, in which case we can provide short term convalescent care at home to help them back to their former health.
Existing family care arrangements may break down for any number of reasons or you may simply need time off. We can provide respite care, either living in or visiting, to fill the gap.
Many people start with simple domestic help, for instance housework and cooking. The companionship of having someone they trust popping in regularly can also be a boost to both your and their morale. All our carers are trained to watch out for changes, and report regularly to their managers, who will be on constant touch with the wider family.

In most cases it is possible to give you a guide when you first call your us. But, as our care is bespoke and responds to the individual needs and wishes of our customers, it is not possible to give a more exact figure without an initial home visit to identify these.
Call us to make an appointment, and we will come without obligation to work with you on the best solution. Our bespoke service also means that costs can vary with the level of care needed at different times. So, for instance, if your relation needs more help during an illness, they may need less help when they have recovered. The costs are adjusted accordingly.
Care within a person’s own home is usually more cost effective, as well as preferable, to the disruption of moving into residential care.

When your carer starts to visit, they are supervised in your home regularly via spot checks to make sure everything is to your liking. You can call any time to request a supervisor’s visit if you believe things are not going according to plan or you wish to make changes to your care arrangements.

The first thing to do is get in touch us as soon as you feel there is a problem, and one of our expert managers will come and visit you as a matter of urgency to work with you towards a solution.
We will always respond quickly to any requests for change or complaints.

All our services are bespoke – we make a free initial visit to discuss what is wanted or needed. As we are completely flexible, we can then add to or remove services as the situation changes. But, just as a guide, here are a range of the usual kinds of things we would do with and for your loved one. What we do is very much based on exactly what is requested, and performed with full agreement from all parties. Please don’t take the list as definitive, or applicable in all cases.

Housekeeping:
• Laundry and ironing
• Housework such as bed-making, dusting and vacuuming
• Hygiene in the kitchen and bathroom
• Cooking meals, both with and for our customers as they require
• Escort for shopping and other outings
• Running errands such as picking up prescriptions or dry-cleaning
• Supervision of home maintenance visits
• Postal services such as making sure bills are paid
• Recycling and rubbish removal

Personal care:
• Washing, shaving, hygiene and help generally in the bathroom
• Dressing, choosing clothes to wear
• Continence care
• Management of medication such as reminders
• Mobility assistance with frames, scooters etc
• Monitoring of appropriate diet
• Morning help with getting up
• Evening help with going to bed

Social care:
• Coordinating GP visits, and other professional attention
• Companionship and conversation
• Entertainment and hobbies
• Houseplant care and gardening assistance
• Providing an escort for events, church etc
• Help with pets

Specialised care:
• End of life assistance (palliative care)
• Dementia care
• Reablement
• Convalescent care

We can provide one visit a week for an hour for our more independent clients. The most important factor for most people is not the amount of time but the positive effect of the visit and what can be achieved.

As all our care is bespoke, we will discuss your requirements during our first visit so your expectations are fully met. Nutritious meals are vital to wellbeing, and our carers will prepare food that suits everyone’s requirements.