Questions to Ask a Home Care Provider on the First Visit

Regulation and record

Ask whether the provider is registered with the Care Quality Commission and what their most recent rating is. Reedsfield Care is CQC registered and rated Good, and you can read the report yourself rather than take our word for it.

• Are you CQC registered, and what is your current rating?
• Can I read your latest inspection report?
• How long have you been providing care in this area?

The carers themselves

Ask how carers are recruited, checked and trained, and whether they are employed by the provider or introduced as self employed contractors. Our carers are DBS checked, professionally trained, and employed and insured by us.

• Are carers DBS checked and what training do they complete?
• Are they employed by you or self employed?
• Will I meet the carer before care starts?

Continuity and cover

This is the question families most often forget and most often regret. Ask how many different carers will come, and what happens when a regular carer is on holiday or off sick. With us, continuity is planned deliberately, and relief cover for a live-in carer's breaks is included at no extra charge.

• How many different carers will we see in a typical month?
• What happens if our carer is off sick?
• Who do we ring at seven in the evening, or at the weekend?

The care plan and how it changes

Ask who writes the care plan, who reviews it, and how quickly it can change if needs increase. Our care plans are written and reviewed by a qualified care manager, and the package can be scaled up or down as things change.

Money and commitment

Ask for the hourly and weekly rates in writing, what happens on bank holidays, whether there are setup or agency fees, and what the notice period is. We have no setup fees, no agency fees and no minimum contract, with a week's notice to change or stop.