Choosing the right care provider for your own needs or someone else can be a daunting business. To help you make a choice, the United Kingdom Home Care Association (UKHCA) has produced a list of possible questions (see below).

Countywide Caring recommend that you pick the questions most appropriate to your particular situation and address these to different potential providers. Any good care company will be more than happy to provide you with specific answers.

This list, together with other helpful information on caring at home, is available as a downloadable leaflet.

  • Can you provide the care that I need and meet my personal preferences?
  • How will you and your staff respect my privacy and dignity?
  • Have you cared for someone with similar needs to mine?
  • How will you match the most suitable careworker for my needs?
  • Is your organisation a member of UKHCA, committed to complying with the UKHCA Code of Practice?
  • Are you required to register with a statutory regulator and if so, are you currently registered?
  • Is your organisation insured in order to protect my safety and interests?
  • Do you interview all your care workers before offering them work?
  • Do you obtain at least two written references from your careworkers’ previous employers?
  • Do all your careworkers undergo a criminal record disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (in England and Wales) or Disclosure Scotland (in Scotland) or Access NI (in Northern Ireland)?
  • What sort of training do your careworkers receive before they start work and during their employment?
  • What proportion of your careworkers and managers have obtained a recognised qualification in health and social care or management?
  • If my care isn’t provided by a local council, do you have a standard contract that I can read before signing?
  • Can I contact your agency during the day, outside office hours and in an emergency?
  • What happens if my regular careworker is sick or on holiday?
  • What charges, if any, will I be expected to pay?
  • What payment methods are available (cheque, direct debit etc)?
  • Is there a minimum charge if I only need a small amount of care?
  • Are there any hidden extras in the prices you quote? (Prices normally include National Insurance contributions, travel expenses and any VAT payable.)