Personal homecare

Personal homecare is help with the personal tasks you cannot manage alone. This might be tasks such as getting in and out of bed, getting dressed, going to the toilet, washing or eating.

Before choosing homecare, you may want to think about other support which could help you.

Some homecare organisations will also provide other services such as help with shopping and cleaning.

Standards
How much does homecare cost?
Making your own arrangements
How can I get services?

Choosing a homecare provider

Homecare organisations must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and you should ask to see a copy of their latest inspection report. Only use an organisation you feel happy with. Here are some questions you may want to ask them before choosing a provider:

Will I always have the same staff?
What exactly will the staff help me with and how flexible can they be?
How will you match the staff to my needs and what happens if I don't like the staff you send?
What about when staff are on holiday or off sick?
If staff are helping with personal care, will they be the same gender as me?
How will they protect my dignity and privacy?
What happens if staff are late?
How much notice do you need if I want to change the day or time that staff come?
What qualifications do staff have and what training will they have had?
How are staff chosen?
Are they trustworthy?
What happens if something goes wrong, or I am unhappy with the service?
Is the organisation a member of the UK HomeCare Association?
What are the charges and what do these cover?
How do I contact you and do you have an emergency phone number if something goes wrong?
Do you have a set of services standards I can see?
Do you have a contract that I can sign?

Standards

Organisations should have standards that they work to and you can ask for a copy of these. They may be part of the organisation's statement of purpose. Some organisations have agreed to meet the city council's service standards, which include:

All visits should be within 30 minutes (either side) of the agreed time
You should be advised of any changes to the time or visiting care worker
A small team of care workers should be assigned to carry out the service, so that you have consistency and reliability
Accurate records should be kept of the time the visits were carried out and what was done by the care worker
You should have contact details of the local branch and also have been made aware how to complain if you need to
Following the city council's medication policy

You can download the full standards at the bottom of this page. These have been written for homecare organisations and can be difficult to understand. If you want advice about any part of the standards, you should contact Charlotte Hardman.

How much does homecare cost?

The organisations that have agreed to meet our service standards have also agreed to charge no more than our set prices. This year that is between £11.88 and £12.36 an hour, depending on the quality of the service.

You will find a list of these organisations at the bottom of this page.

Other organisations have expressed an interest in working in Salford and you should ask them what they charge. These are also available at the bottom of this page.

You can also search the CQC directory for a complete list of organisations that work in and around Salford.

If you are using a personal budget to pay for personal homecare, you should read our charging information.

How much help will you get if you make your own arrangements?

If you decide to make your own arrangements, without a social care assessment, then we will not be able to help you and you will have to pay the full cost of the homecare.

If you are thinking of making your own arrangements, you should talk to an independent financial adviser, to see if this is the best option for you. You can contact our Welfare Rights Advice Line, a Citizens Advice Bureau, Age UK, a solicitor or an accountant. We also suggest that you seek advice about finding a suitable care home. You can speak to an advice organisation or contact us and we will be able to help you.

Why you should contact us?

Many people who are thinking about residential care find it helpful to talk to us. We can give you independent advice and carry out an assessment of your needs. You can use this to help you agree a contract with a home, about the support that you want. We may even be able to help you to stay living in your own home. If the assessment shows that you are eligible for residential or nursing care, we may be able to help you pay the care home's fees, depending on your capital (things that you own such as savings, premium bonds and your house) and your income (money you get regularly such as your pension).

If you are paying for personal homecare by yourself, you should read the guide 'Paying for long term care' at the bottom of this page.

How can I get services?

You can contact homecare organisations directly or contact us and ask for an assessment of your needs. If we agree that you have care and support needs, we can arrange services for you, or give you some financial help to buy your own support. The amount of help we can give you will be based on how much support you need and how much money you have.