Information about Domiciliary Care
What is Domiciliary Care?
Domiciliary Care can help people with personal care and some of the practical household tasks that help them to stay at home and be as independent as possible.
There are many types of domiciliary care to support people who have different needs for ongoing help, short term help, or help from time-to-time. You may need regular care, need short-term care after being in hospital, or pehaps you have an illness or disability that means you need help occasionally.
Domiciliary care agencies provide care services to support people in their own homes, they do not give specialist nursing care. Nursing care is provided by nursing agencies, click here if you would like a list of nursing care agencies in Somerset.
Care workers can visit to help with daily tasks such as:
- Getting out of bed and dressing
- Undressing and going to bed
- Washing
- Assistance to the toilet
- Cleaning, laundry or other domestic tasks
- Meal preparation
- Shopping
- Sitting with or accompanying to appointments/outings
- Supervision of medication
- Night care
- 24-hour support.
Care workers are trained to use hoists and help people move around; they have had food hygiene and first aid training.
All agencies that provide domiciliary care must be registered with the Commission for Social Care Inspection. All care workers employed through an agency must be checked with the Criminal Records Bureau to make sure they are suitable to carry out this type of work.
Many care workers study for a vocational qualification in care and all new care workers undertake a full induction programme before starting work. Staff who provide care to some groups of people, such as people with learning disabilities or dementia must have specialist training.
Domiciliary care agencies may specialise in providing care to people with particular needs. The lists of agencies on this website tell you about the type of care they provide. Click here to search for a domiciliary agency.
Live-in Carers
It is sometimes possible to find a companion or 'living-in help' to come to live with you. Some local agencies may be able to help you find a suitable person or you might consider advertising in newspapers or magazines.
It is worth bearing in mind, if you find an agency that can provide live-in care, that this care is often provided by more than one member of staff.
If you do advertise for a companion or a helper it is advisable to use a box number and to take up references. You should think carefully about what you want the companion to do and write a ‘job description’ so that you both understand and agree about what is expected, for example if you want the person to assist with housework or light personal care.
Contact an organisation like the Citizens Advice Bureau (please see useful contacts section) for information on whether a contract is required, or what your responsibility for National Insurance and other financial considerations might be.
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