Understanding and budgeting for the expenses associated with hourly home care can be a challenging process for many families. Our commitment at The Good Care Group is to provide upfront and transparent care costs, free from any hidden or extra fees.
As a fully managed care provider, you also won’t have to worry about agency fees or retainers. We hope this helps make your care planning process as straightforward as possible.
Our friendly and knowledgeable care advisors are ready to guide you through the process of receiving hourly care in your own home. We are here to support your family every step of the way.
Call us to book your free, no-obligation home care assessment to discuss your care needs and the cost of receiving an hourly carer at home in more detail.
How much does a carer cost per hour in the UK?
Hourly rates for domiciliary care range anywhere from £15 to £30 per hour, depending on where in the country you receive your care. Urban areas in the south-east of England generally have higher rates than rural regions due to differences in the cost of living.
The complexity and intensity of care required influence costs. If specialised skills or medical expertise are necessary, the rates may be higher. Professional carers with advanced qualifications, certifications, or extensive experience may command higher hourly rates.
Hiring through a fully managed care provider may incur additional fees, but it ensures a professional screening process. Independent carers from an introductory agency might have lower hourly rates, but they often require more direct coordination and management.
Our costs of hourly home care include:
- Specialist care of conditions and disabilities
- Personal care
- Safe mobility support
- Socialisation and companionship
- Medication management and administration
- Facilitating and supporting hospital discharge back home
- Preparing meals and cooking food
- Domestic and household tasks
- Palliative care and end-of-life care
Hourly care: fully managed or introductory agency?
When considering hourly care options within your own home, there are two primary types of providers to choose from:
Introductory care agencies: These agencies act as intermediaries, connecting you with self-employed caregivers. While they might facilitate the matching process for a one-off fee, that is typically the end of their involvement. You or your family are completely responsible for managing the care provided.
Fully managed service providers: Fully managed service providers like The Good Care Group offer a comprehensive care package that handles all aspects of care coordination and management. From hiring, training, and paying your care team to completing care supervision and management, fully managed care providers look after the entire caregiving process. This allows you to focus on your well-being and peace of mind.
In April 2019, the Good Care Group became one of the only providers dedicated to live-in care to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ rating in all five categories of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection. Working through small regional teams, we offer completely tailored home care, enabling people, especially those living with dementia, to retain their independence and enjoy a better quality of life at home.
Our carers are directly employed, fully managed and trained beyond industry standards to support complex medical conditions with an unrivalled quality of care.
Tips for choosing an hourly care provider
When choosing an hourly care provider, several factors should be considered to ensure the well-being and comfort of your loved one. Here are some valuable tips to guide you in making an informed decision:
- Evaluate reputation
Research and gather feedback on the care provider’s reputation. Online reviews, testimonials, and recommendations can provide insights into the quality of care. Request references from current or previous clients.
- Check qualifications
Ensure that the carers employed by the provider have the necessary qualifications, certifications, and training to meet your loved one’s specific care needs. You can check and compare service providers on the CQC website.
- Assess experience
Consider the care provider’s experience in offering hourly care services. An established track record may indicate reliability and expertise.
- Personal compatibility
Assess the compatibility between the assigned carers and your loved one. Ask questions about the matching process before care begins. A good match in personalities and communication styles contributes to a positive caregiving relationship.
- Flexibility of services
Choose a provider that offers flexibility in terms of services provided. This ensures that the care plan can be adapted with minimal disruption if your loved one’s needs change over time.
- Transparent pricing
Choose a provider with clear and transparent pricing structures. Understand all associated costs and potential extra charges to avoid unwelcome surprises.
- Open communication channels
Evaluate the communication channels offered by the provider. Ensure that there are open lines of communication for feedback, updates, and addressing concerns.
Can I receive funding for an hourly carer?
There may be care funding available to you to receive a live-in care service, depending on your financial circumstances and your care needs. The Local Authority will only fund care at home (referred to as social funding) if your assets are worth less than £23,500 – we know that, sadly for many families, their financial situation exceeds this amount.
If you are assessed and have an identified healthcare need, you may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding organised by your local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to support you to receive care in your own home. Read more about care funding here.
Expert hourly care in your own home
The Good Care Group is proud to extend and build upon our ‘Outstanding’ CQC-rated, live-in care service to deliver hourly care. Initially based across London, our care team can provide exactly the same quality care that we are renowned for but in a more traditional hourly care format.
Popping in for care visits in as little as one hour, our professional carers can assist with anything from making your lunch, supporting you with personal care or assisting you out and about in the local community.
The Good Care Group is not an agency and provides a fully regulated and managed service, so you can be assured that the hourly care service you receive is of the highest quality. Our rigorous recruitment and selection process, along with our longstanding reputation in the home care industry, means that you can rest assured that you or your loved ones are in good hands.
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