Everything you need to know about arranging care for yourself or a loved one — types, costs, funding options, and your legal rights. From a provider families trust.
~1 million
People receive home care across the UK
12,500+
Registered home care providers in the UK
£32/hr
Average cost of home care (2025/26)
809,000
People employed in domiciliary care
Home care, also known as domiciliary care, is professional support delivered in your own home by trained care workers. Rather than moving into a residential care home, you stay where you are most comfortable whilst receiving help with the things you find difficult.
The support can be as simple as a daily visit to help with getting washed and dressed, or as comprehensive as round the clock live-in care for someone with complex needs. What makes home care different from other types of care is that it is built around you: your routines, your preferences, and your home.
In England, any agency providing personal care (help with washing, dressing, toileting, or medication) must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and meet strict quality standards. This means your care is inspected, rated, and publicly reported on.
Home care is not a single service; it covers a wide range of support tailored to individual needs. Understanding the different types helps you choose what is right for your situation.
| Type of Care | Description |
|---|---|
| Personal Care | Help with washing, bathing, dressing, toileting, and maintaining personal hygiene. Delivered with dignity and respect for your privacy. |
| Companionship Care | Emotional support, social interaction, and help with everyday activities. Reduces loneliness and keeps you connected to your community. |
| Medication Support | Reminders, prompts, and administration of medication as agreed in your care plan. Trained carers follow clear guidance to keep you safe. |
| Dementia Care | Specialist support from carers trained in dementia care. Focused on maintaining routines, reducing anxiety, and supporting families. |
| Hospital Discharge Care | Help settling back home after a hospital stay. Includes support with meals, personal care, mobility, and recovery monitoring. |
| Respite Care | Temporary care so family carers can take a well-earned break. Available for a few hours, a few days, or longer periods. |
| Live-in Care | A carer lives with you full time, providing round the clock support whilst you remain in the comfort of your own home. |
| Overnight Care | Support during the night, either as a sleeping night (carer sleeps but is available) or waking night (carer stays awake throughout). |
One of the most common questions families ask is about cost. Home care costs vary depending on where you live, the type of care you need, and how many hours of support are required.
£26 to £32
per hour (UK average)
National average approx. £32/hour in 2025/26. Homecare Association recommends minimum £32.14/hour.
£1,200 to £1,500
Per week
Approximately £220 per day. Complex needs and specialist care may cost more
£210 to £260
per night
Sleeping night care from £210. Waking night care (carer stays awake) from £260.
These are the official thresholds that apply for care funding decisions from 1 April 2025 onwards. They are updated annually in April. These thresholds apply to England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different rules.
If you have eligible care needs (determined through a care needs assessment), your local council will carry out a financial assessment to decide how much you should contribute towards your care. The key thresholds in England for 2025/26 are:
£0–£14,250
Your savings are disregarded. The local authority pays for your care in full.
£14,250 to £23,250
You contribute £1 per week for every £250 of savings above £14,250.
£23,250+
You are expected to pay the full cost of your care privately.
Several benefits can help towards the cost of home care, even if you are a self-funder:
| Benefit | Amount | Means-Tested |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance Allowance | £110.40/wk | No |
| NHS Continuing Healthcare | Fully funded | No |
| Direct Payments | Varies | Yes |
| Carer's Allowance | £81.90/wk | Yes |
| Personal Independence Payment | Varies | No |
Step-By-Step Guide
There are two main routes to arranging home care: through your local council or privately through a registered provider. Many families use a combination of both.
Call your local council and ask for a care needs assessment. In Hertfordshire, contact Hertfordshire County Council. In Cambridgeshire, contact Cambridgeshire County Council.
A social worker or occupational therapist assesses your needs. This is free and is your legal right under the Care Act 2014. You can have a family member or friend present.
If you have eligible needs, a separate financial assessment determines how much you will contribute towards your care costs.
A care plan is created outlining the support you will receive. The council either arranges care directly or gives you a direct payment to choose your own provider.
Call our Hatfield team on 01707 707599 or Peterborough on 01733 911656 for an initial, no-pressure conversation about your needs.
We visit you at home for a comprehensive, free assessment to understand exactly what support would make the biggest difference to your life.
We build a care plan around your routines, preferences, and goals — not a standard template. You're involved in every decision.
We introduce your regular carers and start support at a pace that works for you. No means testing. No waiting lists. Full control.
The Process
Whether you go through the council or a private provider, a care assessment is the starting point for getting the right support. Here is what to expect.
The assessor evaluates your ability to manage daily activities safely and independently. This covers:
Before your assessment, it helps to:
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. Any home care agency providing personal care must be registered with the CQC and meet fundamental standards of quality and safety
When you choose a CQC-registered provider, you benefit from regular inspections against five key questions: Is the service safe? Is it effective? Is it caring? Is it responsive to people’s needs? And is it well-led? Every provider receives a public rating of Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate.
Living Plus Care Services is rated Good by the CQC for our Hatfield, Hertfordshire service. You can view our inspection report on the CQC website for complete transparency about the quality of care we provide.
Under UK law, you have the right to:
Not all care services are regulated by the CQC. Understanding the difference is important when choosing support for yourself or a loved one.
| Benefit | Regulated Care (CQC Registered) | Unregulated Care |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks Covered | Personal care: washing, dressing, toileting, medication administration | Housekeeping, shopping, cooking, companionship (without personal care) |
| CQC Inspections | Yes, regular inspections and public ratings | No inspections or oversight |
| Staff Checks | DBS checks, training, supervision required | No mandatory checks |
| Complaints | Formal complaints procedure; escalate to CQC | No formal procedure |
| Safeguarding | Full safeguarding policies and reporting duties | Fewer protections |
| Care Plans | Written, reviewed, and updated care plans | Not required |
One of the most important decisions a family faces. Here's an honest, side-by-side comparison to help you choose.
| Consideration | Home Care | Care Home |
|---|---|---|
| Where You Live | Stay in your own home with familiar surroundings | Move into a shared residential facility |
| Independence | Greater independence and personal choice | More structured routine and communal living |
| Cost | Pay only for the hours of care you use | Fixed weekly fee covering accommodation, meals, and care |
| Social Contact | Relies on visitors, community, and carer companionship | Built-in social environment with other residents |
| Flexibility | Highly flexible; adjust hours as needs change | Less flexible; care package is generally fixed |
| 24-Hour Support | Available through live-in or 24-hour care, but costs more | Always available as standard |
| Property | Your home is excluded from financial assessment | Your home may be included in the means test (after 12 weeks) |
Living Plus Care Services provides CQC-registered home care across two branches, covering Hatfield and the surrounding areas of Hertfordshire, and Peterborough and areas of Cambridgeshire.
Living Plus Care Services provides CQC-registered home care across two branches, covering Hatfield and the surrounding areas of Hertfordshire, and Peterborough and areas of Cambridgeshire.
Our Cambridgeshire branch covers Peterborough and surrounding areas, from our office at Stuart House, East Wing, St John's Street, Peterborough.
Not sure if we cover your area?
Give us a call with your postcode and we will let you know straight away. We regularly expand our coverage areas and can advise on other local providers if we cannot help directly.
Whether you are just starting to think about home care or need support urgently, we are here to help. Book a free, no-obligation assessment today.
Book Free Assessment: www.livingpluscare.co.uk/contact
