Question 1

Can the London Borough of Havering help pay for home care?

Accepted Answer

It can, subject to two separate assessments. The needs assessment establishes whether there are eligible needs, and the financial assessment then compares capital and income with national thresholds to set any contribution. Support may be delivered as care the council arranges or as a direct payment allowing the person to choose their own agency. Anyone assessed as meeting the full cost still has the right to information and advice about arranging care locally.

Question 2

How do I arrange a care needs assessment in Havering?

Accepted Answer

Contact the adult social care team at the London Borough of Havering and describe the help that has become necessary. The referral can come from the person concerned, from a relative or friend acting for them, or from a professional such as a GP, district nurse or hospital discharge coordinator. The assessment is free and no financial test applies before it takes place. Noting down specific recent examples of what has become difficult will help the assessor reach an accurate conclusion.

Question 3

How far ahead should home care be organised?

Accepted Answer

Start before the situation becomes urgent, because agencies have finite capacity and the busiest call times are taken first. Early morning and bedtime visits are the hardest to secure, so flexibility about timings widens the choice considerably. Where care follows a hospital stay, ask for the discharge team to begin planning well ahead of the discharge date. Starting early also leaves room to try a provider and change without pressure if the fit is wrong.

Question 4

Which home care agencies cover Havering?

Accepted Answer

One hundred and fourteen providers registered with the Care Quality Commission for personal care in people's own homes are listed on this page. The mix includes independent local agencies, branches of national organisations and services supporting particular conditions or communities. Registration for the area does not guarantee that every street is covered, since rounds are planned around travel time between calls. A short telephone call to confirm availability at a specific address is the quickest way to narrow things down.

Question 5

What should I ask an agency before appointing it?

Accepted Answer

Ask how many carers will realistically attend over a month and how continuity is protected when someone is unwell. Check how late or missed calls are communicated, who covers the office out of hours and how quickly the care plan can be revised. Request the most recent inspection report and ask what has changed since, particularly where the rating was below Good. Questions about staff turnover and training in dementia, moving and handling, and medication support are also worth putting directly.

Question 6

What is the difference between a care home and a nursing home?

Accepted Answer

A residential care home provides accommodation together with personal care, meaning help with washing, dressing, meals and daily routine. A nursing home holds an additional registration allowing registered nurses to deliver clinical care on the premises, which is required for wound management, complex medication or continuous monitoring of a condition. Home care differs from both by bringing support into the home someone already lives in. A care needs assessment usually establishes which option genuinely fits.

Home Care in Havering

116 home care in Havering (showing 101–116)