What Happens During a Free Home Care Assessment?

When families contact us, one of the first questions they ask is what the assessment actually involves. There is a natural worry that it will be intrusive, or that agreeing to one commits them to something. Neither is true. Here is exactly what happens.

Who comes

A senior member of our team carries out every assessment. We do not send junior staff or sales people. The person who visits is someone with direct care experience who understands what good and poor care looks like in practice. In placements with more complex needs, our Registered Manager Zoe Rafferty is often involved directly.

Where and when

The assessment takes place in the person’s own home, at a time that suits them. We fit around you, not the other way around. Most assessments take between 45 minutes and an hour and a half, depending on how much there is to discuss.

What we look at

We start by listening. We want to understand the situation from the perspective of the person who needs care, and from the family. Both perspectives matter and they are not always the same.

We then look practically at the person’s daily routine: how they are managing mornings, mealtimes, medication, personal care, mobility around the home, and what they do during the day. We are not ticking boxes. We are building a picture of what life looks like at the moment, and where some support might make a real difference.

We also look at the home environment. Not to judge, but to understand. Are there practical steps that would make things safer? Are there things that are currently manageable that may become more difficult over time?

What we do not do

We do not pressure. We do not make assumptions. We do not arrive with a package already decided. If after the assessment we think a person does not actually need professional care yet, we will say so and explain what we think would help instead.

What happens after

We follow up with a written care plan for you to review. It sets out what we suggest, how often, for how long, and what it would cost. Nothing starts until you have read it, discussed it, and said yes. And even then, you can change your mind.

If you would like to arrange a free assessment, call us on 01782 528087 during office hours, or use the 24-hour mobile line on 07944 200990 at any time.