Finding the right home care provider is one of the most important decisions families will make when arranging care for a loved one. With a wide choice of providers available, it can feel overwhelming knowing where to start or what to ask.
At Braeburn Care, we support families across West Kent and East Sussex to make informed, confident decisions. To help, we’ve compiled this practical checklist — covering key questions to ask when comparing home care providers — so you can feel assured you’re choosing the right service.
Finding the Right Home Care Provider
1. Are they regulated and transparent about their standards?
- CQC registration: All reputable home care providers in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Even if a provider hasn’t yet been inspected, like newer or recently relaunched services, they must still adhere to CQC’s strict regulations and standards from day one.
- Openness matters: Look for a provider that is happy to talk openly about how they operate, how they manage care quality, and how they plan to meet and exceed CQC expectations once inspected.
- Reputation in the community: While an official rating may be pending, check for transparent customer reviews, word-of-mouth recommendations, and how active and trusted they are in your local area.
- Insurance: Do they hold appropriate public liability and employer liability insurance?
- Safeguarding measures: Are policies in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of clients?
2. Do they offer the services you need — now and in the future?
- Range of support: Does the provider offer the specific services you’re looking for today — such as personal care, companionship, medication assistance, meal preparation, or dementia care?
- Adaptability: Can their services evolve with your needs? For example, if you start with daily visits, can they scale up to 24-hour or live-in care as your requirements change?
- Palliative care: Should your health deteriorate, do they provide compassionate end-of-life care at home, enabling you to remain in familiar surroundings with dignity?
3. How personalised is their care planning — and is it a true alternative to residential care?
- Tailored care plans: Do they create bespoke care plans that reflect your personal preferences, routines, and lifestyle — not just your care needs?
- Family involvement: Will your loved ones be actively involved in shaping the care you receive, ensuring everyone feels informed and reassured?
- Residential care alternative: Can the provider deliver flexible, consistent care at home that allows you to remain independent for longer — offering a realistic and supportive alternative to moving into residential care?
4. What qualifications and training do their care professionals have?
- Recruitment checks: Are carers DBS-checked and reference-checked?
- Training: What induction and ongoing training do staff receive, especially around safeguarding, manual handling, medication, and dementia awareness?
5. How do they monitor and maintain care quality?
- Supervision and reviews: Are there regular care plan reviews and staff supervisions?
- Communication: How often and how well do they communicate with families?
6. Are costs clear and transparent?
- Pricing breakdown: Do you receive a clear breakdown of hourly rates, weekend or bank holiday charges, and any additional fees?
- Funding support: Can they guide you on using direct payments or local authority funding if applicable?
7. What happens in the case of emergencies?
- Out-of-hours support: Do they offer emergency contact lines or on-call support?
- Continuity of care: If a carer is unavailable, how do they arrange cover to avoid disruption?
8. Can they provide real feedback or case studies?
- References or testimonials: Are there reviews or feedback available from other families using their service?
- Case studies: Can they share examples of how they’ve helped people in similar situations?
9. What technology do they use for care records and monitoring?
- Digital records: Do they use a secure electronic care management system to log visit times, medication administration, and task completion?
- Family access: Is there a family portal or app that enables loved ones to view care updates in real-time?
- Transparency and reliability: Does the provider use digital systems to improve communication and ensure care consistency?
Modern care should embrace technology to provide greater transparency, safety, and efficiency. It also gives families peace of mind, especially when they can’t always be there in person.
Why Families Across West Kent and East Sussex Choose Braeburn Care
At Braeburn Care, we pride ourselves on delivering more than just care — we offer reassurance, continuity, and genuine support tailored to every individual. With over 45 years of leadership experience in the sector, we understand what matters most when choosing care.
We utilise secure digital care systems to keep families informed and support efficient, person-centred care across our services. Whether you’re looking for personal care, live-in care, companionship, or domestic support, we’re here to help. If you’re looking for high-quality, local home care in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Crowborough, or surrounding areas, let’s talk.
Get in touch today:
www.braeburncare.co.uk | 01892 577 680 | enquiries@braeburncare.co.uk
