How to Choose a Home Care Provider
Not all care providers operate to the same standard. That difference matters enormously to the people receiving care. When you are weighing up your options, look for a provider that is regulated by the appropriate national body. In Wales, that is Care Inspectorate Wales. Regulation means the provider is legally accountable, subject to inspection, and required to meet defined standards of practice.
Beyond regulation, look for signs that the provider genuinely puts the person first. Do they carry out a proper assessment before care begins, and involve your loved one in shaping their own plan? Do they try to provide continuity of carers? Is there a named person you can speak to when you have a concern? These are the kinds of things that help distinguish thoughtful care from care that is simply carried out.
Good questions to ask any provider: How do you match carers to the people they support? What happens when my usual carer is unavailable? How often are care plans reviewed? Who do I call if something does not feel right? We welcome all of these questions at Healing Hands Healthcare Limited.
Understanding Care Funding in Wales
Adults in Wales who may need care and support are entitled to an assessment by their local authority under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014. This assessment looks at the person's needs and determines whether they are eligible for funded support, and in what form.
If your loved one is assessed as eligible, the local authority may contribute toward or fully fund their care. If you prefer to arrange care privately, or if your loved one is not eligible for funded provision, you can do so through a regulated provider. Healing Hands Healthcare Limited is registered with Care Inspectorate Wales and offers services across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Direct Payments are another option worth knowing about. Where a person is assessed as eligible, the local authority may offer a Direct Payment, a sum of money paid to them directly so they can arrange their own care from a provider of their choice. Healing Hands Healthcare Limited can discuss this option with families. We would be happy to help you prepare for a local authority assessment if that would be useful.
Preparing Your Home for Care
A few small changes at home can make a real difference to how safely and comfortably care is delivered. The areas worth paying most attention to are the ones your loved one uses every day: the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen. Non-slip mats, grab rails, good lighting, and clear pathways through the home are practical measures that significantly reduce the risk of falls.
If your loved one uses a walking frame, wheelchair, or other mobility equipment, make sure there is enough space for it to be moved safely in the areas they spend most time in. A member of our team carries out a home risk assessment as part of the care planning process and will offer specific suggestions based on what they see.
Supporting a Loved One Through This Process
Introducing professional care into someone's home is a meaningful change, and it can take a little time to feel settled, for your loved one and for you. The most important thing is to keep the person themselves at the centre of every decision. Their preferences, their comfort, and their sense of being in control of their own life matter most.
Once care is in place, stay involved. You are entitled to know how your loved one is doing, what the carer is observing during visits, and how the care plan is evolving. A good provider will welcome your involvement, not discourage it.
And please do not forget yourself. If you have been the main source of support for your loved one, you will know how much that takes. Respite care exists so that family carers can take a proper break, knowing that the person they care for is in safe hands. It is not a luxury. It is part of how good care is sustained over the long term.
What to Expect from Your First Assessment
The care needs assessment is the foundation of everything that comes after it. A qualified member of our team will visit your loved one at home and take the time to understand their daily life properly: what they can manage independently, where support would be most helpful, what their preferences and routines are, and what they want their life to feel like with care in it. This is a conversation, not an inspection.
From that assessment, we put together a care plan written specifically for them. You will see it before care begins, and you will have a real opportunity to discuss, question, and change anything in it. Nothing starts until everyone is satisfied with what has been agreed.
Care Glossary
Care can come with a lot of terminology. Here is a plain-English explanation of the terms you are most likely to come across.
- Responsible Individual
- The person registered with Care Inspectorate Wales who holds overall legal and regulatory responsibility for a care service provider. For Healing Hands Healthcare Limited, the Responsible Individual is Assia Askar.
- Registered Manager
- The individual registered with Care Inspectorate Wales who is responsible for the day-to-day management of a regulated care service. For Healing Hands Healthcare Limited, the Registered Manager is Mark Rees.
- Care Plan
- A written document, agreed with the individual and their family, that sets out what care will be provided, how it will be delivered, and by whom. It is reviewed and updated regularly as needs and circumstances change.
- Needs Assessment
- A structured, person-centred conversation about an individual's care needs, carried out by a qualified professional before care begins, and revisited at regular intervals to make sure the care plan continues to fit.
- Reablement
- A short-term programme of support designed to help someone rebuild independence after an illness, injury, or time in hospital. The goal is to support the person to do as much as possible for themselves again, with the right help alongside them.
- Direct Payment
- A payment made by a local authority to an individual who has been assessed as eligible for funded care, so they can arrange their own support from a provider of their choice. Healing Hands Healthcare Limited can discuss this with families.
- DBS Check
- A Disclosure and Barring Service check, which will be carried out on all Healing Hands Healthcare Limited staff before they begin work. It confirms that a person is suitable to work with vulnerable adults.
- Domiciliary Care
- The formal name for professional care delivered in a person's own home, rather than in a residential or nursing home.
- Care Inspectorate Wales
- Care Inspectorate Wales is the national regulator for social care and childcare in Wales. Healing Hands Healthcare Limited is registered with CIW, Registration No. SIN-00016301-MJQN.
Complaints and Concerns
If something has not felt right, please tell us. We would always rather know than not. You can call us on 07777 627612 or email admin@healinghandshealthcare.org.uk. We take every concern seriously, look into it carefully, and use it as an opportunity to improve.
If you feel your concern has not been resolved to your satisfaction, you have the right to refer it to Care Inspectorate Wales at www.careinspectorate.wales or by calling 0300 7900 126.
We welcome questions and conversations from families and professionals. We would be glad to hear from you.