Home Care

A flexible service for many people, the question of care services at home doesn’t arise until suddenly there is a need. And most of us think that the stark choice is either living self sufficiently (without help) in our own familiar surroundings or then ‘going into a home.’

Lancefield nursing agency stops all that. We offer a realistic alternative to allow people to stay at home with familiar friends, relatives and possessions around them.

Care visits can be from 15 minutes upwards. There is no time limit but in reality most of our care visits are something between 30 minutes and one hour long. Some of the services we offer are:

• Assisting with ‘starting the day’. Help to get up, wash /shower / bath, get dressed and have breakfast.
• We can go shopping either taking our customer out with us or alternatively we can come in agree a shopping list go to the shops come back and put it all away!
• We can prepare food and drink.
• We can make sure we prompt medication when it’s due.
• We can do domestic tasks like cleaning, laundry ironing either on a regular basis or as a ‘spring clean’ (even if it’s in the autumn)
• We can provide a respite service. Where a member of the family if principal career there may be need for relief to allow that person time for themselves, maybe a couple of times a week.
• Some people like to have a pampering session once or twice a week. A nice bath and then clean clothes, a changed bed and a nice meal before bedtimes.
• And at the end of each day some help with getting ready for bed.
• We provide care services through the night for those people who need them. This can either be on a ‘sleeper night’ basis, where the care worker expects a reasonable night’s sleep but is on hand for emergencies or a ‘waking night’ where the care worker is on duty throughout the night.
• This is only a selection of the things we can do. If you don’t see something you would like, please ask.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

• What tasks will my care worker carry out? The worst situation is to have someone arrives everyday and say ‘what do you want me to do?’ that is why, before we even start to deliver the care, we agree a ‘care plan’ which details exactly what you have instructed us to do. This then becomes the work list for each day. There are a few ideas of what we do earlier on this page but we are happy to discuss any other services you would like.
• And what will my care worker NOT do? Once we have established exactly what you want on each visit we will work to that list. We do not give injections or change sterile dressings and we will prompt but not actually administer medication. Obviously we cannot carry out tasks which are likely to cause risk to either the person we provide care to or to the Lancefield Nursing Agency worker, which is why we ask that any different tasks are referred to the office first.
• Will I have the same person every day? This depends on how many care visits you have each week. We very rarely have just one care worker assigned to a particular customer. This is to avoid someone new having to learn the ropes if the regular care worker is away on holiday etc. However we do keep the number of people to an absolute minimum.
• What about my personal security? Every member of the Lancefield Nursing Agency team has been through a rigorous vetting procedure before they ever start work. In addition all staff will always be in uniform and carry a personalised identification card which shows their name, photograph and signature.
• How can I be sure that my care worker will stay full time and carry out all the tasks? We take a belt and braces view to ensure that the service is exactly what is required. After every visit the care worker will write the details of what he/she has carried out during the visit in the care record (which stays in the customer’s house.) But in addition the customer is asked to show their satisfaction by signing the care worker’s timesheet which is then returned to the office each week for checking.
• How much does the service cost and can I get any help with the fees? We will put together a detailed plan for each customer which as well as setting out the care to be delivered also shows the weekly costs. Many people will be entitled to assistance with the cost of their care either from their local social services office or via other government grants. Ask us about it and well advice you about your rights.
• How do I pay for my care? We will send you a bill once a fortnight. If you wish to pay by standing order (to save you having to remember to write out a cheque) just let us know.
• What safeguards do I have? We are registered with the Commission for Social Care Inspection which sets the minimum standards by which we operate. We are also a full member of the United Kingdom Home Care Association (UKHCA). Both of these bodies have standards which set out how we should operate. We also carry public liability insurance (£10 million) with Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance.
• What if I do not like it or want to make changes? Our experience tells us that people’s care needs very often change. We therefore understand that there may be major or minor changes to make. That is why we carry out reviews on a regular basis and why we are pleased to hear from members of the immediate family about ways the service can be delivered most efficiently.
• How do I start? Contact us and make an appointment for us to visit you for a chat about how we can work for you. We are happy to visit you at home to discuss ways we can help and then once you have decided, you simply leave the rest to us!
• What happens when the office is closed? We maintain an out of hour’s emergency number. This is manned 24 hrs a day seven days a week including bank holidays and Christmas. Our office hours are 9.00am to 5pm Monday to Friday.