Employing a care agency

It is important to work out exactly how much funding you have to spend on the agency cover. You can ask your Direct Payment Support Service Adviser to work out a budget with you so that you are never short of money.

Some agencies charge different rates, so it is important that you find out which rate is suitable for you and how you will be able to fund it. Some useful questions to think about are:

•  What times to I need support and how long for?
• Is the Agency registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)? You can check if the agency is registered by going onto the CQC website http://www.cqc.org.uk/ or call them on 03000 616161.

You can also ask the agency a few questions to check if they are right for you:

• Will they be able to provide you with consistent staff?
• What training do they give staff?
• How do they carry out checks and references on staff?
• Are you able to choose the person that provides your assistance and will I see the same person on a regular basis?
• Is the price all inclusive or will there be VAT or travel expenses to be paid?
• Do they have a confidentiality policy?
• Are they able to provide staff cover when your regular staff are ill?
• How can I contact the out of hours emergency services?
• What are the obligations if I cancel the Agency service?

Your local advice agency could be a good starting point for any recommendations they might have for Care Agency. You can also use the Find a Service pages to find one near you.