Care at Home and Care Agencies

On this page:

• Where Can I Find Care and Support Services?
• Finding a Personal Assistant
• Paying for Your Care
• Do I need an assessment if I'm organising my own care?

Where Can I Find Care and Support Services?

Where possible, we want people to be able to stay healthy, independent and receive support to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. 

Care and support is a term used to describe the help some adults need when they are unable to carry out their day-to-day tasks. Support at home from a carer or personal assistant is known as home care, home help or domiciliary care.

The  Berkshire Care Directory [4MB]  contains information on providers and agencies that can help people receive care and support at home. You can also view the information in this Berkshire Care Directory Autumn 2024 e-book.

The West Berkshire Directory also provides information on agencies that provide home care in West Berkshire.

You can find information about providers' standards of quality and safety on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website.
 

Finding a Personal Assistant

You could employ a personal assistant.  You can find reliable, vetted and approved care and support providers through our Assured Care and Support scheme. 

You can also find a list of personal assistants on the West Berkshire Directory here, or find helpful advice on the 'Help at Home from a Paid Care' webpage on the NHS website.

Please see our Care Needs Assessment and Eligibility webpage if you need advice and support in identifying what help you need.
 

Paying for Your Care

Read more information about paying for your care and funding your care as a self-funder, or get in touch with us for help and guidance.
 

Do I need an assessment if I'm organising my own care?

If you arrange your own care and support, you do not need to be assessed by the council. If you meet the eligibility criteria and we are funding your care, we must be involved in arranging it. 

Even if you are not eligible for financial help from us, and are therefore paying the full costs of your care, you may still contact us for advice and information.