Still need more information ?
There are numerous organisations that can help and advise you when you are looking for homecare services. We have listed a number of them below:
Recruitment and Employment Confederation
http://www.rec.uk.com/
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) is the trade body that supports and represents the recruitment industry.
United Kingdom Home Care Association
http://www.ukhca.co.uk
The UKHCA is the is the representative body for organisations that provide personal care – including nursing care - to people in their own homes.
The Association aims to identify and promote the highest standards of home care, to represent the views of our members with policy makers and to promote training and development of individuals and organisations providing home care.
Age Concern
http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/
Largest UK-wide charity working with and for older people. Runs a helpline to contact on issues relating to care on 0800 00 9966 and provides many helpful publications and factsheets.
Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales
http://www.cssiw.org.uk/
The Commission responsible for regulation and inspection of social care providers in Wales based on legislation and minimum standards. In April 2007 it will become the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales.
Care Directions
http://www.caredirections.co.uk/
Online internet guide to the rights and care of older people, and the care options available.
Carers UK
http://www.carersuk.org/Home
Carers UK is a national organisation campaigning to highlight the true value of carers' contribution to society and ensure carers get the practical, financial and emotional support they need.
Commission for Social Care Inspection
http://www.csci.org.uk/
The Commission responsible for regulation and inspection of social care providers in England based on legislation and minimum standards.
Counsel and Care
http://www.counselandcare.org.uk/
Counsel and Care is a national charity getting the best care and support for older people, their families and carers. It provides advice, information and financial support and influences policies, services and funding.
Elderly Accommodation Counsel
http://www.eac.org.uk/
A charity which helps older people make decisions about where to live and the care they need. This internet link goes directly to their care information site and they also have a sister site which provides advice on housing options http://www.housingcare.org
Help the Aged
http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/
Help the Aged is an international charity which campaigns to help older people facing poverty and isolation. It runs an advice line - "Senior Line" - for older people on the options for choosing care and funding care, 0808 800 6565.
National Centre for Independent Living
http://www.ncil.org.uk/
A national charity that is run by disabled people, for disabled people, in order to promote independent living. NCIL can advise on independent living funds and direct payments.
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers
http://www.carers.org/
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers offers information, advice and support to the quarter of a million unpaid informal carers, including 13,000 young carers below the age of eighteen.
The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)
http://www.rqia.org.uk/
The RQIA regulates (registers and inspects) a wide range of health and social care services in Northern Ireland. The regulation of services is based on the new minimum care standards.
The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (the Care Commission)
http://www.carecommission.com/
The Commission responsible for regulation and inspection of social care in Scotland based on legislation and care standards.
Alzheimer's Society
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/
A care and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. The Society has over 250 branches and support groups in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It provides helplines, runs care services, funds medical and scientific research and gives financial help to families in need.A care and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. The Society has over 250 branches and support groups in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It provides helplines, runs care services, funds medical and scientific research and gives financial help to families in need.
Arthritis Care
http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/
Arthritis Care exists to support people with arthritis. It is the UK's largest organisation working with and for all people who have arthritis. It is also a user-led organisation which means people with arthritis are at the heart of its work.
British Heart Foundation
http://www.bhf.org.uk/
The aim of the British Heart Foundation is to play a leading role in the fight against disease of the heart and circulatory system. It plays a major role in funding heart research, education and providing advice to people affected by heart disease.
Cystic Fybrosis Trust
http://www.cftrust.org.uk/
As well as research into the causes of Cystic Fybrosis, the Trust helps those affected by the disease to seek advice and care.
Dementia Information Service for Carers
http://www.disc.org.uk/
Dementia Information Service for Carers (DISC) offers advice and information to carers of older people who have dementia including finding services that can help, thinking about and finding a care home, and continuity of care.
Directgov - Public Services all in one place
www.direct.gov.uk/DisabledPeople/fs/en
Information on this site on all aspects of public service support for disability, from finance, to travel and rights and obligations. Other areas of the site also list an A-Z of local council contacts across the UK.
Disabled Living Foundation
http://www.dlf.org.uk/
The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF) is a national charity that provides free, impartial advice about all types of products for older and disabled people, their carers and families. The DLF can assist in finding equipment solutions that enable people to stay active and independent
Huntington's Disease Association
http://www.hda.org.uk/
The HDA is a UK registered charity that supports people affected by Huntington's disease (HD). It also provides information and advice to families, friends and health care professionals whose task it is to support Huntington's disease families.
Marie Curie Cancer Care
http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/
Established in 1948 - the same year as the NHS - Marie Curie Cancer Care is now one of the UK's largest charities. Employing more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, it provides care to around 25,000 people with cancer every year, along with support for their families.
Mencap
http://www.mencap.org.uk/
Mencap is the UK's leading learning disability charity working with people with a learning disability and their families and carers.
Mind
http://www.mind.org.uk/
Mind is a leading mental health charity in England and Wales, campaigning to improve life for everyone with experience of mental distress and providing mental health information by phone, email and letter.
Multiple Sclerosis Society
http://www.mssociety.org.uk/
The MS Society is a charity dedicated to helping people affected by MS. Across the UK information and support is available to anyone affected by MS from a network of over 350 local branches.
Parkinson's Disease Society
http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/
The Parkinson's Disease Society is the leading charity dedicated to supporting all people with Parkinson's, their families, friends and carers.
RADAR (Royal Association for Disabilities and Rehabilitation)
http://www.radar.org.uk/
RADAR is a national network of disability organisations and disabled people. It represents members by fast-tracking opinions and concerns to policy-makers and legislators in Westminster and Whitehall, and launching campaigns to promote equality for all disabled people.
Rethink (formerly the National Schizophrenia Fellowship)
http://www.rethink.org/
Working together to help people suffering with severe mental illness to recover a better quality of life. It is the largest national voluntary sector provider of mental health services with over 350 services and more than 130 support groups.
Royal National Institute for the Blind
http://www.rnib.org.uk/
The UK's leading charity offering information, support and advice to over two million people with sight problems. RNIB helps anyone with a sight problem, such as braille and talking books, but also with imaginative and practical solutions to everyday challenges.
Royal National Institute for the Deaf
http://www.rnid.org.uk/
RNID is the largest charity working for the UK's 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people. RNID campaigns, lobbies and raises awareness of hearing loss, and provides services and social and medical research.
Scope
http://www.scope.org.uk/
Scope is the disability organisation in England and Wales whose focus is people with cerebral palsy. The aim of SCOPE is to help disabled achieve equality and it provides helplines, factsheets and other sources of information.
Spinal Injuries Association
http://www.spinal.co.uk/
SIA is the national organisation of spinal cord injured people. It represents interests regardless of how the impairment occurred, whether or not it has resulted in full or partial paralysis. It also supports all those who are affected by spinal cord injury, including the family and friends of the disabled person.
Terence Higgins Trust
http://www.tht.org.uk/
The Terence Higgins Trust helps anyone affected by HIV and offers a wide range of support services such as emotional support and information by phone, help with accessing HIV testing, advice about rights, treatment advice and contact with support groups.
The Stroke Association
http://www.stroke.org.uk/
The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation, and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services.
Action on Elder Abuse
http://www.elderabuse.org.uk/
Action on Elder Abuse (AEA) works to protect, and prevent the abuse of, vulnerable older adults. It is the only charity in the UK and in Ireland working exclusively on the issue and can provide information on the nature of elder abuse and indicate what action might be taken in response to abuse or to prevent it through its helplines.
Criminal Records Bureau
http://www.crb.org.uk/
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), provides wide access to criminal record information through its Disclosure Service. This will help organisations identify candidates who may be unsuitable for certain work, especially that involve children or vulnerable adults through its checking system. The CRB covers England and Wales.
Disclosure Scotland
http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/
Disclosure Scotland is a service designed to enhance public safety by providing organisations the details of criminal history information on individuals applying for posts. Disclosure Scotland issues certificates which give details of an individual's criminal convictions or state that they have none.
NACRO
http://www.nacro.org.uk/
NACRO is the crime reduction charity, finding practical solutions to reducing crime. It offers employers practical advice on the employment of ex-offenders and work with vulnerable adults.
Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults Team (Northern Ireland)
http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/hss/child_care/child_protection.htm
The Team keep a list of those individuals who have been deemed as unsuitable to work with vulnerable adults and children, to enable checks to be made for those being considered for work in social care.
Protection of Vulnerable Adults Guidance
http://www.dh.gov.uk/pova
A site which provides guidance for social care employers on making a referral of an individual to the POVA list. It includes the form which organisations would complete to request that a worker, or former worker, be added to the POVA list. Note that this system operates in England and Wales.
General Social Care Council
http://www.gscc.org.uk/
The General Social Care Council is the social care workforce regulator in England. It registers social care workers and regulates their conduct and training.
Skills for Care (formerly TOPPS England)
http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/
Working in consultation with carers, employers and service users, Skills for Care aims to modernise adult social care in England, by setting out the qualifications and standards for care work and contributing to training costs.
Department of Health Social Care and Social Work Careers website
http://www.socialworkandcare.co.uk/
A new website which provides advice on where to find more information on careers in social care, job vacancies and how to get training and qualifications to assist in career development.
Directgov
http://www.direct.gov.uk/
Directgov brings together the widest range of public service information and services online. Produced by the Central Office of Information, Directgov provides information from across UK Government departments on topics ranging from travel safety and parental leave to special educational needs and local NHS services.
Office of Public Sector Information
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/
This new site provides the ability to download UK legislation from 1998-2006, including care legislation. OPSI provides a wide range of services to the public, information industry, government and the wider public sector relating to finding, using, sharing and trading information
