Companionship Care at Home in Greenwich

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Companionship Care at Home in Greenwich

Finding regular social contact and light practical support for an older relative who lives alone can feel urgent, especially if you are not nearby. Companionship care at home means a regular carer visits your relative at their home in Greenwich — sitting and talking, helping with light tasks such as preparing a simple meal or tidying up, accompanying them on a walk in Greenwich Park, or attending a local appointment. It is not the same as personal care or nursing care, though some agencies offer all three. The focus is on reducing isolation and maintaining a familiar routine.

For families in Greenwich, the appeal is straightforward. An older person living in Woolwich, Eltham, Charlton, Blackheath or any other part of the borough keeps their independence and stays at home. A familiar face visiting two or three times a week can make a significant difference to mood, safety awareness and general wellbeing — without the upheaval of a move to a care home.

CareAH is a UK marketplace that connects families to CQC-registered home care agencies. Around 110 agencies are registered to provide home care in the Greenwich area [4], though not all offer companionship as a standalone service. This page sets out what companionship care involves locally, how it fits with NHS and council support, and what to check before choosing an agency.

The local picture in Greenwich

Most older adults in Greenwich are treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, which is run by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. When a patient is ready to leave hospital, the trust and the Royal Borough of Greenwich work together on discharge planning. The national NHS framework sets out several Discharge to Assess (D2A) pathways [8].

Pathway 0 covers people well enough to go home without any additional support. Pathway 1 covers those who can go home with some short-term support — this is often where companionship or light home care fits in, alongside reablement services provided or commissioned by the council. Pathway 2 involves more intensive support at home or in a community setting, and Pathway 3 covers those who need a short stay in a bed-based setting before returning home.

For families, the practical implication is this: if your relative has recently been discharged from Queen Elizabeth Hospital under Pathway 1, they may already have some short-term council-funded support in place. That provision is usually time-limited — commonly around six weeks — and is focused on regaining independence rather than providing ongoing social contact. Once that period ends, the family typically needs to arrange continuing support privately or through a formal council assessment.

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a separate, fully NHS-funded package for people with a primary health need [2][3]. CHC assessment is carried out by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. If your relative does not meet the CHC threshold, care costs fall outside NHS funding entirely, and the family moves into means-tested territory. Understanding which pathway your relative was discharged on is a useful starting point when planning next steps.

What good looks like

Companionship care varies considerably between agencies. Some offer flexible visiting from 30 minutes to several hours; others require a minimum weekly commitment. Here is what to look for when comparing agencies in Greenwich.

Practical signals of a reliable agency:

  • Clear written information about what a companionship visit includes and excludes — activities, domestic tasks, outings, and what happens if a carer is unwell.
  • A named care coordinator you can contact directly, not just a general inbox.
  • Processes for matching a carer to your relative's interests and background — conversation matters more than task-completion in companionship visits.
  • A written care plan reviewed regularly, even for non-personal care visits.
  • Transparent pricing with no hidden fees for mileage, travel time or holiday cover.

Questions worth asking:

  • How do you ensure continuity — will my relative see the same carer regularly?
  • What is your policy when a regular carer is absent?
  • Can visits include accompanied outings locally, for example to Blackheath or along the river?
  • How do you communicate with the family if something concerns you during a visit?

CQC registration — the legal baseline: Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 [6], it is a criminal offence to provide regulated personal care in England without being registered with the Care Quality Commission [4]. Every agency listed on CareAH holds CQC registration. An unregistered provider is operating illegally, and families should not engage one regardless of price or convenience. CQC registration does not guarantee quality, but it is the minimum legal standard, and inspection reports are publicly available on the CQC website [4].

Funding companionship care in Greenwich

Several funding routes may be available depending on your relative's circumstances.

Care Act 2014 needs assessment: The Royal Borough of Greenwich has a legal duty under the Care Act 2014 [5] to assess any adult who appears to need care and support. If your relative qualifies for council funding, the council will carry out a financial assessment. The current upper capital limit is £23,250; below £14,250 the council covers the full assessed cost [1]. For a needs assessment, search 'Royal Borough of Greenwich adult social care' for current contact details and opening hours.

Direct Payments: If the council agrees a personal budget, your relative may be able to receive this as a Direct Payment [9] and arrange their own care, including choosing an agency on CareAH. This gives more flexibility over which provider you use.

NHS Continuing Healthcare: Where a person has a primary health need, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust can assess for NHS Continuing Healthcare, which is fully funded by the NHS regardless of assets [2][3]. CHC is assessed separately from the council means test. Free independent advice on CHC eligibility is available from Beacon [10].

Self-funding: Families whose relative's capital is above £23,250 are expected to meet the full cost privately [1]. Many companionship care clients in Greenwich fall into this group.

Questions to ask before you commit

  • 1.How do you match a carer to my relative's interests and background?
  • 2.Will my relative see the same carer on each visit, or does this vary?
  • 3.What happens if the regular carer is ill or on holiday?
  • 4.Can visits include accompanied outings locally, such as to Greenwich Park or along the river?
  • 5.How do you communicate with the family if something concerns you during a visit?
  • 6.What is included in the hourly or visit rate, and are there additional charges for travel or mileage?
  • 7.How quickly can you start, and what is the minimum number of visits per week you require?

CQC-registered home care agencies in Greenwich

When comparing companionship care agencies listed in Greenwich, look beyond the headline CQC rating. Read the most recent inspection report summary on the CQC website [4] to understand what inspectors actually observed. Check whether the agency has direct experience of older adults living alone in this part of London, and whether their carers are familiar with local areas such as Woolwich, Eltham and Charlton. Ask each agency how they handle carer continuity — consistent visiting is more important for companionship than for task-based care. Consider how responsive the agency is at the enquiry stage; slow or vague responses before care starts often reflect how communication will work once visits are underway. Price matters, but the lowest hourly rate is not necessarily the best value if it comes with high carer turnover. Use CareAH to shortlist two or three home care agencies in Greenwich and speak to each before making a decision.

  • No CQC-registered agencies found for Greenwich. Try a nearby town.

Frequently asked questions

What does a companionship care visit typically involve in Greenwich?

A visit usually includes social conversation, light domestic tasks such as making a hot drink or tidying a room, and help with activities the person enjoys — reading, a short walk, or attending a local event. Some agencies will accompany your relative to appointments at Queen Elizabeth Hospital or outings locally. Visits are not a substitute for personal care such as bathing or medication administration, though some agencies offer those services separately.

How often should a companionship carer visit?

There is no fixed rule. Many families start with two or three visits a week and adjust as needs change. The right frequency depends on how isolated your relative is, whether they have other visitors or activities, and your budget. A good agency will discuss your relative's routine before recommending a schedule, and should be willing to increase or reduce hours as circumstances change.

My parent was recently discharged from Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Can companionship care help with recovery?

Yes, in a practical sense. Social contact and a familiar routine support wellbeing after a hospital stay. If your relative was discharged under Pathway 1, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust may have arranged short-term reablement support — but this typically ends after several weeks [8]. Companionship care can fill the gap once that funded period concludes. Always check with the hospital discharge team what support has been arranged before arranging additional visits.

Will the Royal Borough of Greenwich fund companionship care?

Possibly, if your relative qualifies following a Care Act 2014 needs assessment [5] and the council agrees that companionship visits address an assessed need. However, council funding is means-tested: above the £23,250 capital threshold, your relative is expected to self-fund [1]. Many people in Greenwich who use companionship care do so as private payers. Search 'Royal Borough of Greenwich adult social care' for current contact details and opening hours.

What is the difference between companionship care and personal care?

Personal care involves physical assistance with activities such as washing, dressing, or continence management. Companionship care focuses on social contact and light domestic help without intimate physical care. Some agencies offer both, and many older adults who begin with companionship visits later move to a package that includes personal care as needs increase. Clarify from the outset what each agency includes within each service type.

Can I use a Direct Payment to fund a companionship care agency?

Yes. If the Royal Borough of Greenwich agrees a personal budget following a needs assessment, your relative may receive this as a Direct Payment [9] to arrange care directly, including through a CQC-registered agency found on CareAH. Direct Payments give more choice over which agency you use and when visits take place. The council will require evidence that the money has been spent on agreed care.

How do I check whether a home care agency in Greenwich is properly regulated?

All regulated home care providers in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission [4]. You can search for any provider by name or postcode on the CQC website and view their registration status and most recent inspection rating. Look at the inspection report itself, not just the headline rating — the detail often tells you more. CareAH only lists CQC-registered agencies, but families should verify independently before committing to any provider.

Is CQC registration legally required for a home care agency?

Yes. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 [6], providing regulated care — including personal care — in England without being registered with the Care Quality Commission is a criminal offence [4]. CQC registration means the agency has met baseline legal requirements and is subject to inspection. You can check any provider's registration status directly on the CQC website [4]. Every agency listed on CareAH is CQC-registered; an unregistered agency is operating outside the law and should not be used.

Sources

  1. [1]GOV.UK — Social care charging 2026 to 2027
  2. [2]GOV.UK — National framework for NHS continuing healthcare
  3. [3]NHS England — NHS Continuing Healthcare
  4. [4]Care Quality Commission
  5. [5]Care Act 2014 (legislation.gov.uk)
  6. [6]Health and Social Care Act 2008 (legislation.gov.uk)
  7. [8]NHS — Leaving hospital after being an inpatient
  8. [9]GOV.UK — Apply for direct payments
  9. [10]Beacon — Free NHS Continuing Healthcare advice

External sources open in a new tab. CareAH is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Page guidance last updated May 2026. Funding figures and council details may change — always check current information at the official source.