Personal Care at Home in Brighton

33 CQC-registered home care agencies in Brighton. Compare ratings, read verified reviews and book care directly — free for families, no account needed.

Personal Care at Home in Brighton

Personal care at home means hands-on, practical help with the tasks most people do privately every day: washing, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, managing continence, and sometimes eating or taking medication. For older people in Brighton and Hove — whether living in a flat near the seafront, a house in Hanover, or sheltered accommodation in Portslade — staying at home rather than moving into a care home is often both the preference and the right option, provided the right support is in place.

Personal care is a regulated activity in England, meaning the agency providing it must meet formal legal standards and inspections. Brighton and Hove has around 42 CQC-registered home care agencies operating across the city and its surrounding areas [4]. The range means families have genuine choice, but also real work to do in comparing what each offers.

CareAH is a marketplace that connects families with CQC-registered agencies. You can use it to find, compare, and contact home care agencies in Brighton without having to ring round individually. This page sets out what personal care at home involves, how the local system works — including links to the NHS and Brighton and Hove City Council — what to look for in an agency, and how to work out who pays for what. The aim is to give you enough clear information to make a confident decision, without overwhelming you at what is often an already pressured time.

The local picture in Brighton

Most people who need personal care at home in Brighton and Hove come to it through one of two routes: a gradual recognition that a relative needs more support to live safely, or a sudden event — typically a fall, a stroke, or an acute illness — that ends with a hospital admission.

The main local hospital is the Royal Sussex County Hospital on Eastern Road, part of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. When a patient is assessed as medically ready to leave but still needs support at home, the Trust follows the NHS hospital discharge framework [8]. Under this framework, discharge pathways determine where a person goes next. Pathway 1 covers discharge home with health and care support — this is the route most relevant to families seeking personal care at home. More complex cases may involve Pathway 2 (rehabilitation in a care setting) or Pathway 3 (nursing home placement).

The Discharge to Assess (D2A) model, used across Sussex, means that some patients are discharged home first, with a full assessment of their long-term needs following after they have left hospital. Families should be aware this can mean initial care packages are put in place quickly, and longer-term arrangements may need to be revisited within weeks.

For patients with a primary health need, NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) may fund the full cost of care at home [2][3]. CHC eligibility is assessed by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust staff before or shortly after discharge. If your relative does not qualify for full CHC funding, other funding routes — including Brighton and Hove City Council funding and self-funding — apply. These are covered in the funding section below.

Early Supported Discharge (ESD) programmes, where they exist locally, allow some patients — particularly those recovering from a stroke — to continue rehabilitation at home rather than in hospital.

What good looks like

Personal care is intimate work. The agency you choose will be sending carers into your relative's home, often multiple times a day. These are practical signals worth checking before committing.

Legal registration Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 [6], providing regulated personal care in England without registering with the Care Quality Commission is a criminal offence. Every agency listed on CareAH is CQC-registered. If you are approached by an agency that cannot show you a CQC registration number, it is operating illegally — do not use it [4]. You can verify any agency's registration and inspection report on the CQC website.

Inspection ratings CQC rates agencies as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. Look at the most recent inspection report, not just the headline rating, and check whether the agency has had a rating change — improvement or deterioration — since the last inspection [4].

Practical signals of a well-run service:

  • The agency carries out a pre-care assessment before the first visit, covering your relative's preferences, routines, and specific needs.
  • You receive a written care plan that is reviewed regularly.
  • Carer continuity is prioritised — your relative should not routinely see a different carer on every visit.
  • The agency has a clear process for reporting concerns or changes in your relative's condition.
  • Staff are trained in manual handling, medication support, and any condition-specific needs relevant to your relative.
  • There is a named manager or coordinator you can contact directly.

Ask agencies directly how they handle missed visits, how they communicate with families, and what happens if a regular carer is unwell.

Funding personal care in Brighton

How personal care is funded in Brighton and Hove depends on your relative's financial position and the nature of their needs.

Local authority funding Brighton and Hove City Council has a duty under the Care Act 2014 [5] to assess any adult who appears to need care and support. This assessment is free and does not depend on income. If your relative qualifies for council-funded care, a financial assessment will follow. Currently, those with assets above £23,250 are expected to fund their own care in full; those with assets between £14,250 and £23,250 make a contribution; those below £14,250 are not expected to use their assets [1]. For current contact details and to request an assessment, search 'Brighton and Hove City Council adult social care' for current contact details and opening hours.

Direct Payments If your relative qualifies for council funding, they may be eligible to receive a Direct Payment — money paid directly to them (or a representative) to arrange their own care, rather than having the council arrange it on their behalf [9].

NHS Continuing Healthcare Where a person's needs are primarily health-related, NHS Continuing Healthcare may fund care at home in full [2][3]. Assessments are carried out by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. For free, independent advice on CHC eligibility, Beacon operates a helpline [10].

Self-funding Families who fund care privately can use CareAH to compare agencies across Brighton without going through the council process.

Questions to ask before you commit

  • 1.Is your agency registered with the Care Quality Commission, and can you share your registration number?
  • 2.What is your most recent CQC inspection rating, and has anything changed since that inspection?
  • 3.How do you match carers to clients, and how many different carers would typically visit each week?
  • 4.Will you carry out a pre-care assessment at my relative's home before the first visit?
  • 5.How do you communicate changes in my relative's condition or wellbeing to the family?
  • 6.What happens if my relative's regular carer is unwell or unavailable — how is cover arranged?
  • 7.Are your carers trained in the specific tasks my relative needs, including any condition-related requirements?

CQC-registered home care agencies in Brighton

When comparing personal care agencies in Brighton using CareAH, look beyond the headline CQC rating. Check when the most recent inspection took place — an agency rated Good two years ago may have had a follow-up inspection since — and read the report for any specific concerns raised [4]. Consider location: an agency based closer to your relative's home is more likely to offer consistent carer assignment, which matters for personal care. Ask about the agency's typical client profile — some specialise in older adults, others in younger adults with disabilities, and some handle both. If your relative is being discharged from Royal Sussex County Hospital, check whether the agency has capacity to start quickly and whether they have experience coordinating with the hospital's discharge team. Availability of weekend and morning visits is particularly important for personal care. Price matters, but the cheapest option is not always the best value if it means frequent carer changes or slow response to concerns. Use the checklist on this page to ask the same questions of each agency you contact, so you can make a fair comparison.

Frequently asked questions

What does personal care at home actually involve day to day?

Personal care covers the practical tasks your relative needs help with to stay clean, dressed, and comfortable at home. This typically includes help with bathing or showering, washing and drying hair, dressing and undressing, using the toilet or managing continence, and sometimes help with eating or taking medication. Visits are usually 30 minutes to an hour, once or several times daily depending on need. The care plan should reflect your relative's own preferences and routine.

How do I know if my relative needs personal care rather than a different type of support?

If your relative is struggling to wash, dress, or use the toilet safely and independently, personal care is likely to be relevant. If needs are primarily about companionship, housework, or shopping, those are distinct services — some agencies offer both, others specialise. If you are unsure about the level of need, a Care Act 2014 needs assessment by Brighton and Hove City Council is the formal route for an independent view [5]. Your relative's GP can also advise on whether the needs have a health component.

Can personal care be arranged quickly after a hospital discharge from Royal Sussex County Hospital?

Yes, though it requires prompt action. Under the NHS discharge framework [8], the hospital's discharge team should be involved in planning care before your relative leaves. Under the Discharge to Assess model used locally, some packages are arranged very quickly, with longer-term needs reviewed afterwards. Contact the ward's discharge coordinator as early as possible. If your relative is self-funding, CareAH can help you identify agencies that may have availability at short notice.

How much does personal care at home cost in Brighton?

Hourly rates for personal care in Brighton vary between agencies. Costs depend on the time of day (evenings and weekends typically cost more), how many visits are needed, and the specific tasks involved. If your relative's assets are above £23,250, they are expected to fund care in full [1]. If below this threshold, Brighton and Hove City Council may contribute following a financial assessment. NHS Continuing Healthcare may cover costs in full if your relative has a primary health need [2][3].

What is NHS Continuing Healthcare and could my relative qualify?

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is funding provided by the NHS — not the local council — for people whose primary need is a health need rather than a social care need. If your relative qualifies, the NHS covers the full cost of their care at home [2][3]. Assessments are carried out by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Eligibility is determined by the nature and complexity of need, not by age or diagnosis. For free, independent advice, Beacon offers a CHC helpline [10].

What is a Direct Payment and how does it work in Brighton and Hove?

A Direct Payment is money from Brighton and Hove City Council paid directly to your relative (or a nominated person) to arrange their own care, rather than having the council organise it. Your relative must first be assessed as eligible for council-funded care under the Care Act 2014 [5]. Direct Payments give families more control over which agency they use and how care is arranged [9]. The council will confirm what the payment covers and what records need to be kept.

Can one agency provide both personal care and other support like housework or medication prompts?

Many home care agencies in Brighton offer a range of services alongside personal care, including help with household tasks, meal preparation, and medication prompting. Not all do, and the range varies considerably. When contacting agencies, ask specifically what is included in a care package and whether tasks such as medication administration (not just prompting) are offered. Medication administration is a separate regulated activity and requires specific training and protocols within the agency.

Is CQC registration legally required for a home care agency?

Yes. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 [6], any provider delivering regulated personal care in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission. Operating without registration is a criminal offence. You can verify whether an agency is registered, and view its inspection history and rating, directly on the CQC website [4]. CareAH only lists agencies that hold current CQC registration. If you are approached by an agency that cannot provide a CQC registration number, do not use it.

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

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