Personal Care at Home in Crawley

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

Personal Care at Home in Crawley

Personal care at home covers the hands-on, physical support that many older people need to get through the day safely — washing, bathing, dressing, continence care, help with eating, and moving around the home. For families in Crawley, arranging this kind of support is often a pressing concern: a parent has been discharged from Crawley Hospital or East Surrey Hospital, or a gradual decline at home has reached a point where something needs to change. Personal care is a regulated activity, which means agencies providing it must be registered with the Care Quality Commission [4]. There are around 54 CQC-registered home care agencies operating in and around the Crawley area, so there is genuine choice — but finding the right fit takes more than a quick internet search. The Care Act 2014 gives adults in Crawley the right to a needs assessment from Crawley Borough Council, regardless of their finances [5]. Depending on the outcome and the level of need, care may be funded wholly or partly by the council, by the NHS, or by the individual and their family. This page sets out what personal care involves, how the local system works, what good care looks like, and how to think about funding — so you can make a clear, confident decision rather than an anxious one.

The local picture in Crawley

Crawley sits within the footprint of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH), which runs both East Surrey Hospital in Redhill and Crawley Hospital. When someone is admitted to either site and is approaching discharge, the hospital team is required to plan for what happens next — and for older or frailer patients, that often means arranging personal care at home before the person leaves [8]. The NHS uses a structured discharge framework to manage this. Under Discharge to Assess (D2A), a patient may be sent home with a short-term package of care to allow a proper assessment of their longer-term needs in a home environment, rather than in an acute ward. This sits within what the NHS calls Pathway 1 (home with support). Families are sometimes surprised to find that D2A care is NHS-funded for a limited period; what matters is that it is set up promptly and that the longer-term arrangements are confirmed before that period ends. For patients with particularly complex needs, the clinical team may carry out a Checklist Assessment for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC). If the person has a primary health need — broadly, a need that is the dominant reason for their care requirements — NHS CHC funding may meet the full cost of care, including personal care at home [2][3]. This is coordinated through the local Integrated Care Board rather than the council. For most people, however, discharge planning will involve a referral to Crawley Borough Council's adult social care team, who carry out a Care Act needs assessment [5] and determine what, if any, council-funded support the person qualifies for. Families should ask the hospital discharge team clearly which pathway applies and who is the lead contact for arranging ongoing care.

What good looks like

Personal care is intimate. A carer is helping someone wash, dress, and use the toilet — tasks the person has managed privately for decades. The practical and emotional weight of getting this right should not be underestimated.

When assessing agencies, look for the following:

  • CQC registration: Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 [6], it is a criminal offence for any organisation to provide regulated personal care in England without being registered with the Care Quality Commission [4]. Every agency listed on CareAH is CQC-registered. An unregistered agency is operating illegally and should be avoided entirely. You can verify an agency's registration and read its inspection reports free of charge on the CQC website [4].
  • Inspection rating: CQC rates agencies as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. Read the full report, not just the headline rating — the detail on 'Responsive' and 'Safe' domains is particularly relevant for personal care.
  • Consistency of carer: Ask specifically whether your relative will see the same small group of carers, or whether the rota changes frequently. Consistency matters more in personal care than in almost any other service.
  • Training for specific conditions: If your relative has dementia, Parkinson's disease, or is recovering from a stroke, ask what condition-specific training carers have received.
  • Call monitoring: Reputable agencies use electronic call monitoring to record when carers arrive and leave. This protects the client.
  • Complaints process: Ask how the agency handles concerns and what the escalation route is if a problem is not resolved at the first point of contact.
  • Minimum visit length: Fifteen-minute visits are legal but often inadequate for personal care. Clarify minimum visit durations before committing.

Funding personal care in Crawley

Funding for personal care in Crawley can come from several sources, and understanding them early saves time.

Local authority funding: Crawley Borough Council has a duty under the Care Act 2014 [5] to carry out a needs assessment for any adult who appears to need care and support. If eligible needs are identified, a financial assessment (means test) follows. The current capital thresholds are £23,250 (above which you pay in full) and £14,250 (below which capital is disregarded in the calculation) [1]. For a needs assessment, search 'Crawley Borough Council adult social care' for current contact details and opening hours.

NHS Continuing Healthcare: Where a person's primary need is health-related, the NHS — through the local Integrated Care Board — may fund personal care in full under the NHS Continuing Healthcare framework [2][3]. A free independent advice service is available if you feel a CHC assessment has been handled incorrectly [10].

Direct Payments: If your relative qualifies for council funding, they may be able to receive a Direct Payment — a cash sum paid by the council that they use to arrange their own care [9]. This gives more control over which agency is used and when visits happen.

Self-funding: Families above the capital threshold pay the full cost themselves. Home care agencies in Crawley vary in their hourly rates; CareAH allows you to compare agencies and request quotes.

Questions to ask before you commit

  • 1.Is your agency currently registered with the Care Quality Commission, and what is your most recent inspection rating?
  • 2.How many different carers are likely to visit my relative each week on a regular rota?
  • 3.What specific training do your carers receive for conditions such as dementia or Parkinson's disease?
  • 4.What is your minimum visit length for a personal care call, and can it be extended if needed?
  • 5.Do you use electronic call monitoring to record arrival and departure times for every visit?
  • 6.How do I raise a concern if I am unhappy with the care my relative is receiving, and what happens next?
  • 7.What is your process if a carer is unable to attend a scheduled visit — who covers the call and how quickly are families informed?

CQC-registered home care agencies in Crawley

When comparing personal care agencies listed here, start with the CQC inspection report rather than the agency's own description. Look specifically at the 'Safe' and 'Responsive' domains, which reflect how well the agency protects clients and adapts to changing needs — both directly relevant to personal care. Check how recently the inspection was carried out; a report more than three years old tells you less about current practice. Beyond the rating, consider geography: an agency based closer to your relative's home in Crawley is more likely to offer consistent carers and reliable visit times. Ask each agency about its current capacity — some may have waiting lists. Finally, if your relative is being discharged from Crawley Hospital or East Surrey Hospital, check whether the agency has experience working alongside Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust discharge teams, as this can smooth the transition from hospital to home considerably.

Frequently asked questions

What does personal care at home actually involve?

Personal care covers the practical, physical tasks a person can no longer safely manage alone: washing, bathing or showering, hair care, dressing and undressing, continence support, oral hygiene, help with eating and drinking, and assistance moving around the home. The exact tasks are agreed between the family, the individual, and the agency, and documented in a care plan before visits begin.

How many visits a day will my relative need?

This depends on their level of independence and the tasks involved. Some people need a single morning visit to help with washing and dressing; others need four visits a day covering morning routine, lunch, teatime, and a bedtime call. If your relative has been assessed by Crawley Borough Council or a hospital discharge team, the care plan should set out the recommended number of visits [7].

Can personal care be arranged quickly after a hospital discharge?

Yes, in most cases. Both Crawley Hospital and East Surrey Hospital have discharge planning teams whose role is to ensure patients have support in place before they leave. Under the Discharge to Assess (D2A) model, short-term care can be put in place rapidly while longer-term needs are assessed at home. Families should raise care needs with the ward team as early as possible rather than waiting until discharge day [8].

What is the difference between personal care and domestic care?

Personal care involves physical contact with the person — washing, dressing, continence support. Domestic care covers household tasks such as cleaning, laundry, and shopping, without physical contact with the individual. They are distinct regulated categories. Some agencies provide both; others specialise in one. If your relative needs both, confirm the agency covers all required tasks before signing an agreement.

How is NHS Continuing Healthcare different from standard council-funded care?

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is funded entirely by the NHS and is available to people whose primary need is a health need, not a social need. It is not means-tested — assets and income are irrelevant. Council-funded care is means-tested under the Care Act 2014 [5]. CHC is assessed using a national framework [2][3]; if you believe your relative may qualify and have been told otherwise, independent advice is available [10].

Can my relative use a Direct Payment to choose their own personal care agency?

Yes. If Crawley Borough Council has assessed your relative as eligible for funded care, they may be able to request a Direct Payment rather than having the council arrange care on their behalf [9]. The payment is made into a separate account and used to pay for an agreed care package. The individual or their family then selects the agency directly. The agency must still be CQC-registered [4].

What if my relative's care needs change over time?

Care plans should be reviewed regularly — at minimum annually, and whenever there is a significant change in health or circumstances. If your relative's needs increase, contact the agency immediately to discuss adjusting the care plan. If they are council-funded, request a review from Crawley Borough Council's adult social care team. For privately funded care, most agencies can adjust visit frequency or duration with reasonable notice.

Is CQC registration legally required for a home care agency?

Yes. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 [6], any organisation providing regulated personal care in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission. Providing regulated care without registration is a criminal offence. You can verify whether an agency is registered, and read its most recent inspection report, on the CQC website free of charge [4]. Every agency listed on CareAH is CQC-registered — if you encounter an unregistered provider offering personal care, do not use them.

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. [7]NHS — Social care and support guide
  8. [8]NHS — Leaving hospital after being an inpatient
  9. [9]GOV.UK — Apply for direct payments
  10. [10]Beacon — Free NHS Continuing Healthcare advice

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