Frequently asked questions
Homecare is for anyone who needs support to improve their well-being and stay comfortably in their own home, no matter the level of care required. We’re here to offer the assistance you need.
At Skillcare we understand that every individual has unique needs and preferences when it comes to home care. We offer a person-centred care package to ensure that your specific requirements are met.
During the initial assessment of your needs, our team will work closely with you to understand your preferences, and goals. This care plan can be adjusted and customised as needed to accommodate any changes in your circumstances or evolving care needs.
Palliative care
End-of-Life care
Chronic Illness
Neurological Disorders
Dementia Care
Post-operative care
Continence Care
Personal Care
Mobility Services
Medication Management
Nutrition and Hydration Support.
Domestic help
Shopping tasks
Administration – paying bills, correspondence.
Social outings
24 hour care and sitting service
Companionship
For you to receive quality care, we understand that it is important that you are cared for and supported by staff who know what your needs, expectations and wishes are. We will match your carer to meet your needs and we will have a small team of carers who will provide you with care and support. Your carer will have access to your full care plan and have knowledge of any health conditions, allocated call times and tasks to be completed.
All our carers are fully trained and hold a full DBS certificate. We provide ongoing training for all staff in both the office and the field, ensuring we are following all CQC guidelines. We complete risk assessments for our carers, ensuring they are working in a safe environment.
When you are happy with your care plan, we will agree on a start date and time that is suitable to you, to begin your package of care.
Our goal is to provide compassionate, comfortable, and reassuring care that aligns with your preferences and promotes your overall well-being.
Skillcare Limited will ensure that all staff are aware of the importance of keeping personal data secure and not disclosing it on purpose or accidentally to anybody. We have a Data Protection and Confidentiality policies and procedure in place which all staff members adhere to.
We upload all your information to our software system, “Birdie”, which your carer uses via an app to log information about your visits in the daily observation logs. Office staff have full access to the information, details of tasks complete, time of arrival and departure and medication support provided. You or your family members will be given access to this information if required. We will also share this information with any healthcare professionals involved in your care.
This depends on your specific care package. For clients requiring multiple visits each day or week, it may not always be possible for a single care assistant to attend every time. Care provision is a collaborative effort, and we will work closely with you to introduce your team early in the service. We are mindful of our care assistants’ need for rest, time off, and accommodations for any unexpected absences due to illness. We carefully monitor service continuity to ensure that you are supported by a consistent team of familiar faces, or by a single care assistant whenever feasible.
Where possible, we introduce your assigned care assistant(s) before your service begins, ensuring they are well-informed about your care and support plan. At the end of each visit, they document the care provided using either an electronic care planning system or a physical care plan folder. Should you have any concerns, please feel free to reach out; we can discuss the matter and, if necessary, arrange alternative support.
For your reassurance, all care assistants carry an identity badge that they will present upon arrival, so you can confirm their identity.
You can trust that we’ll provide consistent care. We aim to keep the number of care assistants visiting you to a minimum to ensure familiarity. Any care expert covering for your usual assistant will introduce themselves and will be briefed on your care needs before the care call.
Our team has enough members to cover periods when your regular care team is away, ensuring uninterrupted support. All our care experts are employees of Skillcare Limited and are trained to the same high standards.
All scheduled care visit times are approximate and may vary by up to 30 minutes on either side of the scheduled time. If your care assistant hasn’t arrived at the expected time, please allow a 30-minute window to account for potential delays, such as traffic. If they still haven’t arrived after this time, please contact us at 020 3640 7722 or, for after-hours assistance, call 07399472345 / 07983163392. We’ll promptly check the status and ensure the safety of the carer.
We use Birdie, our real-time digital monitoring system, to keep track of all visits, so we’re immediately aware if a visit is running late. Only 0.2% of our care visits experience delays, so late arrivals are rare.
We prioritise safety by carefully selecting our care team and conducting DBS checks before employment begins. All care assistants are comprehensively trained to perform their duties safely and recognise any signs of abuse. They are attentive to any concerns you may have about your safety and are trained in our clear procedures for reporting and addressing any suspicions of abuse. Care assistants are required to report any concerns, incidents, or accidents to their manager.
Our experienced managers and supervisors continually monitor for potential hazards, risks, and signs of abuse, ensuring that these are managed swiftly and professionally. As a regulated service, we work closely with local authorities and our regulatory bodies, reporting any unsafe or abusive practices when necessary.
If you or your family have concerns about possible abuse, you’re encouraged to speak with a member of our management team.
