Faqs

A1 Home Care is based in Chelmsford, Essex. We cover Chelmsford and the surrounding areas.

A1 Home Care offers the following care and support services:
– Washing and dressing
– Continence management
– Shopping with you or for you
– Medication support
– Support to access the community, such as visits to doctors, dentists, and hospital appointments, and accompanying to family functions
– Meal preparation and support
– Cleaning
– Laundry and ironing
– Sleep or awake night care
– Short term or long term care packages
– Sitting and respite services
– Companionship, including outings, games at home, or having a chat.

We provide lots of other services, please ask if you can’t find what you are looking for.

Our staff work from early morning to late evening, including sleep nights. We offer flexible service hours to suit your needs.

We provide personal care, shopping, housework, laundry, carer breaks, attending hospital and dentist appointments, and accessing the community. We can also offer overnight care for both short term and long term needs. Additionally, we have a partner company that provides Live-in Care.

After an initial phone conversation, our registered care manager will visit you (and your relative if necessary) to complete an assessment. This will help us understand your needs and concerns, and create a tailored care plan.

Yes, our staff can take clients out for various activities, including shopping, trips to garden centres, hospital or doctor appointments, and even family events like weddings and gatherings.

This is not a problem. Many of our clients have key safes fitted outside their homes. The code is known only to you and our office, ensuring secure access for the carer.

We have an on-call telephone service manned by our office staff, who know you personally and can assist you. This service is available from 5.30pm to 10.00pm on weekdays and from 8.00am to 10.00pm on weekends and bank holidays.

The cost of care depends on the package you require. Our services can range from as little as 30 minutes a day to 24 hours a day.

Yes, our staff use password-protected electronic mobile devices to receive care visit details and tasks. Clients have a barcode data tag inside their front door, which carers scan to log their arrival and departure times. Clients and their families can also access our electronic system to view care details.

All our staff are interviewed by two managers, we collect two references from previous employment, and staff are DBS (Police) checked before starting work. They also wear a company uniform and have a company ID badge during visits.

We have been in business for almost 17 years with an excellent reputation. We work with Essex County Council and the NHS, and we are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. We follow strict GDPR guidelines and all client information is securely stored.

If you need to make changes to your care plan, simply give us a call. We can make amendments over the phone or revisit you to discuss the changes.

You decide when you need the care service. We require 24 hours’ notice during the week and 48 hours’ notice at weekends. Full details and any associated charges can be found in the company’s terms of business document.

Depending on your financial situation, you may be eligible for assistance from social services. Otherwise, you may pay privately. We invoice clients at the end of each month, and you can pay by cheque, direct debit, or bank transfer.

We are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and periodically inspected by them. We are also audited by Essex County Council. Our CQC report is available online and on our website.

All our staff undergo mandatory training and additional courses beneficial to their roles. New staff members are shadowed by experienced team members before they are allowed to work independently.

Depending on the number of visits you have each week, you may have a small team of carers. We aim to provide continuity but also ensure other carers know your routine to cover holidays and absences.

We are not permitted to give injections, change sterile dressings, or cut finger and toenails.