Home care in the United Kingdom

Home care in the United Kingdom (also referred to as domiciliary care, social care, or in-home care) is supportive care provided in the home. Care may be provided by licensed healthcare professionals who provide medical care needs or by professional caregivers who provide daily care to help to ensure the activities of daily living (ADLs) are met. In home medical care is often and more accurately referred to as home health care or formal care. Often, the term home health care is used to distinguish it from non-medical care, custodial care, or private-duty care which is care that is provided by persons who are not nurses, doctors, or other licensed medical personnel.

The COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom saw a huge acceleration in digital transformation in the sector. Digital systems were used to create mandatory reminders for hand washing, symptom checking and sanitisation. Risk assessment forms, care plans and induction documents were digitised.

The number of domiciliary care jobs overtook the number of roles in care homes in 2020. In 2021 the workforce in CQC regulated non-residential care services increased by 40,000 jobs or about 7%, while the number of care home jobs remained stable, or began to decrease.

The vacancy rate in homecare reached 13.5% in May 2022. After the removal of the Infection Control and Testing Fund at the end of March 2022 96% of homecare workers got no or low pay whilst isolating after a positive COVID-19 test, causing many to leave for jobs where isolation is not required or full sick pay is available. Increasing fuel prices are also a significant issue.

Home care providers
Home care is purchased by the service user directly from independent home care agencies or as part of the statutory responsibility of social services departments of local authorities who either provide care by their own employees or commission services from independent agencies. Care can also be purchased directly from independent carers or via care platforms. Care is usually provided once or twice a day with the aim of keeping frail or disabled people healthy and independent though can extend to full-time help by a live-in nurse or professional carer. Home Care Providers need to be registered with Care Quality Commission (CQC)to provide regulated activity of Personal Care in the community. MyCare Home Services is one of the provider for Personal Care in Uxbridge area and registered for Personal Care and Nursing Services.

The United Kingdom Home Care Association is the trade organisation for providers of care at home. https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/scope-registration-regulated-activities https://mycarehomeservices.co.uk/about-us/

Statutory regulation
Home care agencies are regulated by statutory bodies in three of the four home nations. The regulator's function is to ensure that home care agencies work within the applicable legislation:

England

 * Regulator: The Care Quality Commission (CQC)
 * The Health and Social Care Act 2008
 * The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010

Wales

 * Regulator: The Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW)
 * The Care Standards Act 2000
 * The Domiciliary Care Agencies (Wales) Regulations 2004

Scotland

 * Regulator: The Care Commission
 * The Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001

Northern Ireland
Legislation covering the homecare sector in Northern Ireland is not yet fully operational (as at December 2007).

Regulator: The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)
 * The Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation)(Northern Ireland) Order 2003
 * Domiciliary Care Agency Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007
 * Domiciliary Care Agencies National Minimum Standards (not published as at December 2007)

The precise arrangements of a care package can have implications for planning law. Residential institutions fall into Class C2 while residential dwellings fall into Class C3. This distinction can have significant planning and development implications.