Introductory & Managed Live-in Care Agencies: The Difference

A fully managed live-in care agency

At Independent People Homecare we employ, train and supervise the carers directly. We will interview them, check references, do background and criminal record checks and will provide ongoing training. We take complete responsibility for the management of the live in care service, rather than this being the responsibility of the customer.

We are regulated and continually assessed by the Care-Quality-Commission (CQC) who inspect the services that are being offered. The live in carers are employed directly by us therefore we are responsible for paying the carers for sick and holiday pay, and to make national insurance and pension contributions.

The benefits of a fully managed live-in care agency

Continuity of care

Our customers will never be left without the support of a living-in carer.  Each customer and their families have access to a 24 hour on-call service which is manned by the care management team.

Responsibility

The customer is not employing the carer directly, therefore all responsibilities associated with the live-in care service are managed by the live-in care provider, not the customer.

Regulated by the Care Quality Commission

All managed live-in care agencies are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Introductory live-in care agencies are not under the remit of the care quality commission, as they are not acting as a provider of care.

Introduction live-in care agencies

Introduction agencies are live-in care agencies that introduce live in carers to the customers. The live-in carers work on a self employed basis and will take care of all their own tax affairs and are free to be registered with a number of live-in care agencies.

Introductory care services are slightly cheaper than that of a fully managed live-in care service. It is important to note that, with this model, the family or individual receiving care is legally in a direct contract with the live-in carer. This means that they are involved in the administration of the live-in care service and are directly responsible for paying the carer.

Is a managed live-in care service or an introduction live-in care service better for me?

When it comes to choosing between the two, it really depends on your situation. If  a realtive or loved one is vulnerable, or has complex care needs and by themselves with no family nearby, then a fully managed service like Independent People Homecare’s is the better option.

Managed services are slightly more expensive – around £100 a week more – than introduction agencies. However they do offer a better service as they are inspected regularly by the Care Quality Commission and closely monitored, as well as providing ongoing training for the carers. Introductory live in care agencies are not under the remit of the Care Quality Commission as they are not acting as a provider of care.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC)

Care providers offering full management are all regulated in England by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent body that inspects and maintains standards within the industry. There are equivalent bodies responsible for service regulation in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. They are: Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS), The Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) and, for Northern Ireland, The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA). They are all committed to ensuring that care providers are effective and meet stringent criterion in the profession.

If you feel like yourself or a loved one would benefit from living-in care services, find out more about your options by arranging a FREE care assessment. Contact us  today.