1. Connection: the right home care provider should feel like an extension of your family

Choosing a home care provider isn’t just a practical arrangement, it’s deeply personal; you are inviting someone into your family home, not just to provide care, but to become part of daily life. Connection is important – and, as human beings, inevitably that connection doesn’t always click into place!

That’s why, in our experience, the job of a home care provider isn’t just delivering care – it’s about building relationships and boosting moods. While it can sometimes feel like your influence is limited, the right provider will take the time to match clients with a professional who not only meets their care needs but who they can build a strong bond with.

As a family-run business, these values are very important to us at S&P Care. We pride ourselves on being a team of carers who endeavour to treat clients with the same warmth, respect, and compassion we’d offer our own family members.

Our carers care about what they do – and, importantly, they enjoy it. It often surprises people to hear that care professionals at S&P Care are of all ages, with many aged between 16 and 39. Clients frequently tell us how energising and uplifting they find the support they receive – and that positive energy plays a key role in improving mental and emotional well-being.

2. Quality: prioritise providers that invest in training and skill development

Look for a home care provider that offers a full range of services. That way, if circumstances and care needs change, you’ll have the best chance of maintaining as much consistency as possible.

These services should include:

• Visiting care – where support is required for a few hours a day or week, a visiting carer can help with tasks like personal care, meal prep, medication, or shopping.
• Live-in care – continuous 24/7 assistance can be provided by a dedicated carer living in the home, who can help with ongoing health or mobility challenges.
• Companionship – focused on emotional support and social interaction, carers may engage in conversations or hobbies with clients, or accompany them to social events.

What’s more, not all carers receive the same level of training. That’s why it’s essential to choose a provider that continuously invests in their team and at the highest levels. For example, our carers are trained in administering medications – something many home care providers avoid.

Some of the other training you should check for includes (but is not limited to):

• Care Certificate – a UK benchmark for care workers, which demonstrates good compliance and professionalism.
• Dementia Care – for families seeking carers skilled in supporting clients with dementia.
• Palliative Care – to ensure a good understanding of the most important aspects of care for clients needing advanced support at home.
• Moving and Handling –for safe manual handling techniques and proper use of equipment to reduce injury risks for clients and staff.
• Safeguarding and Mental Capacity Act – to ensure a good understanding of clients’ choices, prioritising their rights and protection.
• Person-Centred Care Planning – demonstrates understanding that each care plan should be tailored through a collaborative process with clients and families.
• Ongoing competency checks – skills assessments should be ongoing (for example, medication competency reviews, spot checks, and supervisions) to ensure carers remain competent, confident and up-to-date with their care duties.

Staff should also be trained in the signs and symptoms of common health conditions. This enables them to identify and respond rapidly to any changes in conditions and escalate to appropriate professionals in a timely manner.

3. Innovation: ensure technology is in place to support transparency and peace of mind

 Peace of mind comes from knowing exactly what kind of care your loved one is receiving from your chosen provider. Unfortunately, many still rely on paper-based records that families can’t easily access. However, home care service providers are available that use Electronic Care Records specifically designed to keep families in the loop.

An Electronic Care Record (ECR) is a secure, digital version of a client’s care documentation, and can be accessed via a mobile app, tablet, or secure web portal. Carers record detailed notes, observations, and updates, which approved family members can access in real time, such as:

• Details of each visit – including start and end times and geolocation verification (sometimes geo-tagged for accountability).
• Care tasks completed – a checklist of care activities performed, such as assistance with washing, dressing, meal preparation, medication administration, or mobility support, and whether the client accepted, refused, or needed modified assistance for any task.
• Health observations – physical condition, for example, mobility changes or breathing difficulties.
• Emotional and mental well-being, such as signs of confusion, mood changes, or discomfort.
• Medication records – Type, time and dosage of medications administered, missed doses (with reasons), or refusals.
• Nutrition and hydration – meals and drinks provided, appetite levels, or any concerns around eating and drinking.
• Communication logs – notes for other carers, office staff, or healthcare professionals, and information on escalations, such as if a GP needs to be called.
• Photos or documents (if permitted) – including document uploads like hospital discharge summaries or specialist instructions.

This level of detail and access is rare in the sector, but it helps give families complete confidence in their care decisions. It’s a service especially valued by our clients’ families at times when they are unable to visit as often as they usually would or if they are out of the country.