Standard Introductory Service–24 Hour Live in Care

The service is directed from our National Operational Centre in Carlisle and is supported Nationally from our Operational Centre in Kingston upon Thames and by a network of Regional Managers.



24 Hour Live In Care

Our service is ideal whether care is required on a long term basis or for short periods only.Two Women Sitting Outside

Once an assessment has been completed a carer is usually selected and booked for a period depending on the preference of the client. Clients have the opportunity if they wish to interview the carer prior to confirming the booking.

Carers normally work each day of the booking and therefore consideration is given at the assessment to the type of duties they will undertake and the times they are required to work each day. Carers will then know the expectations in advance of meeting the client for the first time.

Normally carers will expect to work 8 to 10 hours per day although this can be increased by agreement between the client an the carer.

Why do we believe we are different and are driving improvements in standards and in the quality of care?

An Introductory Service is the most common form of 24 hour care provided in the United Kingdom and abroad. All companies offering a national service operate on this basis. All carers are self employed and are responsible for their own National Insurance and Income Tax liabilities. The Good Companions Care at Home Agency acts as an employment Agency and is appointed by the client for the Identification and Introduction of a potential live in carers to be engaged by the client. The client is therefore the employer of the carer and will provide the carer with their remuneration (gross) and travel expenses, etc.

Our Carers

Great Care is taken in the selection of our carers. All must have a professional although compassionate attitude and each must have a desire to work in an area where their understanding will enhance the quality of life for their client.

Each Carer will have different skills and care experiences–some will have formal training in care and others will have limited experience only and are selected for clients who require very limited personal care.

All carers have references carefully checked by us–we conduct a personal interview and a background check through the Criminal records Bureau prior to enrolling on our register and being issued with appropriate identification.

The Process

Support Available

Respite or Short Term Care is provided for Support Levels 1, 2 and 3.

This is an essential component of our service delivery design. To ensure an appropriate and safe service is delivered standards of assessment need to be equally rigorous. If short term care is booked in advance and is part of a regular ongoing package of planned care there will normally only be one Care Needs Assessment conducted. Please Note that a Respite or a Short Term Care Package is any period of 28 days or less.

Immediate or Emergency short term provision

In some situations there may an increased urgency to establish provision of a service i.e following discharge from hospital when clients may receive very little warning from the hospital regarding their discharge date or when family members fall ill.

An experienced carer is able to travel at short notice. The carer will be capable of negotiating with other health professionals and assessing the immediate needs of the client to deliver a service until an appropriate assessment is conducted by a care manager – normally within three working days. This carer is usually replaced as soon as possible. Please note there are separate rates for this service.

Please contact our National Operational Centre in Carlisle for more information.