Guides & advice

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Home Care Agency

By Roseline Fazal Masih · 20 June 2026 · 5 min read

Not sure how to choose a home care agency? These are the questions worth asking about ratings, carers, costs and care plans before you decide who to trust.

How do you choose a good home care agency?

The best way to choose is to ask a few direct questions and compare the answers. A good provider will be happy to talk openly about its CQC rating, who its carers are, how care is planned, and exactly what you will pay. This guide groups the questions worth asking before you decide.

Questions about regulation and safety

Start with the basics that show a provider is properly run:

Are you registered with and rated by the CQC, and can I read your latest report?
Are your carers employed by you, or are they self-employed or agency staff?
Are all carers DBS-checked, trained and insured?
Who is the registered manager, and what is their background?

Questions about the carers

Consistency and training matter as much as anything:

Will my relative see the same small team of carers?
How are carers matched to us?
What training do carers have for specific needs such as dementia, moving and handling, or medication?
What happens if a carer is off sick?

Questions about the care itself

Good care is planned, flexible and easy to stay involved with:

Will we have a written care plan, and can we change it as needs change?
How are visits timed, and what is the shortest visit you offer?
How do you handle medication?
How will you keep us updated and involved?

Questions about cost

Clear, upfront pricing is one of the best signs of a trustworthy provider:

What is the hourly rate, and what does it include?
Are there extra charges for evenings, weekends or bank holidays?
Is there a contract or notice period?
Will I get a clear written quote before care starts?

What good answers look like

Clear, specific answers are a good sign: a named registered manager, directly-employed and DBS-checked carers, a written care plan you help shape, and a straightforward hourly rate. Vague answers, pressure to decide quickly, or reluctance to share a CQC report are worth pausing on.

How we answer these questions

We are happy to be asked all of the above. Fabulous Homecare is CQC-rated “Good”, our carers are directly employed and DBS-checked, our registered manager is a registered nurse, and our visiting care starts from £26 an hour with a clear written quote. The best place to start is a free, no-obligation home visit.

Book a free home visit

Your questions answered

Common questions

What should I look for in a home care agency?

Look for a current CQC registration and rating, carers who are directly employed and DBS-checked, a small consistent care team, a written care plan you help shape, and clear pricing. Open, specific answers to your questions are one of the best signs.

Should a home care agency be registered with the CQC?

Yes. In England, any agency providing personal care must be registered with the Care Quality Commission, which inspects and rates providers. You can read a provider's rating and full report on the CQC website before you decide, which is a quick way to check their record.

Is it better to use an agency or hire a carer privately?

An agency that employs its carers handles training, DBS checks, insurance, cover for sickness and regulation, so you are not the employer. Hiring privately can cost less per hour but puts those responsibilities on you. Many families prefer the reassurance of a regulated agency.

What questions should I ask about cost?

Ask for the hourly rate and what it includes, whether evenings, weekends or bank holidays cost more, if there is a contract or notice period, and whether you will get a written quote before care starts. Clear, upfront pricing is a good sign.

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