Frequently Asked Questions

In short anybody can access home care services! It does not normally require NHS assessment or to be recommended or ordered by a GP. It is all about whatever the need of the individual may or what family members may want on the individual’s behalf.

The need for home care services can differ quite considerably – it can range from those needing company to ward off loneliness, needing shopping, cooking etc and other basic household work, providing respite care support for family members, recovery from a hospital stay - right through to more involved specialist care such as dementia, other mental health problems or physical/mobility issues.

The most important point to emphasise is that we can provide the right care package matched to the level of care needed and the most suitable carer in terms of training and experience to provide that care.

This is an easy question - but there are quite a few answers! We would normally recommend that one of Care Managers sits down and goes through the options. Most domiciliary care provision is normally provided through private funding such as savings, or family sponsorship in some form. The important point to emphasise initially it is not a case of quoting by the hour etc – this may be an outcome, but the focus has to be what is the most appropriate care package, securely and professionally delivered by our high-quality trained carers.

This is best handled during the initial discussion and meeting with one of our Care Managers who can advise the most appropriate way to fund the care package needed.

You will have a lot of questions to ask – this is entirely natural! We normally start the process by getting one of our specialist Care Managers to directly meet with the client and/or the family members and this gives the opportunity to get into real detail about needs. From this we can suggest the right package of care and support to meet those needs – often we find that there are considerations that come to light which are not always thought about initially.

A vital question. At Gabriel’s Angel this at the very core of the way we work. We pride ourselves on the standard of care we deliver to our clients – our reviews and official Care Quality Commission (CQC) will confirm this.

Our carers are trained to the highest standard in accordance with regulatory standards and beyond; in fact, Gabriel’s Angels has one of the best care training facilities in our area to ensure this. All of our carers are enhanced DBS [CRB] checked - and all are directly employed by us – no agency staff are used.

We do have rigorous carer selection process – this is not just the carer’s practical skills and competencies but also the fact that they live by the Gabriel’s Angels ethos of having a real passion for caring for people. We have found that many of our clients find this as the most important factor in staying loyal with Gabriel’s Angels.

Yes of course. During the initial consultations with our Care Manager, we like to get to know you – not just about the care you need, but your likes, dislikes, what interests you have etc. This helps us to narrow down the potential carers who we think will form a good relationship with you going forward. In this phase the Care Manager will introduce the carer to you so you can determine whether you want them to be selected for you.

We try as far as is possible to retain the same carer for you, but obviously there will be times due to holidays, sickness etc when occasionally a replacement will be selected but you would of course be advised prior to that carer arriving - and you would have previously met them.

Following the initial Care Manager visits and assessment – we would normally be able to start the care package within a few days after that.

And of course, you will always be able to contact our Care Managers to deal with any problem that may arise and they will regularly be in contact to ensure that everything is running to your satisfaction.

No, definitely not, the only reason you would need to go into a residential home is if you choose to do so. We work in close partnership with your GP, District Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists etc and all of the equipment you would need at in your own home if you become immobile is provided free of charge. This equipment is the same as you would find in a residential home.

Gabriel’s Angels provide compassionate daily and live-in dementia care to assist clients and loved ones at any stage of the condition, all in the comfort of your own home.

All our carers receive in-depth training beyond industry requirement to support someone with dementia. From the early stages of memory loss, right through to the advanced stages of all types of dementia, we will tailor a personalised care plan to ensure that you and your loved ones feel safe, secure, and happy.

Whether you’re looking for someone to regularly check in on your loved one and help with daily tasks, or if you need a continuous live-in carer to ensure security and safety around the clock, our carers can support a multitude of needs – whatever they may be.

We find that are in the home (domiciliary care) would normally be preferable to our clients in most instances. We find our prospective clients normally have a preference to be in the comfort, privacy, and familiarity of their own homes, with their memories, treasured items and keeping an independent lifestyle and routine. Our well-trained care staff will assess the client’s situation going forward on an ongoing basis – and if circumstances need changing then we can discuss with appropriate family members and advise the best course of action.

There is of course the flexibility of adapting domiciliary care requirements to suit not only the needs of the client - but also family and friends who often have a part to play. This can also be a more inexpensive option that goes with the flexibility that care in the home can give as opposed to a residential care home setting.

Live in Care provides high levels of care up to  24hr/7 day per week if necessary to enable a client to stay in their own home cared for by one or more care support workers employed by  GA providing care exactly how you want it delivered in your own home, as you set out and write the care plan with us.

Yes, your care needs and wishes can be fully assessed and if you are eligible for local authority funding (which is means tested, you house does not form part of the assessment if your loved one wants to stay at home to be cared for) you can receive live in care.

Yes, that is no problem. Each client will be assessed by us and a specific care plan put in place for each of you. For couples this can be a much more cost effective care solution.

People who want to maintain their own independent lifestyle in their own home and surroundings which is preferable to a residential home environment for many.

Yes, they do. At Gabriel’s Angels we would take care of all the organisation of that and providing a respite or replacement carer (who the client would select) for the period of the holiday.

Primarily it is because you can continue to stay in the privacy of your own home, surrounded by your own familiar and loved possessions - and with your live in carer you can be completely independent - which is all lost in a more regulated residential home environment.

This can vary of course, but typically when more complex care is required to assist with reduced mobility, medication, incontinence, dementia etc and so forth that a client may be faced with – then live-in care becomes a good solution.

Having live in care means that you can completely continue to have the routine and lifestyle you want rather than having to fit in with a more regimented and unfamiliar residential home environment.

This can vary according to what the client and live-in carer both want but at Gabriel’s Angels we would take care of specifically designing a rota which works for both. Rest assured the client's needs and wants are always paramount.

Ensure that the agency you are considering to provide the care has a good CQC rating, is well-established, carries a good local reputation (which you can find out by networking with your GP, occupational therapist etc). There is a highly regarded and independent performance agency rating website called homecare.co.uk which can provide helpful insight.

Simply – pick up the phone and call us!. The process works best if we sit down with the client and those involved and map out what exactly is needed in terms of care. This is best done face to face so that we not only see the client but also their living situation etc, so that we can carefully prepare the written care plan  with you. This initial meeting is also very important to ensure that we provide the needed care in the most cost-effective way for the client.

So, the first step is the initial face to face meeting with the prospective client. From that meeting we will be able to assess what carer would be best be suited to the client in terms of their personal preferences and their lifestyle etc. We would then prepare a list of likely carer candidates to meet the client so they can make their own choice. Obviously, it is vital they both get along really well with each other!

We follow a stringent recruitment procedure to ensure that all of our employees are compliant with the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) Essential Standards which includes an enhanced DBS check and a thorough induction training programme. We have a state-of-the-art training facility for our carers and staff in our Wokingham office. We pride ourselves in ensuring our carers are trained above and beyond industry standards to ensure that the specialist needs of individuals are met.

The basic requirements for a live-in carer  will be a clean, comfortable bedroom with adequate heating and personal storage facility, access to bathroom facilities, fresh linen, food, wifi access. The arrangements in respect of all of this would be handled by Gabriel’s Angels – so don’t worry!

The short answer is - yes - to all of these requirements!

Yes, every carer we employ is trained to administer medications safely. All needs will be documented in the prepared Care Plan and constantly reviewed and amended as needed over time.

Live in carers tend not to drive on the whole however if you require a driver this can be requested.

Yes, absolutely!

Our Care Managers will hold regular reviews with the client (on a confidential basis) to fully review the standard of care is meeting the client’s needs in all respects. The client can, at any time, call the appointed Care Manager to discuss any issue.

Obviously inform your Care Manager as soon as possible and we will deal with the problem on a fully confidential basis to ensure that we resolve the issue to your satisfaction.

We fully understand that consistency and continuity are of prime importance to our clients so taking our time initially to match the carer with the client is vital. As can be appreciated, live-in carers are entitled to holidays etc and we  carefully ensure that any respite or holiday cover carers are introduced, known and approved by the client first and this is built into the rota in the first place. Many of our live-in carers forge very close relationships with their clients and vice versa.

This  will obviously  depend on the client’s needs – however we can try to mobilise and engage a carer with the client within 1-2 days of agreeing the care plan at the initial meeting.

To fully protect both parties a care contract setting out the terms and conditions of engagement with us is fully discussed and agreed with you and then signed off. The payment is part of that contract and initially is taken by debit or credit card and thereafter by direct debit/bank transfer.