These are common questions asked by families weighing up care options, people joining the care workforce and providers researching software. Each answer is deliberately short and should be checked against current professional or regulatory guidance where a decision depends on it.
The basics: care homes and domiciliary care
What is domiciliary care?
Domiciliary care, also called home care, is professional care and support delivered in someone's own home rather than in a residential setting. A carer visits on a set schedule to help with washing, dressing, medication, meals or companionship, so the person can keep living independently at home.
What is a care home?
A care home is a residential setting where people live full-time with on-site staff providing daily support. Some care homes also provide nursing care for people with ongoing medical needs, usually called nursing homes.
What is the difference between a care home and domiciliary care?
The core difference is location and intensity of support. A care home offers round-the-clock on-site staff and accommodation, suited to continuous supervision or nursing need. Domiciliary care delivers scheduled visits to the person's own home, suited to regular but not continuous support, often alongside family involvement.
Cost questions
How much does domiciliary care cost in the UK?
Home care costs vary by location, visit length, time of day and the support required. Ask providers for a current written quote and contact the local authority for an up-to-date needs and financial assessment where funding may apply.
How much does a care home cost in the UK?
Care home fees vary widely by region and level of need, and are usually quoted as a weekly rate covering accommodation, meals and care. Nursing care generally costs more than residential-only care. As with home care, local authority funding may apply following an assessment.
Does the NHS or local council pay for care?
Funding depends on a means-tested financial assessment and a separate needs assessment carried out by the local authority. Some people qualify for full or partial local authority funding; others self-fund. NHS Continuing Healthcare is a separate, fully funded route for people with a primary health need, assessed independently of means.
Regulation and quality
Is domiciliary care regulated by the CQC?
In England, organisations carrying on regulated personal care activities generally need to register with the Care Quality Commission. The position depends on the service provided, so check the CQC's current registration guidance. Other UK nations have their own regulators.
How is CQC's assessment approach changing?
CQC announced during 2026 that it is developing sector-specific assessment frameworks. Providers should use current CQC guidance for the latest key lines of enquiry, supporting questions and assessment process.
How do I check a care home or home care agency's CQC rating?
CQC ratings for every registered provider are published free on the CQC website, searchable by name or location, alongside the full inspection report and any enforcement action.
Choosing and working in care
How do I choose between a care home and home care for a relative?
Start with a needs assessment, through the local authority or privately, to understand the level of support required. Home care tends to suit people who need help with specific daily tasks but want to stay in familiar surroundings; a care home suits people who need continuous supervision, complex nursing needs, or where safety at home can no longer be managed. Cost, family proximity and personal preference all matter alongside the clinical picture.
What qualifications do care workers need?
Requirements depend on the role, employer and part of the UK. Providers normally give induction and role-specific training, and may use the Care Certificate or recognised care qualifications as part of development. Check current employer and regulator requirements for the specific role.
Can one provider run both a care home and a domiciliary care service?
Yes. Many UK care organisations run both under one group, sharing training, governance and sometimes care management software, provided each service is separately registered and inspected as required by the CQC or equivalent regulator.
Where digital care records fit in
How do digital care records help with CQC compliance?
Digital records can keep care notes, medication records and incident reports together and make them easier to review. They support good governance, but software does not make a provider compliant on its own; the records and working practices still need to meet current requirements.
Does domiciliary care software help prevent missed visits?
Care software can reduce the risk of missed visits by keeping scheduled appointments and visit status in one place. The exact checks and alerts depend on the product and configuration, and providers still need an agreed escalation process.
Is it worth digitising a small care service?
It can be, if the system removes duplicate work and fits the team's daily workflow. A small provider should compare implementation effort, included features, support and the written price before deciding.