Private HomeCare Questions
Thank you for visiting our Private HomeCare questions page. Here you’ll find all the frequently asked questions we are asked. If you cannot find an answer to your query here, please contact us. We are happy to answer any questions you have.
Private HomeCare is the premium Irish professional home care provider, supporting people of all ages and abilities to live at home. We were the first home care provider to apply for and be accredited with the interional quality mark : ISO. We have successfully retained this every year since.
The management of Private HomeCare has been working in the caring area since 1989. With decades of experience, we have an intimate knowledge of the Irish health care system and our care services are designed to support this.
Our Managing Director, Elizabeth Nicholson, is a founder member, and former Chairperson, of the Professional Institute of Care Providers, an association of independent care agencies in Ireland that have agreed to a shared code of practice. This predates the HCCI.
Home Support Workers work according to your prepared and agreed care plan, which typically includes personal care, meal prep, light housekeeping and medication prompting.
Home Suppport Workers are not permitted to directly administer medication. They can only prompt.
Importantly, Home Suppport Workers also maintain daily records of their visits.
We also provide convalescence support, respite care and dementia care. Specialised Home Suppport Workers are also available who are experienced with hoisting and peg feeding.
We are also widening our services to cater for the growing ageing population with support requirements outside the home as well as at home.
Learn more about our services here.
If you have additional or special requirements, your Service Support Administrator will be happy to help.
- We listen to you
We want to know all about you so we can advise and provide the best care for you. We will work together with you to provide the best care plan for your needs. - Community Team Visit
A member of our community team will visit you in person to answer any questions you may have and to finalise your individual care plan. - Your own Care Plan
Every client has their own needs, so it makes sense that each client has their own unique Care Plan. Your Home Suppport Workers work to this care plan, which is reviewed regularly and if your circumstances change. - Your dedicated Service Support Administrator
You will have a dedicated Service Support Administrator who ensures the smooth running of your roster according to your care plan. To do this, they match Home Suppport Workers to you, based on your needs and preferred times. If you have any questions, your Service Support Administrator is available to help you. - Quality and Spot Checks
Private HomeCare takes quality, health and safety very seriously. A team member will regularly communicate with you by phone, and visit you to ensure you are happy with our carers and our service. - Out of Office On Call Service
You and your family have access to out of office hours and emergency support. Please call 01 6219101 and your call will be diverted to one of our Service Support Administrators.
We are here to make your life easier. Simply talk to your Service Support Administrator who will help you in any way they can.
From time to time, your regular Home Suppport Worker will not be available. They have training as well as holiday entitlements and family commitments. During these times, your Service Support Administrator will match another carer with you until your regular Home Suppport Worker returns to work.
Yes.
As well as matching location and hours, we always strive to match Home Suppport Workers to clients for compatibility as well. In the unlikely event, the carer and client relationship is not working, we will propose alternate carers.
Having said that, in our experience, clients and Home Suppport Workers build relationships over time, with many building strong relationships with the whole family as well as the client.
Only 10% of applicants meet our recruitment standards. All of our Home Support Workers are reference checked, Garda vetted and asked to provide International Police Clearance if necessary. All Home Support Workers undertake mandatory QQI training and induction, and have an individual annual training and annual competency plan.
See what our Senior Recruitment and Compliance Manager, Patsy Philpott has to say about what we look for in a Home Support Worker
See Patsy’s professional background here.
Meet the other members of our recruitment team here
Our clients represent all ages and all abilities.
We want to encourage people to Rethink HomeCare! Home care is not just for people who are ill or elderly.
Many people need extra support from time to time, for example, people who have just come out of hospital, or whose families live abroad or work fulltime, or who have been bereaved.
Read one client’s story of how she wanted support to attend a family wedding. Everyone got to enjoy the day with a little support from Private HomeCare.
Private clients pay for care based on hours, day or nights used. With the exception of Live in Care, you only pay for the time you use.
- Your Quote for Care Includes All of This:
Insurance: Carers are insured by us for their booked hours. - 27/7 On Call Service for you and your family. This is answered by one of our fulltime staff.
- Advice : confidential and expert advice based on our decades of experience. Your unique Home Care Package with the hours and times of care that meet your needs. This is often less than people think.
- Community Team Visit: our experts will visit you in your home to learn more about your needs and safety checks around the house. This results in your unique Care Plan.
- Unique Care Plan: this is always in your house so our carers know their responsibilities and duties to assist you.
- Support: we will advise you of any available supports from your local Health Centre.
- Quality and Compliance: we conduct spot checks to ensure quality of care.
- Family Liaison: In addition to our client, one other family member is welcome to liaise with us. We know communications is important when home care is needed.
- Office Support: You can contact your dedicated Service Support Administrator for all of your communications needs.
Note
We do not have a minimum booking period. Many clients require a carer on a regular basis whilst others require it for one-off care or occasions.
Home care might be more affordable than you think as ANY family member can claim tax from home care, with potential savings up to their highest tax band. Please visit
www.revenue.ie or talk to your tax advisor for specific advice.
Contact us for a quote or call 01 288 0000 for a confidential chat. We welcome all home care enquiries, from both HSE and private clients.
Our Home Suppport Workers are not permitted to administer medication as they are not doctors or nurses. They can however, prompt the client that medication needs to be taken.
Yes, with decades of experience in home care since we started back in 1989, we have extensive experience of providing care to people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Our Home Suppport Workers are experienced and trained, and matched to each clients’ needs.
Learn more about our alzheimer’s and dementia care services.
Read Home Suppport Worker Liz Long’s story of why she choose to study for Special Purpose Certificate in Dementia Care and Support.
Yes. We care for those with Stroke Conditions, Spina Bifida, Multiple Sclerosis and Motor Neurone Disease.
See our full list of home care services.
Yes, meet Jean Gilvarry, our Clinical Nurse Manager. Jean visits new and existing clients to assess their care needs and for quality checks. Our Nurse Manager is a key part of our support team and liaises with other health professionals and clients and families as required. Clients find her expertise and empathy a wonderful support.
Elizabeth Stapleton, Recruitment and Compliance Nurse works in our recruitment department and also delivers training to carers.
We believe that the best care starts with the best training. That is why we set up our own inhouse training department several years ago.
Private HomeCare goes above and beyond HSE training requirements, which we welcome and support.
Mandatory Training for HSE Home Suppport Workers
People Moving and Handling
Induction Training
Children First (whether Home Suppport Workers work with children or not)
Safeguarding Adults at Risk of Abuse
Infection Prevention and Control
QQI Care Skills
QQI Care of the Older Person
Additional Training (to be completed when Home Suppport Workers start working)
Fundamentals of Care: Pressure Ulcers
Fundamentals of GDPR
Prevention and Management of Aggression and Violence
Training is essential for clients’ peace of mind and expectations of the best home care service they deserve.
Training also give many Home Suppport Workers the opportunity for education that they might not have had before, due to family commitments or lack of opportunities.
Read carer Funmi’s story of how she embraces the opportunity to study.
Yes.
Visit our home care for organistions page to learn more.