If you are arranging home care for the first time — whether for yourself or a loved one — it is completely natural to feel uncertain about what will happen. What does a carer actually do? Who will come? How does it all work? This guide walks you through the process from start to finish, so there are no surprises.
Step 1: The Initial Telephone Call
Everything starts with a phone call. When you contact Briars Homecare, you will speak directly with a member of our care coordination team — not a call centre. We will ask a few gentle questions about the person who needs support, what kind of help they are looking for, and when they would like care to start.
This is also your chance to ask us anything. There are no silly questions. We want you to feel confident before we visit.
Step 2: The Free Home Assessment
Before any care begins, one of our senior care coordinators will visit the home to carry out a free, no-obligation assessment. This usually takes around an hour and covers:
- The person's current level of independence and daily routine
- Their personal preferences — how they like things done, what matters to them
- Any health conditions, medications or mobility needs
- Practical things like where items are kept, how the home is laid out
- What the family's involvement will be
The assessment is a conversation, not an interrogation. We listen far more than we talk. The goal is to understand the whole person — not just their care needs, but their personality, their interests, and the things that make them feel at home.
Step 3: The Care Plan
After the assessment, we put together a personalised care plan that sets out exactly what support will be provided, when, and how. You will see this before any visits begin and you are free to ask for changes. Nothing is set in stone — care plans are living documents that evolve as needs change.
Step 4: Meeting Your Carer
Where possible, we introduce the carer before the first official visit. This gives your loved one a chance to meet them in a relaxed, low-pressure way — a cup of tea, a chat, nothing more. Familiarity matters enormously, especially for clients who feel anxious about having someone new in their home.
We carefully match carers to clients based on personality as well as skills. If for any reason the match does not feel right, we will find an alternative — no questions asked.
Step 5: The First Visit
The carer arrives at the agreed time and follows the care plan. For a typical domiciliary care visit this might include:
- Helping with washing, dressing and grooming
- Preparing breakfast and prompting medication
- A conversation and check that everything is well
- Tidying up and noting anything to pass on to the family
The first visit is always a little different from subsequent ones — there is naturally a settling-in period. Most clients tell us that by the third or fourth visit, it feels completely normal and they actually look forward to their carer arriving.
What If Something Is Not Right?
You can call us at any time. If you are not happy with something — the timing, the carer, the way a task is being done — tell us and we will sort it out. Good homecare requires honest communication between the client, the family and the care provider, and we actively encourage feedback.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Starting home care is often described as one of the best decisions families have made. If you would like to arrange a free home assessment, call us on (01253) 851600 or complete our online enquiry form. We cover Blackpool, Thornton-Cleveleys, Poulton-le-Fylde, Fleetwood and the surrounding Wyre villages.
