How to arrange home care for a parent in England
Start with a conversation with Mum or Dad about what they would like help with, then ask the council’s adult social services for a free care needs assessment. Anyone can ask for one. You can also arrange home care privately without going through the council.
For England. Last checked 13 November 2026. Next check by 13 February 2027. General information, not financial, legal or medical advice.
In short
- A care needs assessment from the council is free, and anyone can ask for one (NHS).
- It can happen face to face, over the phone or online, or by self-assessment (NHS).
- If the assessment finds you need help, a financial assessment (a means test) follows to see whether the council will pay towards it (NHS).
- You can arrange home care privately without waiting for the council.
- In Gloucestershire, a family member, carer or advocate can be involved in the assessment with the person’s consent (Gloucestershire County Council).
Start with a conversation
Before you phone anyone, talk with Mum or Dad about what they find hardest and what they most want to keep doing for themselves. The aim is to find help that fits their routine, not to take over.
- Ask which jobs wear them out most: washing, cooking, shopping, getting around or taking medicines.
- Ask what they would hate to give up, so you can protect it.
- Find out who else is involved: a neighbour, their GP, another relative.
If they say no, that is common. Our guide on what to do when Mum or Dad says no to help has ideas.
Ask the council for a needs assessment
A care needs assessment from the council is free, and anyone can ask for one. You contact social services at your local council, by phone or online. In Gloucestershire that is Gloucestershire County Council, and you can start online at GOV.UK.
Someone from the council, such as a social worker or occupational therapist, asks how Mum or Dad manages everyday tasks like washing, dressing and cooking. The assessment can happen face to face, over the phone or online, or by self-assessment.
The NHS advises giving as much detail as you can, even about small things like turning taps on and off, because leaving things out might reduce the care recommended. If possible, have a friend or relative with them.
Afterwards the council decides whether they need help. If they do, a financial assessment (a means test) follows to see whether the council will pay towards it. If the council decides they do not need care, it should still give free advice about where to get help locally.
Arranging home care privately
You do not have to wait for the council. Many families arrange and pay for home care directly: you choose the provider, decide how many visits are needed, and can change the plan as needs change.
When you speak to providers, write your questions down before you call. Good ones to ask:
- How soon can you start, and what does the first week look like?
- What happens if we need to change or stop the care?
- How will the family hear how visits are going?
- What does it cost, and are there any set-up fees?
What happens when you call Cott’s Care
Call us on 01242 371048, day or night: our on-call team answers. We reply to enquiries within the hour in office hours (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm), and we return every call the same working day.
Your free assessment is usually within 48 hours, at home or by phone, with no obligation. Afterwards we give you a clear plan, and you can ask for a clear price when you enquire. There is no arrangement fee, and just 48 hours’ notice if you ever need to stop.
Start with a couple of visits a week, and build up only if you want to.
Where to get independent advice
Age UK, Independent Age and the Family Rights Group run free helplines about care needs assessments, and the NHS page below lists their numbers. Your council’s adult social services can also explain the process.
In Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Council’s pages say you can ask for a needs assessment through its Adult Social Care Helpdesk, and that a family member, carer or advocate can be involved with the person’s consent. The Helpdesk also takes an online enquiry form. We do not copy phone numbers here because they can change: please use the council’s pages, which are linked from our neighbour guide.
After the assessment: who pays?
If the council finds that Mum or Dad has eligible needs, a financial assessment decides whether it pays towards care. Our guide to the council’s financial assessment, savings and your house explains how it works, including whether the home counts when someone is receiving care at home. If they have just come out of hospital, see coming home from hospital.
What this guide does not cover
It does not say how long the council takes to carry out an assessment, because the official pages do not give a timescale. It covers England only, and does not give advice on any one person’s finances or health.
Sources we used
- NHS: Getting a care needs assessment (read 13 November 2026)
- GOV.UK: Apply for a needs assessment by social services (read 13 November 2026)
How we wrote this guide
This guide is general information for England, written by the Cott’s Care team. Cott’s Care Limited (registered with the CQC as Cott’s Care Solutions) is a family-run home care provider in Cheltenham with over 20 years of experience.
Every public fact comes from the official pages listed above, which we read on 13 November 2026. We do not quote benefit amounts, fees or thresholds, because they change: the sources give the current figures. We will check this guide again by 13 February 2027, and sooner if the rules change.
It is not financial, legal or medical advice, and we cannot say whether any person will qualify for a benefit or service. If you spot something that looks out of date, please tell us on 01242 371048.
Cite this guide: Cott’s Care Limited (13 November 2026). How to arrange home care for a parent in England. https://cottscareltd.co.uk/guides/how-to-arrange-home-care-for-a-parent/
