Care at home

If you are having difficulty bathing, washing or dressing yourself, even with the help of equipment, you may need someone to provide extra support. This could be, for example, someone to help you to get washed and dressed in the morning with a further visit in the evening to help you get ready for bed.

Personal assistants

People who carry out these tasks are usually called personal assistants. You can engage a personal assistant to support you, either directly or through a registered care agency.

Personal assistants through a registered care agency

The Royal Borough of Greenwich maintains a home care provider directory, which you can use to find a personal assistant through an agency. Remember if you find an agency yourself, take care to choose one that is registered and inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

Directly employed personal assistants

The Skills for Care toolkit provides very useful information on employing your own personal assistant.

For help with understanding the Skills for Care toolkit and information, advice and advocacy support for recruiting your own personal assistant, please contact Greenwich Association of Disabled People.

There are other voluntary organisations funded by us that may also be able to provide some support. The list of organisations is available as a download.

Financial help

If you are eligible for social care, following a financial assessment you may be offered a personal budget under the self-directed support scheme.

You can use this personal budget to:

• purchase personal care services yourself via a direct payment
• or have them organised on your behalf by us.

Cleaning, shopping and laundry

You'll understand that, except in exceptional circumstance, our priority is providing help for people who are having difficulties with washing, dressing, getting around and feeding themselves properly.

Many people have someone they know who can offer support, such as a family member, friend or neighbour. Our priority is to support people who have no other option or need additional help.

If you feel that you can manage personal care tasks but need help with things like housework and cleaning, then you can contact one of the registered care agencies in Royal Greenwich that can provide staff to help you in your own home, but they will charge for this service.