An honest, upfront explanation of our private-pay model, and where to look if you need council-funded care instead.
If you've been researching home care, you've probably come across council funding, financial assessments, and eligibility criteria. We want to be upfront: Select Home Care Services is a private-pay service. We don't go through a council funding or assessment process, and we're not able to accept clients funded that way.
Here's exactly what that means, and why we've chosen to work this way.
You pay us directly, at £33 per hour, for the visits you book. There's no financial assessment, no means-testing, and no waiting for a council-funded care package to be approved. If you decide home help would help your family, support can typically start within days.
CQC regulation and council funding routes exist primarily for personal care and nursing care — washing, dressing, medication, clinical support. We don't provide any of that. We provide home help and companionship, which sits outside that regulatory framework. Being private-pay is a natural consequence of what we actually do, not a shortcut around it.
No assessment delays. No means-testing paperwork. Support can start quickly. You choose exactly how much or little support you want, with no council review process dictating it.
If you're eligible for council-funded care, that funding generally can't be used with us, since we're outside that regulated framework. If cost is a significant concern, it's worth checking your eligibility for council support alongside considering us.
If your needs extend into personal care, or cost is a real barrier, it's worth contacting Sefton Adult Social Care on 0345 140 0845 to ask about a needs assessment and funding eligibility. We're always happy to talk honestly about whether private-pay home help is the right fit for your situation, even if that means recommending you explore funded options instead.
Whatever you decide, our own pricing stays simple: £33 an hour, every service, no registration fees, no long-term contract. See our full pricing page for the complete picture.
We're happy to have an honest conversation, even if the answer is that council-funded care is the better fit for your situation.