HOW TO HIRE · CARE & SUPPORT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
Personal care after hospital is regulated in every UK nation. Here is the check, what to sort before discharge, and what to ask.
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
BEFORE YOU BOOK
In England, help with washing, bathing, dressing or using the toilet, given at home to someone who cannot manage it because of age, illness or disability, is the regulated activity of personal care. An agency sending a hospital discharge carer to do it must be registered with CQC for that activity; one that says it has applied is not yet registered.
Search the agency on CQC's site, open the location that runs your care, check 'personal care' is listed and read the latest rating. cqc.org.uk →
Wales: a domiciliary support service must register with Care Inspectorate Wales under Wales's 2016 social care regulation Act, unless an exemption applies, such as care for four or fewer named people at a time. Scotland: a care at home service may not operate unless registered with the Care Inspectorate. Northern Ireland: the RQIA registers domiciliary care agencies under the Domiciliary Care Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.
Wales: CIW's service directory. Scotland: the Care Inspectorate's find-care directory, with grades. Northern Ireland: RQIA's register of domiciliary care agencies. careinspectorate.scot →
Care work with adults can get the enhanced DBS check with the adults' barred list in England and Wales, or the AccessNI equivalent in Northern Ireland; in Scotland a hospital discharge carer in a regulated role must be a PVG scheme member. You cannot apply for a DBS check on a self-employed carer yourself — they apply and show you the certificate, which has no official expiry date.
Ask to see the hospital discharge carer's certificate or PVG proof and read when it was issued. gov.uk →
An agency that only introduces a hospital discharge carer and has no ongoing control is outside CQC registration in England and CIW registration in Wales, so no regulator inspects the care. If you hire and pay a hospital discharge carer directly — including with direct payments — gov.uk says you are usually their employer: a contract, payslips, at least the National Minimum Wage, employers' liability insurance and payroll.
Ask in writing whether the agency employs and supervises the carer or only introduces them, and who you pay. gov.uk →
Care after a hospital stay is exempt from VAT when supplied by a charity, a public body or a provider registered with CQC (England), CIW (Wales), the Care Inspectorate (Scotland) or RQIA (Northern Ireland), under a care plan; otherwise it is standard-rated at 20%. A provider with VAT taxable turnover over £90,000 must be VAT-registered and show VAT as a separate line on anything not exempt.
Ask for the provider's VAT number and registration, and whether the discharge package is invoiced with VAT or without. gov.uk →
A good answer: Yes, with a time — the hospital discharge carer should arrive soon after you get home.
A good answer: Yes, recorded on a chart.
A good answer: They will encourage them as written.
A good answer: Matched to needs, reducing as strength returns.
A good answer: Call the GP or 111 and the family; recorded.
A good answer: Carers check before using it.
A good answer: Notice terms.
Hospital discharge support is charged by the hour, usually for a few days to a few weeks. Hospital Discharge Support price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.
AFTER
MONEY BACK
Help towards the cost of care, by nation. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment do not depend on having a carer; direct payments follow a care needs assessment.
Who: people at State Pension age or older whose disability or health condition means they need someone to help look after them
Who: people at State Pension age or over who have needed help with personal care for six months
Who: people at State Pension age with care needs from a disability or long-term condition
Who: people aged 16 or over assessed as needing care and support, carers, disabled parents and older people needing community care
Who: people assessed as needing social services help, including carers and parents of disabled children
Schemes change. The amounts above were checked on the dates shown; the official page is the one that counts.
Yes, if it gives personal care — with the regulator for your nation.
Ask for DBS with the adults' barred list (England, Wales), AccessNI (Northern Ireland) or PVG membership (Scotland).
Ask the ward and the council or Trust — some short-term support may be arranged for you; private care fills the gaps.
£27 to £38 an hour, typically around £34. Several visits a day in the first week cost most. For the detail, open the hospital discharge support price guide; for real quotes, put your town in the search above.
Not by a registered provider — VAT Notice 701/2.
Complain to the agency in writing and tell the regulator; the agency owes reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
MORE GUIDES
