Local Help My Way helps you find trusted, local support in your community. Our service is designed to give you choice and control, making it easier to find support that fits your needs, preferences, and daily life. You can use our directory to search by your postcode and the type of support you need, helping you find local micro-providers in your area.
If you’d like to talk things through or need help using the directory, our team is on hand to offer guidance and explain how the scheme can support you. While we can’t choose or recommend a specific provider, we’re happy to talk with you about the kind of support that may help and what to look for when choosing the right person for you.
You might want to consider care at home if:
Micro Providers are self-employed individuals or small organisations and will charge an hourly fee for their services. There are two ways to pay for the work they do:
Your Local Authority can arrange home care and support financially if you’re eligible via a care assessment and then a potential direct payment. Find out more here.
Determine the type and level of support you require and establish a budget for services, thinking about how often your person will visit and how much you are prepared to pay (average costs are between £18.00 – £22.50 per hour).
Take your time reviewing the directory of micro providers and examining individuals’ credentials. Check their reputations through references and testimonials. Don’t be afraid to call others who have used the person’s services to double-check.
Insist on a written support plan and a contract between the micro-provider and yourself that states the full range of services to be offered, including who you are contracting, what they will do for you, how often and when they will visit. Also how much you have both agreed on, how often they will invoice you and when and how you will pay.
You can find more detailed advice about care assessments, help with payments and links to resources here.
