How it works
How live in care is arranged, and what happens once it starts
Three steps to begin: a conversation, a doctor led assessment at home, and a carer matched to your household. Then a written care plan, regular reviews and planned cover so that care continues without you having to manage it.
- Doctor led live in care
- Initial assessment carried out by a doctor
- CQC registered for personal care
- Family run, with our own private GP clinic in Palmers Green
Three steps to starting live in care
Speak to our care team
Call or request a callback. A manager will ask about the person, the home and what has become difficult, and tell you whether live in care is likely to suit. There is no obligation.
Doctor led assessment at home
A doctor from our team visits to assess health, medicines, mobility, memory, nights and daily routine. The assessment becomes the care plan. It also tells us what kind of carer this household needs.
Your carer is matched and care begins
We choose a carer for this household, not the next name on a list. You are introduced before the start date, and the care plan is reviewed once the carer has settled in.
What happens when you call
You will speak to a manager, not a call centre. They will ask who needs care, what has changed, where the home is and how soon support is needed, and they will tell you whether live in care is likely to suit. If it is, we arrange the assessment visit. If it is not, we tell you, and suggest what might.
The assessment is carried out by a doctor
A doctor from the Clinique Alpa team visits the person at home. The assessment covers medical history and current conditions, medicines and how they are managed, mobility and falls, memory and mood, eating and drinking, continence, sleep and what happens at night, the layout and safety of the home, the person's routine and preferences, family involvement, and what everyone hopes care will achieve. It also confirms that the home can accommodate a carer.
The result is a written care plan that the carer works to, and a clear view of what kind of carer the household needs. The assessment is not a substitute for the person's own GP, and it does not make the live in carer a nurse. The clinical care page explains what doctor led means in more detail.
How we match your live in carer
Because a live in carer shares the person's home, compatibility matters as much as competence. We match on care needs and experience first, including experience of dementia, Parkinson's or other conditions where relevant. We then consider temperament, communication style, language, routines, interests, pets and the way the household runs. We do not use a matching algorithm; a small team pays attention. You are introduced to the carer before care starts, and if the match is not right we change it.
Checks, training and supervision
Every carer has an enhanced DBS check, references and the right to work in the UK. They complete training and competency checks before they start, including moving and handling, medicines support, safeguarding and dementia awareness, and they are supervised once care is under way, with spot checks at the home. A manager remains available to the family, and Dr Mitesh Parmar, the Registered Manager and Safeguarding Lead, is accountable for the service.
Continuity, breaks and cover
A live in carer takes a daily break, and works in planned blocks with time away between them. A second carer covers those periods, and wherever possible the same two carers alternate so that both know the person and the routine. If a carer is ill, the office arranges cover. You should never be left to find someone yourself.
Reviews and keeping in touch
The care plan is reviewed once the carer has settled in and then regularly, or sooner if the person's health changes. Carers keep daily notes, report concerns to the office, and family receive calm, regular updates in the way they prefer. Where needs change, the doctor led team can reassess and adjust the plan, and liaise with the GP or other professionals where appropriate.
What the home needs to provide
A private bedroom for the carer, access to a bathroom, meals as part of the household, and a way to take a daily break. Live in care works when the house can accommodate another adult with respect on both sides.
Questions families ask about live in care
What is live in care?
A professional carer lives in the person's home and provides personal care, meals, help with medicines, companionship and household support. It is one to one care in familiar surroundings, and for many people it is the alternative to moving into a care home.
Who carries out the care assessment?
A doctor from the Clinique Alpa team carries out the initial assessment at home. That is how we understand medical history, medicines, risks and whether live in care can support the person safely.
Can we also arrange doctor visits at home?
Yes, as a separate package through our private GP clinic in Palmers Green. Some families arrange a visit every month or two; others take a weekly home visit. It is purchased separately from live in care, and the live in carer remains a carer, not a nurse.
Does a live in carer work through the night?
No. A live in carer is in the home overnight and can help if someone wakes, but they need proper sleep and are not awake on duty for 24 hours. If a person needs frequent help through the night, we will say so at assessment and discuss waking night cover or a second carer.
What does the carer need from the home?
A private bedroom, access to a bathroom, meals as part of the household, and a daily break. The carer shares the kitchen and living areas as a member of the household, with the courtesy that this is still your home.
How are carers checked?
Every carer has an enhanced DBS check and references. They complete training and competency checks before they start, and managers carry out spot checks and supervision once care is under way.
Is this a nursing service?
No. Clinique Alpa is registered with the CQC for personal care. Nursing tasks sit outside our scope. Where a district nurse, GP or specialist team is involved, we work alongside them.
How is live in care paid for?
Families fund their care privately. Some use Attendance Allowance, savings or the sale or rental of property; some are eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare. We can explain those routes, and our costs page sets out what affects the weekly fee.
What happens if the carer is unwell or on leave?
Live in carers work in planned blocks with time away, and a second carer covers those periods. Wherever possible the same two carers alternate so that both know the person and the routine. If a carer is ill, the office arranges cover; you are not left to manage it yourself.
Talk to Clinique Alpa
Speak to a manager about live in care
Call 020 8882 8088 or 07777 594448. You will speak to a manager, not a call centre. We will talk through the situation, tell you whether live in care is likely to be right, and explain what an assessment involves.
Live in care from Clinique Alpa is provided by Alpa Care Ltd, registered with the Care Quality Commission for personal care, provider ID 1-9691685023.