Private nursing care at home can provide specialist support for people with complex, ongoing or changing health needs, while allowing them to remain in familiar surroundings.
It is important to understand exactly who will be providing care in your home. Depending on the care required, support may involve registered nurses, specially trained carers or a wider team of health and care professionals. The level of clinical expertise required should always be assessed before care begins, with responsibilities clearly set out in the individual’s care plan.
At Trinity Homecare, we provide specialist complex care delivered by carefully selected and trained carers, working alongside the wider healthcare team where appropriate. Our approach is personalised around each person’s health needs, routines and preferences.
What is private nursing care at home?
Private nursing care at home is specialist support provided in a person’s own home when their health needs require more than standard personal or visiting care.
The term private nursing care can sometimes be used broadly, so it is important to establish whether your care will be delivered by a registered nurse, a specially trained carer or a combination of professionals.
A registered nurse is a qualified healthcare professional who is registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). A specially trained care professional is not a registered nurse, but may have additional training and experience to support people with complex care needs.
At Trinity Homecare, our complex care service supports people with substantial and ongoing healthcare needs. Our carers can provide specialist support with clinical tasks included within an individual’s care plan and work in line with guidance from the wider healthcare team.
The right type of professional will depend on:
- The person’s medical condition and care needs
- The complexity of any clinical tasks involved
- Whether nursing assessment or intervention is required
- The level of supervision and clinical oversight needed
- The individual’s existing healthcare team and treatment plan
If nursing input is required, this should be clearly established as part of the care assessment rather than assumed from the job title of the person providing day-to-day care.
Who provides private care at home?
Knowing who will be coming into your home is an important part of choosing care.
Registered nurses
Registered nurses are qualified healthcare professionals who have completed approved nursing education and are registered with the NMC. They can assess, plan and deliver nursing care within their professional scope of practice.
If your loved one requires registered nursing input, ask the care provider who will provide this care, what their professional registration is and how their nursing care will be coordinated with the wider healthcare team.
Specially trained carers
Specially trained carers provide professional care and support but are not registered nurses. At Trinity Homecare, carers receive in-house training and ongoing support, with specialist experience matched to the needs of the person they support.
For complex care, this may include supporting people with conditions or needs such as:
- Ventilator dependency
- Tracheostomy care
- PEG feeding
- Catheter and stoma care
- Neurological conditions
- Acquired brain injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cerebral palsy
The specific tasks a carer undertakes should be based on their training, competency and the individual’s care plan.
The wider healthcare team
Complex care often involves more than one professional. Depending on the person’s needs, this may include GPs, district nurses, specialist nurses, therapists and other healthcare professionals.
A homecare provider should understand who is involved in your loved one’s care and how information will be shared when their needs change.
What does private nursing care at home include?
There is no single package of private nursing or complex care. Support should be based on an individual assessment and care plan.
Depending on the person’s needs and the professionals involved, care may include:
- Personal care, including washing, dressing and continence support
- Medication support
- Mobility assistance
- PEG feeding or gastrostomy care
- Catheter and stoma care
- Ventilator or respiratory support
- Support with tracheostomy care
- Monitoring changes in health and wellbeing
- Meal preparation and dietary support
- Assistance with appointments
- Companionship and emotional support
- Light household tasks
Trinity’s complex care service can provide support ranging from short visits to full-time live-in care, depending on the individual’s circumstances.
How are carers checked and trained?
When someone is receiving care in their own home, it is reasonable to want to know exactly who has been selected to support them.
Families should ask a care provider about its recruitment, vetting and training processes before care starts.
At Trinity Homecare, carers receive in-house training and ongoing support. Carers are also carefully matched to the individual’s needs and circumstances.
When discussing complex care, you should ask:
- What qualifications and training does the carer have?
- What experience do they have with my loved one’s condition?
- Which clinical tasks are they trained and competent to perform?
- Who provides clinical oversight?
- Which tasks must be carried out by a registered nurse or other healthcare professional?
- How are carers supervised and supported?
- What happens if my loved one’s condition changes?
- Who should the family contact with concerns?
These questions can help you understand not just who is providing the care, but what they are qualified and trained to do.
How is complex care planned?
Before care begins, the person’s needs should be assessed carefully. This helps establish the level of physical, cognitive and clinical support required and informs their personalised care plan.
A care plan should clearly set out:
- The person’s health and care needs
- Their daily routines and preferences
- The support they require
- Any clinical tasks involved
- Who is responsible for each aspect of care
- Relevant risks and how they will be managed
- The healthcare professionals involved
- What to do if the person’s needs change
The plan should be reviewed as circumstances change. This is particularly important for people living with progressive conditions or complex health needs.
What are the benefits of private nursing care at home?
For someone who has complex health needs, receiving specialist care at home can provide several benefits.
- Remain in familiar surroundings – Your loved one can receive personalised support without moving away from their home, belongings, routines and local community.
- One-to-one support – Care can be provided around the individual rather than around the routines of a residential setting. Trinity’s complex care service provides one-to-one support tailored to the person’s needs.
- Specialist experience – A carefully matched carer can bring experience relevant to your loved one’s condition and care requirements.
- Continuity of care – A consistent care team can become familiar with the person’s routines, preferences and changing needs.
- Support for families – Having an appropriate care package in place can give family members greater reassurance that their loved one has professional support at home.
How much does private nursing care at home cost?
The cost of private care at home depends on the level and type of support required.
Factors can include:
- Whether visiting or live-in care is needed
- The number of hours of care required
- The complexity of the person’s needs
- Whether specialist care is required
- The number of professionals involved
Because complex care packages are highly individual, a care provider should assess your loved one’s needs before giving an accurate cost.
For more information, see our guide to the cost of live-in care and financing and funding home care.
How Trinity Homecare can help with complex care at home
Trinity Homecare has 30 years’ experience providing personalised care at home. Our complex care service supports people with substantial and ongoing healthcare needs, including those living with long-term conditions, disabilities or recovering from hospital treatment.
Our approach includes:
- A free care needs assessment
- A personalised care plan
- Carefully matched carers
- Specialist experience across a range of complex conditions
- Live-in and visiting care options
- Ongoing training and support for carers
- Coordination with the wider healthcare team where appropriate
Trinity Homecare is rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Frequently asked questions
Does private nursing care at home always mean a registered nurse will visit?
No. The term can be used broadly, so families should ask exactly who will provide the care. Some complex care is delivered by specially trained carers, while certain nursing needs require a registered nurse or other healthcare professional.
What is the difference between a nurse and a complex care carer?
A registered nurse is a qualified healthcare professional registered with the NMC. A complex care carer is a trained care professional who can support people with specialist needs within their training, competence and care plan.
Can a carer provide clinical care at home?
Specially trained carers can support certain clinical or health-related tasks where they have the appropriate training and competency and where this is part of the agreed care package. The tasks that can be provided depend on the individual’s needs and the carer’s training and responsibilities.
How do I know whether my loved one needs a nurse or a complex care carer?
This should be determined through an assessment of your loved one’s health and care needs. If you are unsure, discuss their requirements with their GP, existing healthcare team or a specialist care provider before arranging care.
Talk to Trinity Homecare about private care at home
If your loved one has complex health needs, choosing the right type of professional care can feel daunting. Our care team can talk through your circumstances, explain the options available and arrange a free, no-obligation assessment.
Call Trinity Homecare on 0207 183 4884 or complete our online enquiry form and a member of the team will contact you.
