Best Live-in Care Companies in the UK Compared

8Choosing care is one of the biggest decisions a family can make. It’s natural to ask: Who are the best home care providers in the UK? and Which are the best live-in care agencies in the UK?

In this guide we look at some of the best home care providers, comparing how fully managed agencies (who are regulated by the Care Quality Commission) and introductory platforms work. The aim is not to recommend, but to show what each service says about itself in terms of regulation, reviews, and oversight.

All of the information here comes from publicly available sources – CQC inspection reports, homecare.co.uk ratings, Trustpilot reviews, and providers’ own websites. We’ve kept it neutral, fact-based and easy to read so you can see clearly what each option offers.

How We’ve Compared the Best Care Live In Care Providers

We’ve focused on these providers because they’re the names families are most likely to come across when they start searching for care. The idea is to give you a clear, side‑by‑side picture of how they differ in oversight and approach, without steering you towards one over another.

Criteria used:

• Regulation & oversight.
• CQC ratings & inspection recency.
• Services offered.
• Reviews & awards (homecare.co.uk, Trustpilot, Top 20 Awards).
• Pricing (if published).
• Geographic coverage.

Information correct as of [September 2025].

Best Fully Managed Live-in Care Providers in the UK

Let’s start with the fully managed side of the market. These are some of the best‑known names you’ll often see when looking into care. We’ve laid these out as short, fact‑based profiles. Think of it as a snapshot for each provider, giving you the essentials at a glance, from how they’re regulated to what reviews say, without overloading you with detail:

The Good Care Group

The Good Care Group is a national live-in care provider that has built a reputation as one of the most established managed services in the UK. It operates under a fully regulated model and is known for investing heavily in clinical expertise and Care Manager oversight.

• Ownership & Model: Part of private equity firm, The Halifax Group, since 2023, operating as a managed live-in care provider. Fully regulated by the CQC.
• Branches & Team: Operates from a central headquarters in London but delivers care through regional Care Managers and local teams across England and Scotland, rather than running multiple physical branch offices.
• Coverage: Nationwide live-in care service.
• Regulation & Oversight: Fully managed, CQC regulated. Care Managers oversee individualised care plans with 24/7 support. Managers hold relatively small caseloads to allow close supervision, and the company employs in-house specialists including an Admiral Nurse for dementia care and a Head of Clinical Excellence.
• CQC Rating: Outstanding overall (latest inspection 2021, with consecutive Outstanding ratings in multiple inspections). Inspectors highlighted excellent leadership and consistently high standards of care.
• Services: Live-in care, short-term respite, complex clinical care including PEG feeding, stoma care and ventilator support, plus dementia and end-of-life care.
• Reviews & Awards: Scored highly on homecare.co.uk but on minimal reviews (9.9/10 with 19 reviews). Winner of multiple national awards, including recognition at the Home Care Awards 2022 and finalists at the Laing Buisson Awards. Praised for innovation and quality assurance.
• Employee Feedback: Rated 4.6/5 on Glassdoor (410+ reviews) and 4/5 on Indeed (160+ reviews)
• Pricing: Fees not openly published; bespoke quotes based on assessment.

Helping Hands

Helping Hands is one of the UK’s largest and longest‑established home care providers, with more than 30 years’ experience. The company operates under a fully managed model and directly employs its carers, offering both hourly and live‑in care services. Families are supported by local branch teams and Care Managers, backed by clinical specialists for complex needs.

• Ownership & Model: Private provider; not a franchise but LivingBridge Private Equity firm have held a significant shareholding since 2018. Fully regulated by the CQC (England) and CIW (Wales).
• Branches & Team: More than 140 CQC‑registered branches under Midshires Care Ltd. National workforce in the thousands; live‑in supported via the branch network and regional teams.
• Coverage: Nationwide (England & Wales).
• Regulation & Oversight: Fully managed, regulated provider. Carers are directly employed, not agency. Care is overseen via branch Care Managers, live‑in care specialists and clinical oversight, with nursing “case management” support for complex care plans. Manager case load is unknown.
• CQC rating: Varies by branch; locations as most rated mainly Good, with none rated Outstanding Req. Roughly three settings are rated 'Requires Improvement'.
• Services: Live‑in care, complex needs, personal care, domestic support (hourly and live‑in).
• Reviews & Awards: homecare.co.uk score of 9.1/10 from over 1,707 reviews. Accredited by the UKHCA, Investors in People, and ISO 9001 quality management. Helping Hands was shortlisted as a finalist at the Home Care Awards 2021 in categories including Best Independent Home Care Provider and Response to the COVID‑19 Pandemic. The company also received a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award for Best Places to Work UK in 2018. Full details of awards and accreditations are listed on their accreditations page.
• Employee Feedback: Rated 4.4/5 on Glassdoor (1,100+ reviews) and 3.3/5 on Indeed (700+ reviews).
• Pricing: Published guide pricing indicated that live-in care starts from £1,595 per week for both an individual or a couple (individual and couple).

Unique Senior Care

Unique Senior Care is often one of the key names people come across when looking into managed home care. The company is CQC regulated, and families are supported by Care Managers who take responsibility for oversight and matching the right carer.

• Ownership & Model: Family‑run provider, led by Owners Philip Wright‑Howarth and Philip Maundrill for the past 15 years. Operates as Understanding Care (Warwickshire) Ltd and is fully regulated by the CQC.
• Branches & Team: 3 branches — Solihull, Warwickshire and Coventry. Live‑in care delivered across the country, with regional Care Managers based locally.
• Coverage: Nationwide live‑in care service.
• Regulation & Oversight: Fully managed, CQC regulated. Live‑in care is available nationally , registered through the Solihull branch and overseen by regional Care Managers who support clients in their local geographic area. They oversee plans with 24/7 support; families are involved in matching and selection; continuity is prioritised, so families see the same carer where possible). Care Managers support up to 18 clients each.
• CQC Rating: Outstanding  (latest full inspection 2021). The CQC noted that people received 'outstanding care' from staff who were compassionate, skilled and motivated, and praised leadership for creating a supportive culture with families involved in decisions.
• Services: Live‑in care, overnight (sleeping & waking), dementia, physical disabilities, sensory impairments.
• Reviews & Awards: Live‑in care has been rated Outstanding by the CQC and the company has over 15 years’ experience. Unique Senior Care has been named a homecare.co.uk Top 20 Award Winner for 5 consecutive years, with a score of 9.8 across 200+ reviews. The group has received the Princess Royal Training Award three times for it's Live-in Carer induction and approach to learning and development. Unique Senior Care have also been shortlisted for national honours including the Health Investor Awards and the Laing Buisson Awards. A full list of accolades is available on this awards page.
• Employee Feedback: Rated 4.7/5 on Glassdoor (65+ reviews) and 3.9/5 on Indeed (80+ reviews)

Home Instead

Home Instead is the UK’s largest home care franchise network, with more than 200 locally owned and operated offices across the country. Each franchise is CQC regulated and employs local Care Managers or Client Care Managers to oversee care plans, supervise Care Professionals, and act as the main point of contact for families. Performance and ratings can vary by office, but overall quality is consistently high.

• Ownership & Model: Franchise model; local offices run under the central Home Instead brand. Fully regulated by the CQC.
• Branches & Team: Over 200 franchises across the UK, each with its own Care Manager and support team.
• Coverage: Nationwide through the franchise network.
• Regulation & Oversight: Fully managed, regulated service delivered through local franchise offices. Care Managers and Deputy Care Managers create and update care plans, supervise staff, and provide ongoing support. Oversight and quality monitoring are regulated by the CQC, with most offices rated Good or Outstanding.
• CQC Rating: Over 98% of offices are rated Good or Outstanding, with more than a third Outstanding (latest published data).
• Services: Live-in care, visiting care, companionship, personal care, dementia support, respite.
• Reviews & Awards: homecare.co.uk rating of 9.6/10 based on more than 11,700+ reviews. Multi-award-winning, including Gold at the Home Care Awards 2024, the Princess Royal Training Awards for dementia and end-of-life training, and the Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Innovation). Home Instead UK was named Homecare Provider of the Year at the Leaders in Care Awards 2024 and ranked #3 Best UK Employer by the Financial Times in 2024. The brand has also been shortlisted and recognised at the LaingBuisson Awards, HealthInvestor Awards, and consistently features in the Elite Franchise Top 100. A full list of awards and branch-level commendations is available on their awards page.
• Employee Feedback: Rated 3.9/5 on Glassdoor (3,700+ reviews) and 3.6/5 on Indeed (9,800+ reviews).
• Pricing: Fees not published; quotes are provided following consultation.

Trinity Homecare

Trinity Homecare is a Surrey‑based provider offering both a fully managed, regulated live‑in care service and an introductory option. Since March 2020 it has been owned by private equity investor Limerston Capital, but continues to operate with a strong local presence and commitment to personalised care.

• Ownership & Model: Private; fully managed regulated provider. Owned by Limerston Capital since 2020. Also offers an introductory model (not CQC regulated).
• Branches & Team: Head office in Surrey with around 200 staff and multiple local branches.
• Coverage: Nationwide live‑in care across England.
• Regulation & Oversight: Fully managed, CQC regulated. Registered Care Managers and the care team oversee plans with 24/7 support, supervision and training. In the introductory model, Trinity simply matches families with a self‑employed carer, leaving day‑to‑day oversight with the family.
• CQC Rating: Outstanding for live‑in care (2024, under the new Single Assessment Framework).
• Services: Live‑in, dementia, personal care, companionship, end‑of‑life care.
• Reviews & Awards: homecare.co.uk score of 9.8/10 (200+ reviews). Trustpilot rating 4.5/5. Named one of the Top 20 Large & Mid‑size Home Care Groups in the UK by homecare.co.uk (2025). Finalist in the 2025 Home Care Awards (Innovative Technology Expert).
• Employee Feedback: Rated 4.6/5 on Glassdoor (50 reviews) and 4.1/5 on Indeed (25+ reviews).
• Pricing: Published guide pricing from around £1,100 per week.

CQC ratings of the top live-in care companies

Review Scores of the Best 24-hour Care Providers (homecare.co.uk)

Biggest Introductory Live-in Care Agencies in the UK

Alongside fully managed providers, there are also introductory agencies. These services connect families with self‑employed live-in carers, handling background checks and introductions, but leaving day‑to‑day oversight with the family. They’re not regulated by the CQC, but many people come across them when exploring live‑in care because they can be more flexible and sometimes more affordable. Here are some of the best‑known names:

Elder

Elder is one of the UK’s largest introductory agencies, operating mainly through a digital platform with a central team of around 40 staff. It connects families with self‑employed carers across more than 500 towns and cities.

• Ownership & Model: Introductory agency (connects clients with self‑employed carers) operating via an online platform.
• Branches & Team: Digital-first company with a central support team (40+ staff est.).
• Coverage: Nationwide, available in 500+ towns and cities.
• Regulation & Oversight: Introductory model; not CQC‑regulated. Families contract directly with carers. Elder vets carers through enhanced DBS, right‑to‑work and reference checks, provides the MyElder portal for scheduling and communication, handles contracts and payroll, and offers limited check‑ins and substitution support. Oversight of daily care remains with the family.
• CQC Rating: Not applicable.
• Services: Live‑in care, dementia support, mobility assistance, companionship, night support.
• Reviews & Awards: Trustpilot 4.7/5 (750+ reviews). Named Domiciliary Care Provider of the Year (two years running), finalist for Homecare Provider of the Year Award 2022, recognised for carer loyalty programme and technology innovation. Also listed in the UK Fast 50, Startups 100, and Business Leader Awards, among others.
• Employee Feedback: Rated 3.5/5 on Glassdoor (110+ reviews) and 3.5/5 on Indeed (45 reviews).
• Pricing: From £1,150 per week for an individual. Optional add‑ons include driver (£40–£80pw), spouse (+£80pw) and managed food budget (+£40pw).

Country Cousins

Country Cousins is the UK’s longest-established introductory live-in care agency, founded in 1959 and now part of the Trinity Homecare Group under Limerston Capital. It specialises in matching families with self-employed carers and has more than 60 years of experience in the sector.

• Ownership & Model: Introductory agency; carers are self-employed. Sister company of Trinity Homecare, both owned by Limerston Capital.
• Branches & Team: Long-established national brand; part of the Trinity Group network.
• Coverage: UK-wide.
• Regulation & Oversight: Introductory model; not CQC regulated. Vets and introduces self-employed carers (enhanced DBS, references, ID checks). Once matched, families manage contracts, scheduling, and daily oversight. Country Cousins provides customer service support and can help arrange a replacement carer if needed.
• CQC Rating: Not applicable.
• Services: Standard and advanced live-in care, complex support, companionship, dementia, respite.
• Reviews & Awards: Trustpilot rating around 4.0/5 (100+ reviews); supports around 500 clients weekly. Winner of the Social Care Awards 2018 (Sustained Excellence Award for the Provision of Home Care Assistance – UK). Recognised as the UK’s longest-established introductory live-in care agency. Director of Care, Melony Fairchild, was nominated for “Executive of the Year” at the Leaders in Care Awards 2022, and CEO Andrew Needham was elected to the Board of the Homecare Association in 2022.
• Employee Feedback: Rated 3.3/5 on Glassdoor (7 reviews) and 3.1/5 on Indeed (10+ reviews).
• Pricing: Starts from around £1,000/week (tiered basis, not published in full). Registration fee (£240) plus weekly fee (£217) in addition to carer pay.

Curam Care

Curam is a digital platform that connects families with thousands of self‑employed carers across the UK. It is one of the fastest‑growing introductory agencies and is often praised for transparency and technology‑led support.

• Ownership & Model: Introductory platform connecting families with self‑employed carers. Operates nationally through an app and website.
• Branches & Team: Digital company with a central support team; thousands of carers available on the platform.
• Coverage: Nationwide.
• Regulation & Oversight: Introductory model; not CQC regulated as a provider. Curam vets carers (enhanced DBS, right‑to‑work, references, biometric ID). It provides tools for matching, contracts, invoices and insurance. Families manage day‑to‑day care. Through its “Managed Care” option (Curam Managed Care Services Ltd, CQC rated “Good” in 2022), additional guidance and continuity support are available.
• CQC Rating: Intro model N/A; Managed arm “Good” (2022).
• Services: Live‑in, hourly, respite, dementia, post‑operative and disability support.
• Reviews & Awards: Trustpilot 4.5 (530+ reviews). Recognition includes listings on AgeSpace and positive coverage for its transparency and carer loyalty programme. Also noted in the UK Fast 50 as one of the fastest‑growing technology companies.
• Employee Feedback: Rated 4.8/5 on Glassdoor (7 reviews) and 4.5/5 on Indeed (8 reviews).
• Pricing: Carers set their own rates; average around £1,200/week plus a 12% platform fee and VAT.

Trustpilot Reviews of the Best Introductory Agencies