Guides & advice · INT Care Solutions
How to arrange domiciliary care in Birmingham: a step-by-step guide
24 October 2026 · 6 min read
Arranging care for yourself or a relative can feel overwhelming — especially when it often happens at a stressful moment, such as after a fall or a hospital stay. This guide walks through what domiciliary care is, who pays for it, and the exact steps to get support in place in Birmingham.
What domiciliary care actually covers
Domiciliary care (sometimes called 'home care' or 'dom care') means trained carers come to your own home to help with the things daily life requires. It ranges from a short visit a few times a week up to several visits a day, or live-in care.
- Personal care — washing, dressing, continence support
- Medication support — prompting, administering and keeping records
- Meals — preparing food, help with eating, shopping
- Moving safely around the home — getting up, going to bed, transfers
- Companionship — company, appointments, activities
- Complex support — for people with significant health needs, arranged with nurses and therapists
Who pays for care at home
Care can be funded in three ways. First, self-funding: you pay the provider directly, and rates are agreed before care begins. Second, Birmingham City Council funding: if someone's savings and assets are below the threshold, the council carries out a needs assessment and may contribute to the cost of care. Third, NHS funding: if the main need is a health need, NHS Continuing Healthcare may fund the care in full.
You don't need to work out which applies to you on your own — a good care provider will talk you through the options, and the council's adult social care team can carry out a needs assessment free of charge.
The five steps to arranging care
In practice, arranging home care usually follows the same five steps:
- Contact a provider — describe the situation, however roughly. A free, no-obligation conversation is normal.
- Assessment — a care manager visits to understand needs, routines, health conditions, culture and preferences.
- Personal care plan — a written plan is agreed with you and your family: what happens at each visit, by whom, and when.
- Care begins — carers are matched to the person, and the first visits are checked on closely.
- Reviews — the plan is reviewed regularly, and whenever needs change.
Questions worth asking any care provider
Before choosing a provider, it's reasonable to ask a few direct questions. The answers tell you a lot about how you'll be treated once care starts.
- Are you regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)?
- Are all carers DBS checked, and what training do they receive?
- Will we see the same carers regularly?
- How are care plans recorded, and how will family be kept informed?
- What happens if a carer is off sick or if we need to change something?
How INT Care Solutions can help
INT Care Solutions is a CQC regulated provider based in Handsworth, Birmingham, offering domiciliary care, complex care, cancer care, respite and companionship support. We start with a free consultation and a proper assessment — never a hard sell — and we'll always be straight with you about whether we're the right fit.
Speak to our care team for free, honest advice on arranging care at home.
Albion Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 8BG · Free to call, and you'll speak to a person.