Answering your Questions

Are your staff employed by you or is Candlelight just an agency?

All staff are employed by Candlelight and subject to rigorous pre-employment checks and training. The only exception to this is for Candlelight 24 the division which introduces carers who will live-in with you 24 hours per day.These self-employed carers will also have had pre-deployment checks done.

I am letting your staff into my home. How do I know what standard they are?

All our employees have to go through an interview selection and basic training process. They are checked with the Criminal Records Bureau and with the Protection of Vulnerable Adults register before being deployed. Their references and past employment history will have been checked.

They will have had an induction course before coming out to care for you. During a career with Candlelight staff are required to undertake training and encouraged to go as far as they can. We provide specialist training where specialist care is needed.

The business is regulated and inspected by the Commission for Social Care Inspection and has to confirm to the requirements of the Care Standards Act. Carers are subject to supervision visits and appraisals.

The Company has a Quality Assurance Manager to ensure that policies and procedures are adhered to in practice.

Do you provide care for short periods to provide for example respite or a holiday for family carers?

Yes we can provide care for relatively short periods .Every case has to be assessed. But we will help where we can.

How is my care funded?

If you have limited resources you may be eligible for local authority payment either in full or in part (you can pay directly for extra care above the basic assessment). So that you have choice you may be able to receive a Direct Payment or individual budget from your local authority. In a smaller number of cases your local PCT may pay for care so that you can stay at home

If you have private funds you can ask us to care directly.

Whatever the source of funds Candlelight can help you. In any event any costs and charges will be clearly explained to you in advance.

What are the charges?

These vary slightly from County to County but in all cases they will be made clear at the outset. They are inclusive and do not vary by time of day or at weekends. There is an uplift on bank holidays.

There is no VAT and mileage charges are included for all but the most exceptional circumstances which would be agreed in advance.

You may be eligible for some financial support from Social Services (subject to assessments) and in some circumstances from the PCT (Health Service).

What are your terms and conditions?

Each Service User (Client) receives an information booklet with contact details, aims and objectives of the service, cancellation and complaints procedure, rights and responsibilities.

Call (at local cost) 08458 123678 and ask for a copy.