Home care · Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Children's care at home in Poole
Children's care is offered by 28 of the 132 home care agencies covering Poole, operated by 27 separate providers. Agincare UK Limited runs the most, with 2. 95% of the 19 rated by CQC are Good or Outstanding (versus 89% for children's care across England). Expect to pay here about £33.50 an hour for visiting care and £1,610 a week for live-in careestimated. 6 home care agencies were last rated more than four years ago and 7 registered since October 2024. Most recently, Faye Hammond Consultancy Ltd was rated Good on 15 October 2026.
Updated 27 October 2026 from the CQC register (Open Government Licence)
Key points
- 21 are registered with CQC to support people with dementia.
- We check for new CQC ratings in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole daily: see the latest changes.
- 18 of the 19 rated agencies are Good or Outstanding, 1 is rated Requires improvement or Inadequate and 9 are not yet rated.
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council offers a free care needs assessment, whatever your savings.
Cite this: The Care Panel, "Children's care at home in Poole", analysis of the CQC register, Oct 2026.
- 28CQC-registered agencies
- 95%Good or Outstanding, among those rated
- 21offer dementia support
- 5inspected or rated in the last 2 years
Who offers children's care in Poole
Order: CQC rating first, then how recent that rating is, then distance. Our ranking method
- All 132
- Elderly care · 122
- Physical disability care · 115
- Care for adults under 65 · 114
- Dementia care · 108
- Sensory impairment care · 91
- Learning disability care · 73
- Mental health care · 68
- Supported living · 30
- Children's care · 28
- Eating disorder support · 22
- Substance misuse support · 20
This table lists each agency covering Poole registered for children's care, highest CQC rating first, then the more recent rating, then distance from Poole centre.
Children's care in Poole: what the data shows
28 of the 132 agencies covering Poole are registered with CQC for children's care (21%). England-wide, 89% of agencies registered for children's care are Good or Outstanding and here it is 95% (above England, 3 points below the 98% for all agencies in the town).
For children's care, the top rated agencies are Faye Hammond Consultancy Ltd, Global Healthcare Solutions and Impressions Care House. The newest rating is from October 2026 and the oldest from February 2019; 5 fall within the last two years. Offices within 2 miles of Poole centre: 6. 9 of them are not yet rated, which is usual for newly registered services.
Children's care is on 21% of registrations here and 19% across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
Live-in care in the South West runs at around £1,610 a week; visiting care is about £33.50 an hour on weekdays, more in the evening and at weekends. How these costs are worked out.
What children's care involves
Families of disabled children, or of children with complex health needs, can get help at home: carers give personal care, support health routines and let parents take short breaks.
Before you choose: questions on children's care
- Are carers trained in the child's specific health needs?
- How do you handle safeguarding and DBS checks?
- Can support be paid for with a direct payment from the council?
- What experience do carers have with children of this age and need?
- How do you work with school and health professionals?
Where to get support: Contact helpline for families with disabled children, 0808 808 3555. Ask Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole for a care needs assessment.
Children's care in nearby towns
| Town | Distance | Agencies | Good or Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poole | – | 28 | 18 |
| Upton | 3.2 mi | 16 | 12 |
| Corfe Mullen | 3.7 mi | 15 | 12 |
| Bournemouth | 4.1 mi | 30 | 20 |
| Wimborne Minster | 4.9 mi | 19 | 14 |
| Ferndown | 5.7 mi | 31 | 21 |
| St Leonards | 8.3 mi | 15 | 11 |
Council support
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
A care needs assessment from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council is free whatever your savings. With savings below £23,250, the council may help pay.
Free · by email
Free care cost report for Poole
- Typical local prices for home care, overnight and live-in care
- What the council and the NHS may pay, with the 2026/27 savings limits
- The best-rated services near you, from the CQC register
What families want to know about children's care in Poole
How many agencies in Poole offer children's care?
Children's care is a registered specialism for 28 of the 132 agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Poole (CQC register, Oct 2026). Well-rated choices include Faye Hammond Consultancy Ltd, Global Healthcare Solutions and Impressions Care House.
What CQC ratings do home care agencies in Poole have?
Of the 19 that have been rated, 18 (95%) are rated Good or Outstanding; 1 is Requires improvement or Inadequate. Newly registered services often have no rating yet; 9 here are still unrated.
What are typical home care prices in Poole?
Typical 2026 prices across England: visiting care around £32–£34 an hour; live-in care around £1,540–£1,610 a week. Hourly rates vary between agencies more than between regions; ask each agency for its full price list, including weekend and bank holiday rates. The Homecare Association puts the minimum sustainable price for council-funded home care in England at £34.42 an hour for 2026/27. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Read the full cost guide.
Will Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council pay for home care?
It can. Step one is the needs assessment: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council cannot charge for it and must offer it to every person who seems to need support (Care Act 2014). If your savings and investments come to under £23,250, it may then contribute following a financial assessment, depending on income, and for care in your own home the property is left out. Separately, Attendance Allowance has no means test. Getting in touch with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council.
What should I look for when choosing agencies in Poole?
Three questions matter most once you have read the latest CQC report: will the staff be consistent, what is the plan for missed visits, and what is the total cost before signing? On dates, 5 of the 28 listed had an inspection or rating within the last two years. Older reports: 14. A checklist to help.
How does Poole compare with nearby towns for children's care?
Nearest towns we cover: Upton (3.2 miles): 16, 12 rated Good or Outstanding; Corfe Mullen (3.7 miles): 15, 12 rated Good or Outstanding; Bournemouth (4.1 miles): 30, 20 rated Good or Outstanding. Poole itself has 28, 18 of them Good or Outstanding.
Busy? Let us pass your request to providers.
Describe what's needed in one form. We send it to as many as three Poole providers who accept enquiries via The Care Panel, and they email you back.
Children's care near Poole
Other help in Poole
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Source for provider details: CQC, Oct 2026 (Open Government Licence v3.0). The Care Panel is a comparison site, not a care company.