Substance Misuse Support at Home in Shefford: 4 Agencies (Oct 2026)

Providers offering substance misuse support

Order: CQC rating first, then how recent that rating is, then distance. Our ranking method

#	Agency	CQC rating	Last rated	Office	Other specialisms
1	DX Caring Services	Good	Dec 2022	6.2 miles	7
2	Crossroads Caring For Life	Good	Jul 2019	5.7 miles	9
3	Helpers Homecare Limited	Good	Apr 2019	6.2 miles	7
4	Inwood Home Care	Not yet rated	–	3.6 miles	9

Every agency covering Shefford registered with CQC for substance misuse support, ranked by CQC rating and how recent it is, then by distance.

Substance misuse support in Shefford: what the data shows

CQC lists substance misuse support for 4 of the 54 agencies covering Shefford, or 7%. 100% of those rated are Good or Outstanding, 11 points above the 89% for all agencies here and above the 88% for agencies registered for substance misuse support across England.

Leading on CQC ratings for substance misuse support: DX Caring Services, Crossroads Caring For Life and Helpers Homecare Limited. 0 were rated in the last two years; the oldest rating dates from April 2019 and the newest from December 2022. Within 2 miles of Shefford centre: 0 offices. 1 has no rating yet; new registrations usually wait for a first inspection.

Here 7% of agencies list substance misuse support, compared with 5% across Central Bedfordshire.

In the East of England, weekday visiting care typically costs about £33.50 an hour, with higher rates at evenings and weekends. Live-in care costs about £1,610 a week. Where these figures come from.

Substance misuse support: what it means

Safety, health and recovery are the aims of substance misuse support, for anyone affected by alcohol or drugs. It runs alongside specialist treatment services rather than replacing them.

Questions to ask agencies about substance misuse support

How do you keep people safe at night?
What happens if someone relapses?
How do you work with local drug and alcohol treatment services?
How do you support recovery goals and family relationships?
How do you help with housing, money or work?

Helpline: FRANK, 0300 123 6600. How to get assessed by Central Bedfordshire.

Nearby towns: substance misuse support

Town	Miles	Number of agencies	Good or Outstanding
Shefford	–	4	3
Lower Stondon	2.6 mi	5	3
Letchworth	6.1 mi	8	4
Hitchin	6.5 mi	8	4

Council help

Central Bedfordshire

A care needs assessment from Central Bedfordshire council is free whatever your savings. With savings below £23,250, the council may help pay.

Asking Central Bedfordshire for an assessment, and how payment and direct payments work

Free · by email

Free care cost report for Shefford

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

Questions families ask about substance misuse support in Shefford

Which agencies in Shefford provide substance misuse support?

The CQC register for Oct 2026 shows that 4 of the 54 agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Shefford list substance misuse support as a specialism. Well-rated choices include DX Caring Services, Crossroads Caring For Life and Helpers Homecare Limited.

What CQC ratings do home care agencies in Shefford have?

Of the 3 that have been rated, 3 (100%) are rated Good or Outstanding. Not yet rated: 1. That is common for services registered recently.

What are typical home care prices in Shefford?

Usual 2026 prices across England: visiting care around £32–£34 an hour; live-in care around £1,540–£1,610 a week. Ask every agency for a full list of charges, with weekend and bank holiday rates: hourly rates vary more between agencies than between regions. 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. More in our cost guide.

Will Central Bedfordshire council pay for home care?

It may. Central Bedfordshire council must offer a free care needs assessment to anyone who appears to need support (Care Act 2014). If savings and investments are below £23,250, the council may contribute after a financial assessment, depending on income, and for care at home the value of the home is not counted. Attendance Allowance is not means-tested. How to contact Central Bedfordshire council.

What should I look for when choosing agencies in Shefford?

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, none of the 4 listed had an inspection or rating within the last two years; 3 have older reports. Use our checklist.

How does Shefford compare with nearby towns for substance misuse support?

Nearest towns we cover: Lower Stondon (2.6 miles): 5, 3 rated Good or Outstanding; Biggleswade (5.0 miles): 1, 0 rated Good or Outstanding; Letchworth (6.1 miles): 8, 4 rated Good or Outstanding. Shefford itself has 4, 3 of them Good or Outstanding.

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