Home care · Central Bedfordshire
Supported living in Shefford
Supported living is offered by 17 of the 54 home care agencies covering Shefford, operated by 16 separate providers. Central Bedfordshire Council runs the most, with 2. 92% of the 13 rated by CQC are Good or Outstanding (versus 90% for supported living across England). 2 hold an Outstanding rating. Expect to pay here about £33.50 an hour for visiting care and £1,610 a week for live-in careestimated. 5 home care agencies were last rated more than four years ago and 2 registered since October 2024. Most recently, Empress Social Care was rated Good on 23 February 2026.
CQC register data as of 27 October 2026 · Open Government Licence
Quick summary
- Central Bedfordshire council offers a free care needs assessment, whatever your savings.
- 13 list dementia as a specialism.
- Rating changes in Central Bedfordshire are checked each day. See what changed recently.
- Among the 13 rated agencies, 12 hold a Good or Outstanding rating; 1 is Requires improvement or Inadequate and 4 are not yet rated.
Citation: "Supported living in Shefford", The Care Panel analysis of CQC register data, Oct 2026.
- 17registered agencies
- 92%of those rated are Good or Outstanding
- 13are registered for dementia
- 3rated or inspected within two years
Who offers supported living in Shefford
Ranked by CQC rating and how recent it is, then distance. How we order providers
- All 54
- Care for adults under 65 · 51
- Elderly care · 51
- Dementia care · 45
- Physical disability care · 44
- Mental health care · 32
- Sensory impairment care · 29
- Learning disability care · 27
- Supported living · 17
- Children's care · 12
- Eating disorder support · 5
- Substance misuse support · 4
| Rank | Agency | CQC rating | Date rated | Office | Other specialisms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knightingles Healthcare Bedfordshire Limited | Oct 2024 | 4.5 miles | 6 | |
| 2 | Hand in Hands | Aug 2022 | 6.3 miles | 6 | |
| 3 | Empress Social Care | Feb 2026 | 5.7 miles | 8 | |
| 4 | Abacus Care & Support | Jul 2025 | 6.3 miles | 9 | |
| 5 | MacIntyre Ampthill Support | Jan 2026 | 6.9 miles | 4 | |
| 6 | Walkers Close | Feb 2024 | under 0.5 miles | 1 | |
| 7 | Care 4 You Direct Limited | Aug 2022 | 5.9 miles | 4 | |
| 8 | DX Caring Services | Dec 2022 | 6.2 miles | 8 | |
| 9 | The Doting Carers Ltd | Mar 2023 | 6.3 miles | 4 | |
| 10 | Line Of Sight Care Limited | Jul 2021 | 5.8 miles | 7 | |
| 11 | Compassion PLUS Healthcare | Dec 2019 | 6.3 miles | 8 | |
| 12 | High Street Sandy | Jul 2019 | 6.6 miles | 1 | |
| 13 | Herts at Home | Jan 2023 | 6.1 miles | 5 | |
| 14 | M&C Home Support Ltd | Not yet rated | – | 3.7 miles | 5 |
| 15 | Dezionite - Main Office | Not yet rated | – | 3.7 miles | 7 |
| 16 | LSR Care Limited | Not yet rated | – | 5.9 miles | 7 |
| 17 | Solid Rock Care Ltd | Not yet rated | – | 7.0 miles | 5 |
All agencies covering Shefford with a CQC registration for supported living. Order: rating, then how recent it is, with distance from the centre used last.
Supported living in Shefford: what the data shows
CQC lists supported living for 17 of the 54 agencies covering Shefford, or 31%. 92% of those rated are Good or Outstanding, 3 points above the 89% for all agencies here and above the 90% for agencies registered for supported living across England.
Leading on CQC ratings for supported living: Knightingles Healthcare Bedfordshire Limited, Hand in Hands and Empress Social Care. Ratings run from July 2019 to February 2026, and 3 are from the last two years. Offices within 2 miles of Shefford centre: 1. 4 still await a first CQC rating.
Across Central Bedfordshire, 28% of agencies are registered for supported living, against 31% here.
Live-in care in the East of England 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.
Supported living in nearby towns
| Town | Distance | Agencies | Good or Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shefford | – | 17 | 12 |
| Lower Stondon | 2.6 mi | 13 | 9 |
| Biggleswade | 5.0 mi | 3 | 3 |
| Letchworth | 6.1 mi | 32 | 20 |
| Hitchin | 6.5 mi | 33 | 21 |
| Ampthill | 6.9 mi | 15 | 6 |
| Sandy | 7.0 mi | 10 | 6 |
Your council
Central Bedfordshire
Central Bedfordshire council can assess care needs for free, whatever your savings, and may help pay if your savings are under £23,250.
Central Bedfordshire: getting assessed, funding your care, direct payments
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 supported living in Shefford
Which agencies in Shefford provide supported living?
The CQC register for Oct 2026 shows that 17 of the 54 agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Shefford list supported living as a specialism. Top-rated names here include Knightingles Healthcare Bedfordshire Limited, Hand in Hands and Empress Social Care.
What CQC ratings do home care agencies in Shefford have?
Of the 13 that have been rated, 12 (92%) are rated Good or Outstanding (2 Outstanding). Rated Requires improvement or Inadequate: 1. Not yet rated: 4. 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. For 2026/27, the Homecare Association says council-funded home care in England is only sustainable at £34.42 an hour or more. 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, 3 of the 17 listed had an inspection or rating within the last two years; 10 have older reports. Use our checklist.
How does Shefford compare with nearby towns for supported living?
Nearest towns we cover: Lower Stondon (2.6 miles): 13, 9 rated Good or Outstanding; Biggleswade (5.0 miles): 3, 3 rated Good or Outstanding; Letchworth (6.1 miles): 32, 20 rated Good or Outstanding. Shefford itself has 17, 12 of them Good or Outstanding.
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Supported living in nearby towns
Related pages and guides for Shefford
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Register information from CQC as at Oct 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0 applies. We do not deliver care ourselves.