Home care · Dorset
Children's care at home in Ferndown
Children's care is offered by 31 of the 138 home care agencies covering Ferndown, operated by 30 separate providers. Agincare UK Limited runs the most, with 2. Among the 22 with a CQC rating, 95% are Good or Outstanding (versus 89% for children's care across England). 1 holds an Outstanding rating. Typical fees here come to about £33.50 an hour for visiting care and £1,610 a week for live-in careestimated. 7 home care agencies were last rated more than four years ago and 8 registered since October 2024. Most recently, Faye Hammond Consultancy Ltd was rated Good on 15 October 2026.
Data: the CQC register, updated 27 October 2026, under the Open Government Licence
Key points
- Rating changes in Dorset are checked each day. See what changed recently.
- CQC rates 21 of the 22 agencies with a rating as Good or Outstanding; 1 is Requires improvement or Inadequate. 9 are not rated yet.
- 24 are registered with CQC to support people with dementia.
- You can ask Dorset council for a free care needs assessment; savings make no difference.
Cite this: The Care Panel, "Children's care at home in Ferndown", analysis of the CQC register, Oct 2026.
- 31CQC-registered agencies
- 95%Good or Outstanding, among those rated
- 24support people with dementia
- 6inspected or rated in the last 2 years
Ranked providers of children's care
Highest CQC rating first; ties go to the more recent rating, then the nearer provider. How the list is ordered
- All 138
- Elderly care · 128
- Care for adults under 65 · 120
- Physical disability care · 120
- Dementia care · 114
- Sensory impairment care · 96
- Learning disability care · 81
- Mental health care · 74
- Supported living · 32
- Children's care · 31
- Substance misuse support · 23
- Eating disorder support · 22
This table lists each agency covering Ferndown registered for children's care, highest CQC rating first, then the more recent rating, then distance from Ferndown centre.
Children's care in Ferndown: what the data shows
31 of the 138 agencies covering Ferndown are registered with CQC for children's care (22%). 95% of those rated are Good or Outstanding, 3 points below the 98% for all agencies here and above the 89% for agencies registered for children's care across England.
Leading on CQC ratings for children's care: Aucklands Care, Newgencaregroup (Dorset) and Impressions Care House. The newest rating is from October 2026 and the oldest from February 2019; 6 fall within the last two years. 5 are based within 2 miles of the centre of Ferndown. 9 of them are not yet rated, which is usual for newly registered services.
Children's care is on 22% of registrations here and 18% across Dorset.
Typical prices in the South West: about £33.50 an hour for weekday visits (evenings and weekends cost more) and around £1,610 a week for live-in care. How we estimate costs.
About children's care
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
- Can we have the same carers each time?
- How do you plan for the move to adult services?
- How much notice do you need for short breaks?
- How do you work with school and health professionals?
- What experience do carers have with children of this age and need?
Where to get support: Contact helpline for families with disabled children, 0808 808 3555. Getting a care needs assessment from Dorset.
Children's care around Ferndown
| Place | How far | Agencies | Rated Good or Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndown | – | 31 | 21 |
| St Leonards | 2.7 mi | 15 | 11 |
| Wimborne Minster | 3.4 mi | 19 | 14 |
| Bournemouth | 4.5 mi | 30 | 20 |
| Verwood | 5.0 mi | 6 | 5 |
| Poole | 5.7 mi | 28 | 18 |
| Ringwood | 5.8 mi | 8 | 6 |
Your council
Dorset
Savings under £23,250? Dorset council may help with the cost, and its care needs assessment is free for everyone.
How to ask for an assessment, paying for care and direct payments in Dorset
Free · by email
Free care cost report for Ferndown
- 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 children's care in Ferndown
How many agencies in Ferndown offer children's care?
Children's care is a registered specialism for 31 of the 138 agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Ferndown (CQC register, Oct 2026). Among the highest rated are Aucklands Care, Newgencaregroup (Dorset) and Impressions Care House.
What CQC ratings do home care agencies in Ferndown have?
Of the 22 that have been rated, 21 (95%) are rated Good or Outstanding, with 1 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 Ferndown?
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. Homecare Association figure for 2026/27: a sustainable council rate for home care in England starts at £34.42 an hour. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Read the full cost guide.
Will Dorset council pay for home care?
It can. Step one is the needs assessment: Dorset 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 Dorset council.
What should I look for when choosing agencies in Ferndown?
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, 6 of the 31 listed had an inspection or rating within the last two years. Older reports: 16. A checklist to help.
How does Ferndown compare with nearby towns for children's care?
Nearest towns we cover: St Leonards (2.7 miles): 15, 11 rated Good or Outstanding; Wimborne Minster (3.4 miles): 19, 14 rated Good or Outstanding; Bournemouth (4.5 miles): 30, 20 rated Good or Outstanding. Ferndown itself has 31, 21 of them Good or Outstanding.
Short on time? We'll pass on your request.
One short form is all it takes: a maximum of three providers in the Ferndown area who work with us will email you directly.
Other towns near Ferndown
Also in Ferndown, and guides
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Register information from CQC as at Oct 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0 applies. We do not deliver care ourselves.