Home care · Hertfordshire
Learning disability care at home in Harpenden
82 of the 162 home care agencies covering Harpenden offer learning disability care. 70% of the 56 rated by CQC are Good or Outstanding, against 89% for learning disability care across England. 2 are Outstanding. Expect to pay here about £33.50 an hour for visiting care and £1,610 a week for live-in careestimated. 38 home care agencies were last rated over four years ago and 3 registered in the last two years. The most recent rating was Blueberry Hill Care Limited, rated Good on 26 August 2026.
Source: CQC register · Updated 27 October 2026 · Open Government Licence
Key points
- CQC rates 39 of the 56 agencies with a rating as Good or Outstanding, while 17 are rated Inadequate or Requires improvement and 26 are not yet rated.
- 64 are registered with CQC to support people with dementia.
- Hertfordshire council offers a free care needs assessment, whatever your savings.
- We check for new CQC ratings in Hertfordshire daily: see the latest changes.
Cite this: The Care Panel, "Learning disability care at home in Harpenden", analysis of the CQC register, Oct 2026.
- 82CQC-registered agencies
- 70%rated Good or Outstanding (of those rated)
- 64list dementia as a specialism
- 6inspected or rated in the last 2 years
Who offers learning disability care in Harpenden
Sorted on CQC rating and its date, with distance used last. How we rank
- All 162
- Elderly care · 154
- Care for adults under 65 · 143
- Physical disability care · 133
- Dementia care · 124
- Mental health care · 86
- Learning disability care · 82
- Sensory impairment care · 77
- Children's care · 40
- Supported living · 39
- Eating disorder support · 15
- Substance misuse support · 13
Every agency covering Harpenden registered with CQC for learning disability care, ranked by CQC rating and how recent it is, then by distance.
How learning disability care in Harpenden compares
82 of the 162 agencies covering Harpenden are registered with CQC for learning disability care (51%). Their Good or Outstanding share is 70%, in line with the town-wide 71% and below the 89% for learning disability care across England.
The highest rated agencies for learning disability care are Abbots Care Limited (Hertfordshire), APT Care Limited and Blueberry Hill Care Limited. 6 were rated in the last two years; the oldest rating dates from September 2017 and the newest from August 2026. Offices within 2 miles of Harpenden centre: 2. 26 of them are not yet rated, which is usual for newly registered services.
Across Hertfordshire, 170 agencies are registered for learning disability care, and 82% of those rated are Good or Outstanding. Here 51% of agencies list learning disability care, compared with 52% across Hertfordshire.
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.
What learning disability care involves
The goal is simple to state: adults with a learning disability get support to lead the lives they want. In practice that can mean building everyday skills, going to health appointments, finding work or a course, and keeping up friendships. The best services put the person's own wishes first and follow the CQC guidance known as "Right support, right care, right culture".
Questions to ask agencies about learning disability care
- How do you support health appointments and annual health checks?
- How do you support communication, including Easy Read or Makaton?
- How do you follow "Right support, right care, right culture"?
- How are families and advocates involved in decisions?
- How do you choose staff who match the person?
Where to get support: Mencap Learning Disability Helpline, 0808 808 1111. All learning disability care in Hertfordshire.
Learning disability care in nearby towns
| Town | Distance | Agencies | Good or Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harpenden | – | 82 | 39 |
| Redbourn | 2.5 mi | 60 | 27 |
| St Albans | 4.6 mi | 69 | 36 |
| Welwyn | 5.8 mi | 58 | 35 |
| Hatfield | 6.3 mi | 52 | 32 |
| Hemel Hempstead | 6.5 mi | 37 | 20 |
| Luton | 6.5 mi | 53 | 21 |
Council help
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire council assesses care needs free of charge regardless of savings, and may contribute when savings are below £23,250.
Assessments, care funding and direct payments in Hertfordshire
Free · by email
Free care cost report for Harpenden
- 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
Learning disability care in Harpenden: your questions answered
How many agencies in Harpenden offer learning disability care?
Learning disability care is a registered specialism for 82 of the 162 agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Harpenden (CQC register, Oct 2026). Highly rated options include Abbots Care Limited (Hertfordshire), APT Care Limited and Blueberry Hill Care Limited.
How does CQC rate home care agencies in Harpenden?
39 (70%) are rated Good or Outstanding, out of 56 with a rating, with 2 Outstanding; 17 are Requires improvement or Inadequate. Newly registered services often have no rating yet; 26 here are still unrated.
What does home care cost in Harpenden?
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. According to the Homecare Association, councils across England should pay no less than £34.42 an hour for home care in 2026/27 if it is to be sustainable. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Read the full cost guide.
Does Hertfordshire council fund home care?
It can. Step one is the needs assessment: Hertfordshire 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 Hertfordshire council.
How do I choose between agencies in Harpenden?
Read the most recent CQC report and check its date. Here, 6 of 82 were inspected or rated within the last two years. Older reports: 50. Before signing, ask about staff continuity, how they handle missed visits and the full price. A checklist to help.
Are there more learning disability care in towns near Harpenden?
In Harpenden there are 82, 39 rated Good or Outstanding. The closest towns on our site are Redbourn (2.5 miles): 60, 27 rated Good or Outstanding; St Albans (4.6 miles): 69, 36 rated Good or Outstanding; Welwyn (5.8 miles): 58, 35 rated Good or Outstanding.
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Nearby: learning disability care around Harpenden
- Learning disability care in Redbourn 2.5 mi
- Learning disability care in St Albans 4.6 mi
- Learning disability care in Welwyn 5.8 mi
- Learning disability care in Hatfield 6.3 mi
- Learning disability care in Hemel Hempstead 6.5 mi
- Learning disability care in Luton 6.5 mi
- Learning disability care in Welwyn Garden City 6.8 mi
- Learning disability care in London Colney 6.9 mi
More for Harpenden, plus guides
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CQC register data (Oct 2026), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The Care Panel is independent of every provider listed.