Home Help in Southwark: Costs, Funding and 56 Local Agencies (Oct 2026)

What home help includes

Typical tasks are cleaning and tidying, laundry and ironing, changing beds, food shopping and collecting prescriptions, preparing meals, help with post and bills, and getting out to appointments or the shops. Many people also value the company. Home help does not include personal care such as washing, dressing or help with medication: for that you need a home care agency registered with the Care Quality Commission.

Paying for home help

Home help is usually charged by the hour, at or just below the rate for visiting care. The London Borough of Southwark may include practical help in a care plan if a care needs assessment finds eligible needs, though help with housework alone often does not qualify. Attendance Allowance, which is not means-tested, is often used to pay for it. See home help for the elderly and home help vs home care.

Agency, cleaner or council?

Many home care agencies in Southwark provide home help as well as personal care, which is useful if needs grow. A cleaner or a local "home help" service can be cheaper for housework alone, but is not regulated by CQC. Some councils and charities run low-cost help-at-home or shopping services. How to ask the London Borough of Southwark for an assessment.

Southwark's agencies in figures

Chelsea has the highest share of listed agencies rated Good or Outstanding nearby (68%); Southwark, at 29%, is 6th of the 7 towns compared. One rating goes back to March 2018: SDA Domiciliary Care Services. Ask what has changed since. CQC registered Tiggo Care - Dulwich in May 2026, the newest on this list. At 64% Good or Outstanding, Southwark sits below the London figure of 89% (from 2,452 agencies). Registered specialisms here: 48 of 56 list physical disabilities, 26 of 56 list learning disabilities and 30 of 56 list mental health conditions. In Southwark, 79% of agencies support people with dementia (44 of 56); the London figure is 81%.

How much home help costs in Southwark

Prices typically seen in London in 2026
Visiting care	£30–£40 an hour
Sleeping night	£190–£230
Waking night	£240–£320
Live-in care	£1,300–£1,800 a week

What the council pays (London Borough of Southwark): £22.41 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £1,165.71 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £1,189.60 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).

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. Tools: weekly cost calculator and what would we pay?

What families ask about home help in Southwark

Which home care agencies offer home help in Southwark?

Ask each agency: CQC keeps no record of who provides home help. Of the 56 registered agencies that are based in the borough of Southwark, 16 are rated Good or Outstanding.

What does home help cost in Southwark?

Expect an hourly charge close to the local visiting care rate, sometimes slightly less for housework only. Check the minimum visit length and weekend rates before you book.

Can I get home help from the council?

Only as part of meeting eligible needs after an assessment by the London Borough of Southwark; housework on its own rarely qualifies. Attendance Allowance, which ignores savings, is often used to pay for home help.

Is home help the same as home care?

No. Home help is practical help with housework, shopping and errands. Home care, or personal care, includes help with washing, dressing, eating and medication, and must be provided by an agency registered with the Care Quality Commission.

How are agencies covering Southwark rated?

Of 25 agencies with a CQC rating, 16 (64%) are Good or Outstanding. Dementia is a specialism for 44, and 8 have a rating or inspection from the past two years.

Need home help in Southwark?

One short form: featured partners and a maximum of three rated agencies working with us will contact you directly by email.

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More about care in Southwark

Nearby towns for home help

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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.

Home help in Southwark