Everything you need to know before getting in touch.
A carer provides personal care: washing, dressing, medication and toileting. A companion provides social and emotional support: visits, conversation, outings and errands. CompanionFirst companions do not provide any personal care whatsoever. We are a companionship-only service.
Yes. Every companion holds an Enhanced DBS certificate before their first visit. We also take two references, conduct a thorough personal interview and put every companion through a two-hour induction covering safeguarding and professional standards.
Most families have a companion matched and visiting within two weeks of their first consultation. We respond to all enquiries within 24 hours and will always be honest with you about timescales in your area.
We rematch, no questions asked and no additional cost. The right connection matters more than anything else we do. You and your loved one always have the final say, and we will keep matching until it is right.
Every family's situation is different. We start with a free assessment call to understand your loved one's personality, interests and what they need, with no obligation to proceed. We are always transparent about costs and there are no setup fees or hidden charges.
No. We invoice monthly in arrears, so you pay for visits completed, never in advance. You can pause or cancel with two weeks written notice. We want families to stay because they love the service, not because they are locked in.
No. CQC registration is only required for services that provide personal care. CompanionFirst is purely non-medical companionship, which is explicitly exempt from CQC regulation under current published guidance.
In some cases, yes. Elderly people who qualify for local authority support may be able to use Direct Payments or Personal Budgets to fund companion visits. Contact us and we can advise based on your loved one's specific situation.
Still have questions?
We are happy to help. Send us a message and we will get back to you, usually within 24 hours.
