Welcome to Kernow Directory. Organisations supporting adults across Cornwall are continuing to add their details. If you are an organisation, please visit one of our directories and click “Add a listing.”
Our information, advice and guidance pages are co-produced with people who have lived experience and will continue to grow.
People may need care at home if they are:
getting older
have a medical condition
recovering from a surgery
have a disability
There is a range of support available to help you or someone you know stay living at home and retain their independence.
Home care includes but is not limited to:
personal care such as help with bathing, using the toilet, washing your hair or getting dressed
personal care with domestic help – cleaning, laundry, meal preparation
health care for medical or clinical aid in the home
outreach
There are a range of services and support available for people who need extra help at home after leaving hospital.
Find out what help and support is available, how to get extra help and how to contact us in our Extra Help at Home When You Leave Hospital factsheet.
There is also an Easy Read version of the Extra Help at Home When You Leave Hospital factsheet.
Occupational Therapists help people of all ages to carry out activities they need or want to do but are prevented from doing as a result of illness, disability or ageing.
Occupational Therapy staff will help you find practical solutions to lead a more fulfilling life. They will visit you at home, assess your needs and work with you (and your family) to find a solution.
Different specialised technology and equipment can be available for those people who are unable to physically cope with every day activities around the home. This may be due to a medical condition, hospital discharge or limited mobility.
Equipment can be purchased independently from mobility stores and centres. It may also be provided by an Occupational Therapist, District Nurse or Hospital practitioner after an assessment.
If you have any technology or equipment around your home that is no longer required and needs to be collected please contact the Independence and Wellbeing Team on 0300 1234 131.
Technology Enabled care (TEC) includes a range of innovative technology that helps you to live at home independently, including:
lifeline personal alarms
fall detectors
movement sensors
carer pagers
A life-saving personal technology service. The range of equipment on offer means you have a personal care plan which is tailored to your needs.
With round the clock reassurance, you can live your life at home as usual, knowing help is at hand 24 hours a day should an accident happen.
TEC is provided by Corserv Care. You can read more on their website.
The home solutions team can help you stay safe at home by:
helping with any adaptations you decide to have carried out in your home
advising on what financial support may be available to help with a house move or adapting your home
supporting you to find a more suitable property if a house move is deemed most appropriate to meet your needs
There is also a Handyperson Service which provides help with household maintenance and repairs for people in Cornwall who are over 60 or have a disability.
The Short Term Enablement Planning Service (STEPS) supports people for a limited period of time after a health or social care crisis. They provide temporary support when you’re returning home from hospital and are in need of extra support to get back to your normal life. STEPS workers are there to help you regain your confidence and abilities with tasks such as Personal care, Meal preparation and general mobility. They will also assist with therapy exercises where you have been assessed as needing this type of support.
STEPS can only be accessed following an assessment, this may be through:
the hospital discharge team
a therapist who is working with you or
another health care professional
You, your GP or someone acting on your behalf can also make a referral.
You can contact the Independence and Wellbeing Team to arrange this on 0300 1234 131.
A new and innovative approach has been developed and co-designed with the people that provide and use home care services in Cornwall.
The new Home Care Service contract went live on 19 October 2024. This contract replaces the Home Care Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) with an Alliance based model. There are new Home Care Alliances across 11 geographical zones, each led by a Strategic Provider (SP) who will work with Alliance Providers (AP). The new model requires APs to work in partnership with each other and Cornwall Council to meet the demand in their Zone.
The new model provides flexible, accessible services. This allows the people of Cornwall to have control over how their assessed needs are met, to receive the right care, in the right place at the right time.
Other benefits include:
Improving outcomes for individuals by introducing increased flexibility. As well as strengthening the voice of the Home Care Providers in the person’s day to day care.
Improving relationships and collaboration between Home Care Providers and the Council.
Improving market sustainability by encouraging Providers to work together to identify opportunities to be more effective. With strategic providers taking new responsibilities to support other Home Care Providers in the area. This will help to increase profitability and the pay received by care staff.
The average rates across all zones for 2025-26 is £28.47 per hour (inclusive of mileage and travel time).
If you or someone you know needs support with day-to-day activities at home, you can ask for a needs assessment. This is a chance for us to look at your social care needs and work with you to identify support to help you to live independently.