If you are looking for care services for the first time or are choosing a live-in care provider, it is important to get a true understanding as to the quality of care being offered. A useful place to start is on the CQC website researching and reading through providers inspection reports. The CQC is the independent regulator of Health and Social Care in England, with the objective of ensuring that people have access to safe, caring, effective, responsive and well-led care services. They monitor, inspect and regulate these services to make sure that they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety. They publish what they find and give each provider performance ratings. Services are either rated Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate. Whilst all care homes throughout the country are regulated and inspected by the CQC, it is worth noting that not all home care providers are. Introduction agencies, who simply introduce you to a carer who you then directly employ yourselves, are not required to be regulated or inspected by the CQC. This is because they do not provide an on-going or managed service after introducing you to your carer. You will be responsible for employing, supervising and managing the level of care that is provided to your loved ones, which comes with many responsibilities including arranging cover for holidays and absences and paying the carer – all of which can be burden on many families, and not least because you cannot be assured of the quality of care you are receiving.