A free 20-minute call with someone who knows the care system.
No forms, no pressure and no obligation. Twenty minutes to explain what is happening, ask the questions that are keeping you awake, and find out honestly what would help — including when the answer is that you do not need to pay for anything.
Pick a time that suits you
Twenty minutes with Francis, free and with no obligation. Choose a slot, tell us a little about what is happening, and we will ring you at that time already knowing the background.
Start here. There is nothing to prepare.
When you are trying to work out care for a parent or partner, the hardest part is often knowing where to begin. Everything seems to depend on something else, everybody uses words you have never had to learn, and the internet gives you six contradictory answers in the first ten minutes. This call exists to take that pressure off.
We listen properly to what is happening, answer the questions you most need answered, and tell you what usually helps in a situation like yours. That is the whole call. You are not being assessed, sold to or put on a list.
Why it is only twenty minutes
Twenty minutes is enough to understand a situation and give you a clear direction. It is not enough to solve a complex care problem, and we would rather be honest about that than stretch a free call into something it cannot be. If you need more — a full conversation, an assessment, help finding care, a funding review — we will tell you which one and what it costs, and you can decide in your own time.
What it is not
It is not a sales call with a free label on it. It is not a scripted qualification call. And it is not a substitute for medical advice: if somebody is unwell or unsafe right now, contact their GP, NHS 111 or emergency services first.
“You do not need to have all the answers before calling. That is exactly what the call is for.”
- You are new to care and genuinely do not know where to start
- A relative has just been admitted to hospital, or is about to be discharged
- You are worried about a parent living alone and something has changed
- You want an independent view before speaking to any care provider
- You have been told to self-fund and want to check that is right
- You have tried other routes and come away more confused
- You are an attorney or deputy and want a neutral starting point
- You simply want to talk to somebody who understands later-life care
What twenty minutes gets you
Short, but not shallow. The aim is that you finish the call knowing what to do next.
Somebody who listens
The full story, without being hurried or interrupted. Most people have not yet had a chance to say it all out loud in order.
Your questions answered
Bring the two or three that matter most. We answer in plain English, without jargon or hedging.
Honest signposting
Which route is likely to help — including free NHS, local authority and charity routes that cost you nothing.
A clear next step
One thing to do next, so you put the phone down with something specific rather than a general worry.
Booking, and what happens on the day
Pick a time
Choose a slot on the calendar above, or call 01323 401352. Tell us roughly what is going on in a sentence or two.
It is confirmed
The slot is yours as soon as you book it, and a confirmation email follows. If nothing suitable is showing, ring us and we will find a time — sooner where a hospital discharge is involved.
The call
Twenty minutes by telephone, or by video if you prefer. Family members are welcome to join.
You decide
We set out what would help and what it would cost. There is no follow-up pressure and no obligation.
Ready to book?Choose a time on the calendar above and tell us a little about what is happening. It takes about two minutes, and the slot is confirmed straight away.
If you want to prepare, this helps
None of this is required, but if you have it to hand the call goes further: who the person is and roughly what has changed; whether there has been a recent hospital admission or fall; whether any assessment has already been done by the NHS or the local authority; what care is in place now, if any; and whether anybody holds power of attorney. If you do not know the answers, that is completely normal — we will work it out together.
What usually comes next
Many families need nothing further. Where they do, these are the routes we most often recommend — all at fixed, published prices.
Free initial care call: your questions
Is the call really free?
Yes, completely. There is no charge, we do not ask for card details, and there is no obligation to book anything afterwards.
How long is the call?
Twenty minutes. That is enough to understand the situation and give you a clear direction. If more time is genuinely needed we will say so and explain what it would cost.
Who will I be speaking to?
A registered nurse with 36 years of experience in the care system. You are not routed through a call centre — see about My Care Direction.
What should I have ready?
Nothing at all. If you happen to know whether an assessment has been done, what care is in place and whether anybody holds power of attorney, that helps — but it is not needed.
Can other family members join the call?
Yes, and it often helps. Where several people are involved in the decision, hearing the same information at the same time avoids a lot of repetition and disagreement later.
Will you try to sell me something?
No. We are paid by families rather than by care providers, so we have nothing to push. If the honest answer is that you do not need a paid service, that is what you will be told.
What happens after the call?
We summarise what we discussed and suggest which service, if any, would help most. You decide whether to take it further, and there is no follow-up pressure.
Can you help if we live outside East Sussex?
Yes. The call is by telephone or video and is available across the UK. Only in-person visits are limited by geography — see areas we cover.
Is this suitable in an emergency?
No. If somebody is unwell or unsafe right now, contact their GP, NHS 111 or emergency services. We can help with the planning that follows.
Do you keep a record of what we discuss?
We keep only what is needed to help you, treated confidentially and never shared with care providers without your permission. See our privacy notice.
If you would rather read first
You don’t need to know which service you need.
Just tell us what’s happening.
No pressure. No care-provider commissions. Just a conversation about what may help.Independent · no commission from any care provider · fees published
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