Home careEssex

The best home carers in Essex

2,392 home carers are based within about 45 minutes of Essex. This page profiles the six with the strongest record, and every one of them has been reviewed by clients. Each profile has their photo, their own description of the work and, where there is one, what a client wrote about them.

Chosen by PrimeCarers from carers’ profiles and client reviews  ·  Updated October 2026

How these carers were chosen

Of the 51 carers near Essex with a photo on their profile, 47 have a studio portrait, an hourly rate and a profile full enough to quote. The six below are the strongest of them on three measures.

  1. 1

    What clients said

    Rating and number of reviews come first. Every review is from a client who booked through PrimeCarers, screened before it appears and never edited.

  2. 2

    Their record with us

    How reliably they have worked through PrimeCarers, how long they have been caring, and how many hours of care they have given.

  3. 3

    A profile worth reading

    A clear portrait and enough written about their work to judge them by. The words under each name are the carer’s, and we have only shortened them.

Six carers, best first

The best-rated home carers near Essex

They are based in Chelmsford, Basildon, Southend-on-Sea and Westcliff-on-Sea. Four have been caring for ten years or more, and two drive.

Based in Chelmsford · 4 years caring

Michael F.

Client rating
4.5from 2 reviews
Hourly rate
£19.50 an hour, our fee included
Through PrimeCarers
220 hours of care
In Michael’s words

“When I'm not working, you'll usually find me out walking or trying my hand at a new painting, and I bring that same steady, unhurried pace into my care work. I'm based in Chelmsford and have spent four years supporting people at home, through hourly visits, overnight stays and live-in care. Companionship sits at the heart of what I do.”

My mum enjoys his company and looks forward to his arrival which is a good endorsement of his behaviour and level of care he shows her.

David S., a client of Michael’s, 2025

Experience Michael writes about

  • Dementia
  • Parkinson's
  • Learning disabilities
  • Personal care
  • Medication

Outside work, Michael lists painting, walking, dancing and yoga.

See Michael’s full profileOne more review on the profile

Based in Basildon · 5 years caring · Drives

Kirsty N.

Client rating
5.0from 1 review
Hourly rate
£24 an hour, our fee included
In Kirsty’s words

“Families who have called my agency to say they only want me to visit them, describing me as kind, caring and understanding, are what I am most proud of in my work. I offer hourly and visiting care in Basildon, and over five years I have supported people living with a wide range of conditions, including dementia, Parkinson's, stroke, heart disease and arthritis, as well as those needing end of life care or recovering after surgery.”

Kirsty truly represents the very best of what a “carer” should be. It is not just her job title – she embodies the true meaning of the word. She went above and beyond her duties to care for my mum, always ensuring her welfare and safety. She supported my mum in every way possible and made sure she never went without anything. She carried out all her work with a huge smile and wonderful energy.

Nikki H., a client of Kirsty’s, 2026

Experience Kirsty writes about

  • Dementia
  • Parkinson's
  • Stroke
  • Palliative care
  • Arthritis
  • Hoists

21 years caring

Simone L.

Client rating
5.0from 1 review
Hourly rate
£25 an hour, our fee included
In Simone’s words

“My name is Simonè, I am a happy go lucky bubbly character and have been in the care industry for 20 years. I am very profesional and passionate about my work, i have enjoyed caring for people from a very young age and still absolutely love what I do. Over the years I've had many many people request me personally because of my experience, quality of care and personality.”

See Simone’s full profileOne review on the profile

Based in Southend-on-Sea · 12 years caring

Susan H.

Client rating
5.0from 2 reviews
Hourly rate
£20 an hour, our fee included
Also offers
Overnight care and live-in care
In Susan’s words

“People often tell me I'm calm and easy to talk to, and that steadiness is something I try to bring into every home I work in. Based in Southend-on-Sea, I offer hourly, live-in and overnight care, and over twelve years I've supported people through dementia, Parkinson's, stroke recovery, arthritis and many other conditions, always trying to meet each person where they are rather than following a fixed routine.”

Experience Susan writes about

  • Dementia
  • Parkinson's
  • Stroke
  • Arthritis
  • Catheter and stoma care
  • Personal care

Speaks Afrikaans as well as English. Outside work, Susan lists walking, cooking & baking, decorating and socialising.

See Susan’s full profile2 reviews on the profile

Based in Basildon · 15 years caring

Lisa R.

Client rating
5.0from 1 review
Hourly rate
£20 an hour, our fee included
Also offers
Overnight care and live-in care
In Lisa’s words

“I have proven over time to be trustworthy and capable Carer. I have very strong communication skills and an experienced facilitator with good organisational skills. I have over the last 15 years worked with a variety of clients tending to their individual needs. I work closely with Family, Friends and other Health care professionals' in delivering an exceptional level of care.”

Outside work, Lisa lists dancing, card games and cooking & baking.

See Lisa’s full profileOne review on the profile

Based in Westcliff-on-Sea · 15 years caring · Drives

Caroline M.

Client rating
5.0from 1 review
Hourly rate
£19 an hour, our fee included
Also offers
Overnight care
In Caroline’s words

“I have great patience and no job too big or small would challenge me.. I have experience with working with Special needs, mental health and behaviour issue.. being a carer means a lot to me and I take great pride in the results I achieve and feedback I get back back.. I can help with sitting services, nights, outings, and general support thank you for considering me.”

Experience Caroline writes about

  • Mental health

Outside work, Caroline lists painting, walking, card games and cooking & baking.

See Caroline’s full profileOne review on the profile

More carers near Essex

The next six on the same measure. A carer without reviews is newer to PrimeCarers, not a worse carer, so read the profile and talk to them.

See every carer who could visit Essex

How to choose

How to choose between home carers in Essex

The carers above have the strongest records near Essex, but the right one for your family depends on the visits you need, so start from those.

  1. 1

    Write down the visits you need

    Half an hour
    What time of day, how long each visit, and what has to happen in it: getting up and washed, tablets, a meal, a walk to the shops. Add anything that has gone wrong before. This becomes your first message to every carer.
  2. 2

    Shortlist two or three carers near Essex

    Free
    For visits, a short journey matters, because the early and late calls are the ones a long drive puts at risk. Look at where each carer is based, then read their reviews for specific things they did.
  3. 3

    Talk to each one

    This week
    A video call or a visit of twenty minutes is enough. Use the questions below, and let your relative meet them if they can, because how the two of them get on matters as much as experience.
  4. 4

    Start with a trial fortnight

    Weeks 1 and 2
    Agree the visit times, the rate and how you will hear from the carer after each visit. The booking, the agreement between you and the carer, and payments are all set up on PrimeCarers.

Questions to ask a visiting carer

0 of 9 ticked

Experience

The visits

Keeping in touch

What they charge

What the best home carers in Essex charge

Each carer sets their own rate. The carers profiled above charge £19 to £25 an hour with our fee included, close to the typical £20 for Essex.

Hourly rates for visits in EssexOur fee included
  1. The carers on this page6 carers£19 to £25
  2. Carers across EssexThe middle half of rates£19 to £22
  3. A home care agencyTypical charge for a visit£28 to £35

From carers' own profiles, October 2026. Agency figures are the range we quote across the site.

A visit is charged by the hour, and most families start with one or two visits a day. The cost of home care in Essex works through what a week comes to, and funding care covers the help available from the council and the NHS.

What we check

What every carer on this page has passed, and what is yours to check

PrimeCarers is an introductory service. We check that a carer is safe to introduce and caring; whether they are right for your relative is your decision, and the profiles above are there to help you make it.

Enhanced DBS, renewed every 18 months

Checked before a carer appears: an enhanced DBS (or PVG in Scotland, Access NI in Northern Ireland) issued within the last 18 months, and it has to be renewed every 18 months while they work through PrimeCarers.

Identity and right to work

Photo identity verified, and the right to work in the UK checked, before the profile goes live.

An online interview

A conversation with our team about their experience and how they approach care. It is not a test of clinical skills.

What we do not verify

Training certificates, qualifications and references. Carers can list these on their profile; ask about them when you talk, and ask to see anything that matters to your relative’s care.

How we vet carers sets out each check in detail.

Questions

Questions families in Essex ask about choosing a home carer

By what their clients said first, then by their record. We start from every carer who offers visits and is based within about 45 minutes of Essex, and keep those with a studio portrait and a profile that says enough about them to be useful. They are ordered by their client rating and how many reviews they have, then by whether a client wrote a review we can quote, then by their record with PrimeCarers, their years of experience and the care they have given through us. All 6 carers profiled here have client reviews, averaging 4.9 out of 5.

Yes. Before a carer appears on PrimeCarers they have passed an enhanced DBS check, an identity check and a right-to-work check, and had an online interview with our team. That DBS must have been issued within the last 18 months, and it has to be renewed every 18 months. We check that a carer is caring; their skills, qualifications and training are for you to check with them. How we vet carers sets out each step.

Yes, and it is worth doing. Message the carers you like through PrimeCarers with the visits you need and anything that has been difficult, then arrange a video call or a visit. Talking to a carer is free and nothing is booked until you say so. Most families speak to two or three carers before choosing.

The carers profiled on this page charge £19 to £25 an hour, with our fee included. Across Essex carers charge £19 to £22 an hour, typically £20. Agencies usually charge £28 to £35 an hour for a visit. The cost of home care in Essex works through what a week of visits comes to.

All 12 carers on this page list dementia on their profile. A tick on a profile is the carer's own description, so ask each one about the people with dementia they have cared for and what they found hardest. Dementia care at home covers what good support looks like at each stage.

Yes. Between them the carers on this page speak Afrikaans, Bulgarian, French and Russian as well as English, and the search can filter by language. For someone whose first language has come back to them with age or dementia, a carer who shares it can make visits much easier.

Then you choose another, and the same search shows who else is available. For visits, notice under the contract is 48 hours, and PrimeCarers makes no charge to stop or change carer. It helps to agree at the start that the first couple of weeks are a trial for both of you. Our team can help you find someone else in the meantime.

Some can, and their profile says so. Of the carers profiled here, 4 also offer overnight care and 3 offer live-in care. Live-in carers travel much further for a placement than visiting carers do, so the best live-in carers in Essex is a separate page, drawn from a wider area.

More on home care in Essex

Ready to talk to carers in Essex?

See every carer who could visit Essex, Michael included, with their photos, experience, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free, and nothing is booked until you say so.

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