Search thousands of verified care providers. Compare services, check inspection ratings, and connect with the perfect care for your loved ones.
Search the UK's most comprehensive care directory
About the directory
Care Directory is a free, independent UK directory of registered care providers. It brings care homes, nursing homes, home care agencies, live-in care and supported living services into one searchable place, so families don't have to piece information together from different websites.
Every listing starts from the public registers kept by the national care regulators: the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England, the Care Inspectorate in Scotland and Care Inspectorate Wales. Where a regulator has published a rating or inspection, Care Directory shows it alongside the provider's details.
Unlike a council directory, which covers a single local authority, Care Directory covers England, Scotland and Wales, so you can compare providers across county lines — useful when a parent lives in one area and family live in another.
More about Care DirectoryCare Directory is a free, independent directory of care providers across the United Kingdom. It brings together care homes, nursing homes and home care agencies in one place, so families can search, compare and shortlist services without having to visit dozens of separate websites.
Every listing starts with information published by the regulators: the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England, the Care Inspectorate in Scotland and Care Inspectorate Wales. That means you can see a provider's registered services, the type of care it offers and, where available, its latest inspection rating before you make contact.
Whether you are arranging care for a parent, planning ahead for yourself or supporting someone after a hospital stay, you can search by town, city or postcode, filter by the type of care you need and contact providers directly. There is no charge to families for using the directory.
Choosing care is a big decision. Here's how Care Directory keeps the information clear and fair.
Listings come from the public registers of the CQC, the Care Inspectorate and Care Inspectorate Wales, rather than from paid adverts.
Families never pay to search, compare or contact providers through Care Directory.
Inspection ratings are shown as the regulator published them. We don't change or re-score them.
Care providers can claim their listing to add photos, services and an accurate description.
Find the right type of care for your specific needs
Residential care with 24/7 support for daily living activities
View allProfessional care and support in the comfort of your own home
View allDedicated carer living in your home providing 24/7 support
Learn moreShort-term care to give family carers a break
Learn moreSpecialist care for those living with dementia and memory conditions
Learn moreCompassionate end-of-life care and support for families
Learn moreBrowse Care Directory by region or by city to see registered care providers near you.
Finding quality care in three simple steps
Find providers with expertise in specific care needs
Specialist care for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias
View allSupport for mobility and physical care needs
View allSpecialised support for learning and developmental needs
View allCare for mental health conditions and emotional wellbeing
View allCare services for young adults aged 18-65
View allCompassionate end of life and hospice care
Learn moreRehabilitation and support after stroke
Learn moreSpecialist support for Parkinson's disease
Learn moreIn England, the CQC inspects care services against five questions: are they safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led? Each service then gets one of four overall ratings, which Care Directory shows on every rated listing.
The service is performing exceptionally well.
The service is performing well and meeting expectations.
The service isn't performing as well as it should and has been told how to improve.
The service is performing badly and the regulator has taken action.
Scotland and Wales use their own grading systems, set by the Care Inspectorate and Care Inspectorate Wales.
Residential care homes provide accommodation, meals and help with personal care such as washing, dressing and medication. Nursing homes also have registered nurses on site around the clock, making them suitable for people with complex medical needs. Many homes also offer specialist dementia care, respite stays and end-of-life care.
Browse care homes →Home care (also called domiciliary care) lets people stay in their own home, with carers visiting for anything from a short daily check-in to several visits a day. Live-in care provides a carer who lives in the home full time. Both can be arranged for older people, people with disabilities and those recovering from illness.
Browse home care →In England, the CQC inspects registered care services and rates them Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate. Ratings look at whether a service is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. A rating is a useful starting point, but always check the date of the last inspection and read the full report.
Read our care guides →Care can be funded privately, by your local council after a needs and financial assessment, or by the NHS through Continuing Healthcare where the main need is health-related. Asking your local authority for a free care needs assessment is usually the best first step, even if you expect to pay for care yourself.
Funding resources →Once you have a shortlist, these questions will help you compare providers fairly and spot the details that matter most for day-to-day quality of life.
Get answers to common questions about finding and choosing care
Have a question about using Care Directory or a listing? Get in touch and the team will get back to you.
Your service is probably already listed on Care Directory. Claim your free listing to add photos, describe your care, and receive enquiries from families searching in your area.
Browse CQC-registered care homes across England. Click a location to find residential care, nursing homes, and specialist facilities near you.
Discover home care agencies offering support in your area. From personal care to live-in services, find trusted providers near you.
Enter your location and browse verified care providers in your area. Filter by care type, ratings, and specialisms.
Compare services, specialisms and the latest regulator ratings side by side.
Send a free enquiry to the providers you like and arrange a visit or a chat.
