What is an introductory care agency — and why it matters
Introductory, managed, regulated — care can be confusing. Here's a plain-English explanation, and what it means for you.
When you start looking for care, you'll meet some confusing terms — 'regulated', 'managed', 'introductory'. They matter, because they affect how your care is delivered and who's in control. Here's the plain-English version.
Regulated (domiciliary) care
A CQC-registered provider delivers personal care and keeps an ongoing role in how it's given. They're inspected by the Care Quality Commission. This model suits people who want the provider to manage everything.
Introductory care and support
An introductory service — like Gentility for our care and domestic support — carefully vets and introduces the right person to you, then stays close to make sure it's working. You keep control of the relationship, with our team behind you. Because we don't take an ongoing role in the personal care delivered, this model doesn't require CQC registration. It's well established and entirely lawful.
So what actually matters?
Whichever model you choose, the real question is the same: are the people properly vetted, and are they kind and capable? With Gentility, every person we introduce is:
- Enhanced-DBS checked
- Reference-verified and identity-checked
- Assessed for the right to work in the UK
We're fully insured, we handle your data carefully under UK GDPR, and we follow a clear safeguarding policy. You can read the detail on our Trust & Safety page.
What it means for you
- You meet and approve anyone before they start.
- You keep continuity — ideally the same trusted person.
- You stay in control, with our support whenever you need it.
Models and labels matter less than this: trustworthy people, vetted properly.
Have a question? Just ask
We're always happy to explain how we work, with no jargon and no pressure. Get in touch or request a free quote — and we'll make it simple.