Best Domiciliary Care Software UK
The best domiciliary care software in the UK depends on your service’s individual needs. There are many established domiciliary care software systems. The one which is best for you is the one that helps you to deliver the right care, with the right skills, at the right place and time.
In this article we will review eight of the leading domiciliary care management systems in the UK:
- Birdie
- everyLIFE PASS
- CarePlanner
- Carebeans
- unique:IQ
- Nursebuddy
- CareLineLive
- Access
Each domiciliary care system will be evaluated using the same five criteria. This will allow you to decide which software for domiciliary care is the best choice for you.
Software review criteria
The five criteria we will use for our review are:
- Product details
- Features
- Mixed service
- Software compatibility
- User reviews
Product details
The key details are:
- Preferred customer size: Most of the software systems considered here will cater to all sizes.
- Pricing: Pricing can be per hour of care, per user or per carer. Read our home care software price guide for tips on how to choose the best option for your business.
- Hardware compatibility: All featured systems offer desktop and mobile app functionality.
- Customer support: Can vary from Mon-Fri 9-5 to 24/7.
- Company location: Most, but not all, of the featured software companies are based the UK.
- Product date: Software systems that have been around longer are more likely to be stable.
Features
When evaluating features, start by thinking how your care service runs, not in an ideal world, but in the real world. Can the system handle not just routine matters but also last-minute changes and emergencies?
Consult with your care coordinator and care workers who may be able to spot an unforeseen shortcoming, or a hidden benefit of the system you’re evaluating. Staff members on the frontline every day will have a different perspective to those who are focused on running the business.
The best set of features for your service is the one that helps you deliver highly personalised care with maximum efficiency and minimal risk.
Mixed service
While some of the software systems focus exclusively on domiciliary care, other systems manage multiple or mixed services. So if you are a mixed service provider covering a mixture of domiciliary, residential and supported living, you can find a system that manages all three in one place.
And if you are only currently covering domiciliary care but are thinking of expanding into different services in future, systems that support mixed service could be an important consideration.
Software compatibility
If you currently use software for auxiliary functions such as accounts or payroll, you could consider software systems that are compatible with these solutions. Some systems offer integrations with popular third-party software such as Xero (for invoicing), Sage (for payroll).
Another solution, currently only offered by Access, is to implement a suite of complementary products that covers auxiliary functions including accounts, payroll, HR, recruitment, employee engagement, market insight analytics, and care commissioning.
User reviews
It’s one thing reading about a system’s features and functions, but it’s another to learn about the real-life experiences of the system’s users. User reviews can tell you how easy a system is to learn, how user friendly its interface is, and how it handles real-life situations.
User reviews can be found on third-party review websites and in case studies published on the software system’s website.
Birdie
Preferred customer size: Any size
Pricing: From £0.20 per hour of care
Hardware compatibility: Desktop, mobile app
Customer support: Mon-Fri 8-8, Sat-Sun 9-6
Company location: UK
Product date: 2017
Birdie’s platform is designed to support care management, care delivery. rostering, finance, people management, auditing, and connecting with families and third parties. Its care management tools have been designed in consultation with homecare agencies. The software incorporates smart technology which matches carers skills to service users’ needs.
Features
Birdie’s key features include:
Care management
- Needs and risk assessments
- Carer app
- PRN protocols
- Digital body maps
- Real-time alerts
- Custom observations
Rostering
- Travel time visuals
- Auto-assign tools
Finance
- Invoicing
- Payroll
- Visit reconciliation
- National Minimum Wage top ups
Connecting
- Family app
- Third party access
Auditing
- Automated workflows
- Incident reporting
Mixed service
Birdie offers solutions for domiciliary care only.
Software compatibility
Birdie integrates with the following third-party software providers:
- CarePlanner (domiciliary care)
- StaffPlan (staff management)
- Malinko (staff scheduling)
- Cold Harbour (care management)
User reviews
Birdie allows care providers to streamline their management process. Birdie’s task lists ensure that mistakes are avoided, and any missed actions are immediately flagged.
Providers appreciate Birdie’s ability to generate daily audits, allowing them to catch issues in real time, resolve them instantly, and keep clients safe. Having all the information required in one place helps providers do well in CQC audits and achieve better CQC ratings.
everyLIFE PASS
Preferred customer size: Any size
Pricing: Price per user (from £225+VAT per month)
Hardware compatibility: Desktop, mobile app
Customer support: 24/7
Company location: UK
Product date: 2014
everyLIFE PASS is an all-in-one care management software solution supporting over 1,200 care providers daily and offering unlimited 24/7/365 customer service. PASS facilitates safe, person-centred, and tailored care delivery. Furthermore, its cost and time-saving features promote operational efficiencies. everyLIFE is an NHS England assured supplier and PRSB quality partner.
Features
everyLIFE PASS’s key features include:
- Care planning
- Roster
- Care reporting
- GP Connect
- openPASS app
- Electronic medicines administration records (eMAR)
- Body mapping
- Medication management
- Risk assessments
- Incident reporting
- Templates and bespoke document builder
- NFC & QR code check-in
- Voice to text
- Timelines of care
- Online and offline functionality
Mixed service
everyLIFE PASS offers solutions for:
- Domiciliary care
- Supported living
- Reablement
- Residential care
- Complex care
- Nursing homes
- Extra care
- Children’s care
- Learning disabilities
- Retirement living
Software compatibility
everyLIFE PASS does not offer any third-party integrations.
User reviews
everyLIFE PASS’s user-friendly design shortens the learning curve for new users.
PASS’s GP Connect allows providers to access GP practice clinical information safely and securely, enabling carers to work more efficiently and effectively.
Real time alerts ensure that every aspect of care is up-to-date and nothing has been missed.
See how we can support domiciliary care
CarePlanner
Preferred customer size: Any size
Pricing: Price per concurrent user on desktop platform (unlimited CP3 app access for carers)
Hardware compatibility: Desktop, mobile app
Customer support: 8am-11pm 7 days of week + out of hours emergency line
Company location: UK
Product date: 2012
CarePlanner’s platform is designed to digitally integrate services and systems while supporting the social connections that are the foundation of social care. Appointments are scheduled and tracked through one system, while invoices and payroll are automated. The system is intuitive and customable, matching the needs of providers as they develop their service over time.
Features
CarePlanner’s key features include:
- Drag and drop rotas
- Record keeping
- Security
- Invoicing and payroll
- Third-party integrations
- Reporting
- Mobile app for carers
- Communications and alerts
- Call monitoring
- Travel calculations
- Customisation
- eMARs
Mixed service
CarePlanner has recently been acquired by Nourish Care, a digital social care records system.
Nourish Care offers solutions for:
- Domiciliary care
- Residential and dementia
- Large care groups
- Learning disability services
- Children and young people’s services
- Hospitals
- Supported living
- Mental health services
- Substance misuse
Software compatibility
CarePlanner integrates with the following third-party software providers:
- Birdie (domiciliary care)
- Everylife PASS (domiciliary care)
- CM2000 (care management)
- Sage 50 Cloud Accounts & Payroll (accounts and payroll)
- Wagestream (financial wellbeing)
User reviews
CarePlanner’s layout is simple to use and it’s easy to see if bookings have been missed.
The automated mileage calculations save time for carers and management, and prevent overclaiming or underclaiming.
CarePlanner only charges for what’s booked on the system, which is especially helpful for franchises.
Carebeans
Preferred customer size: Multi-site, 1-250 users
Pricing: Price per service user
Hardware compatibility: Desktop, mobile app
Customer support: 24/7
Company location: UK
Product date: 2019
Carebeans offers care planning and management software with fully integrated mobile applications. Its cloud-based systems serve 100’s of customers looking after 1,000’s of service users. Customised care solutions are offered to fit every customer’s individual needs. Carebeans is an assured supplier on the Digitising Social Care Records Programme.
Features
Carebeans’ key features include:
- Care planning
- Risk assessments
- Mental capacity and consent
- Scheduling
- Medication management
- Payroll
- Invoicing
- HR management
- Mobile app
- Family portal
- Mileage calculations
- Holiday calculations
- Management audits
Mixed service
Carebeans offers solutions for:
- Domiciliary care
- Care homes
- Supported living
Software compatibility
Carebeans does not offer any third-party integrations.
User reviews
Carebeans rota system is one of the best on the market. It is reasonably priced and the support is excellent. Carebeans actively solicits feedback from its customers and will make system improvements based on customers’ suggestions.
unique:IQ
Preferred customer size: Any size
Pricing: Price per carer
Hardware compatibility: Desktop, mobile app
Customer support: 24/7
Company location: UK
Product date: 2006
uniqueIQ offers a full end to end care management software. It handles rostering and scheduling, care planning, call monitoring, time and attendance, payroll and invoicing. By increasing efficiency, uniqueIQ enables providers to focus on the quality of their care and achieve better outcomes. It comes with a real-time call monitoring system and complementary HR and finance tools.
Features
uniqueIQs’ key features include:
Care planning
- Scheduling and rostering
- Matching carers to service users
- Live availability of carers
- Digital social care records
Carer app
- Carer tasks
- eMAR
- Missed medication alerts
- Journey planning
- Client and family portal
Call monitoring
- Live status map
- Exception flagging
- Compliance reports
HR and finance
- Mini-CRM
- Payroll and invoicing
- Mileage processing
- Training and recruitment
Mixed service
unique:IQ offers solutions for domiciliary care only.
Software compatibility
unique:IQ integrates with the following third-party payroll and invoicing software providers:
- Sage Payroll
- Sage Accounts
- Free Agent
- QuickBooks
User reviews
unique:IQ’s care monitoring is a cost-effective solution that allows providers to bill each day based on accurate data.
With unique:IQ, providers are no longer waiting for daily logs to be collected by hand. Issues can be flagged immediately and addressed with appropriate support.
Customers are listened to, and their feedback drives the development of new features.
Nursebuddy
Preferred customer size: Any size
Pricing: Price per care hour (from £199 for 500 care hours a month)
Hardware compatibility: Desktop, mobile app
Customer support: Mon-Fri 9-5
Company location: Finland
Product date: 2012
Nursebuddy’s platform is packed with features to help domiciliary care providers enhance efficiency and increase customer satisfaction. Automated rota tools match carers to visits based on skills and experience. Electronic call monitoring with GPS and QR codes ensures carers attend visits as scheduled. eMAR, medication alerts and body maps ensure compliance with medication reporting.
Features
Nursebuddy’s key features include:
- Digital social care records
- eMAR
- Automated scheduling
- Rota publishing
- Carer app
- Carer wellbeing and retention
- Carer profiles and compliances
- Client profiles and visit feed
- Visit validation
- Incidents and risk
- Body maps
- Notifications centre
- Reports and dashboards
- Family portal
- HR and staff records
- Personal development
- Invoicing and payroll
Mixed service
Nursebuddy offers solutions for domiciliary care only.
Software compatibility
Nursebuddy integrates with the following third-party software providers:
- Xero (accounting)
- CM2000 (care management)
User reviews
Having Nursebuddy handle the rotas reduces the number of employees needed in the office, thereby increasing productivity.
Being able to assign specific carers to clients as the “preferred carer” helps with scheduling services.
CQC inspections that would have previously taken 2-3 days can be completed in a couple of hours using online data.
CareLineLive
Preferred customer size: Any size
Pricing: Per user
Hardware compatibility: Desktop, mobile app
Customer support: Mon-Fri 9-5
Company location: UK
Product date: 2012
CareLineLIve’s cloud-based home care management solution aims to improve efficiency, capacity and compliance. The focus is on providing person-centred care with visit verification safeguards. Care visit data is digitised using electronic medication administration records (eMAR) and electronic call monitoring (ECM). Thus client safety is ensured through accurate record keeping.
Features
CareLineLive’s key features include:
Care rostering and management
- Home care rostering
- Capacity planning
- Visit verification
Electronic visit records
- Task management
- Safety and compliance
Client safety and reporting
- Auditing
- Incident reporting
- Contingency planning
Payroll and Invoicing
- Automated time sheet management
- Automated mileage, holiday pay and travel time
Care circle portal
- Temporary access for emergency services
- Family and friends app
Mixed service
CareLineLive offers solutions for domiciliary care only.
Software compatibility
CareLineLive integrates with the following third-party software providers:
- Xero (for invoicing)
- Sage (for payroll)
- Hastee (earnings on demand)
- Tempaid (payroll and billing)
- CM2000 (local authority system)
- Abacus (local authority system)
- ContrOCC Mosaic (local authority system)
User reviews
CareLineLive cuts down on admin time for rota management, increases capacity, improves service delivery, and reduces missed calls.
The flexibility of the system means that providers can easily tailor care services and delivery times to match service users’ needs. The reporting functionality allows providers to optimise their services to create efficiencies in matching supply to demand.
Access
Preferred customer size: Any size
Pricing: Price per care worker
Hardware compatibility: Desktop, mobile app
Customer support: 24/7
Company location: UK
Product date: 2012
Access’s all-in-one care planning, rostering and management solution is the most widely used domiciliary care system in the UK. The software allows providers to manage their resources more efficiently and focus on delivering quality care. It offers data-driven insights which facilitate real-time decision-making to improve efficiencies and minimise risk.
Features
Access’ key features include:
Care management
- Customisable care plans
- Needs and risk assessments, and other customisable forms
- Automation of typical processes in a care service
- eMAR
- Electronic call monitoring
- Mobile app for care visits
- Task management
- Real time alerts
- Offline access
- Policies, procedures, and compliance
- eLearning and training
Scheduling
- Match carers skills to client preferences
- Reconcile payroll with hours worked
- Calculate travel expenses with Google Maps
Audits and mock inspections
- Complete library of audits
- Mock CQC inspections
- Corrective action plans
Mixed service
Access offers solutions for:
- Domiciliary care
- Care homes
- Care management
- Supported living
- Children’s services
- Complex care
- Multi-service
- Reablement
Software compatibility
Access integrates with CM2000 (care management)
Access offers exports for the following third-party solutions:
- ContrOCC
- Sage
- Quick Books
- Xero
Access offers a suite of complementary products that are used by care providers and/or the NHS, local authorities and other health or care providers:
- Access People (HR and Payroll)
- Access Accounting
- Access Retention and Engagement
- Access Recruitment and Screening
- Access Market Insight Analytics
- Access Assure (Digital Telecare)
- Access Elemental Social Prescribing
- Access PAMMS (provider assessment and market management)
- Access RIO EPR (electronic patient records)
- Access Care Commissioning
User reviews
Access offers a suite of complementary care management apps which talk to each other and are embedded together on a single dashboard. Managers can drill down into different data silos and make decisions based on data analytics, rather than relying on gut feeling alone.
Access’ software allows providers to remain consistent with their delivery of care and be proactive not reactive. Any issues surrounding care delivery, including concerns raised by staff, are logged so they can be actioned. This ensures providers are addressing the CQC’s KLOEs (key lines of enquiry) (and as of 2023, the CQC Quality Statements).
Conclusion
All the domiciliary care systems reviewed here include the core functions of care planning and rostering, but there are minor differences in terms of additional features offered. Finding the best fit for your business is a matter of matching the system’s feature set to your precise needs.
The following table offers a quick side-by-side comparison of our eight featured systems:
- Launch date: More established systems could be considered more stable.
- Support: Some systems offer round the clock 24/7 support, while others only offer support during the day (5 day or 7 day).
- Mixed service: Mixed services supporting provider services in addition to domiciliary care allow for diversification and growth within the same system.
- Software compatibilities: Software compatibilities allow comprehensive support of employee and client journeys within the same system.
- Users like: What users of a system say they especially like about it.
| Launch date | Support | Mixed service | Complementary solutions | User reviews | |
| Birdie | 2017 | 7 day | None | 4 | Daily audits allowing issues to be caught in real time. |
| everyLIFE PASS | 2014 | 24/7 | 9 | None | Real time alerts ensure nothing is missed. |
| CarePlanner | 2012 | 24/7 | 8 | 5 | Charges only for what is booked - good for franchises. |
| Carebeans | 2019 | 24/7 | 2 | None | Actively solicits and acts on customer feedback. |
| unique:IQ | 2006 | 24/7 | None | 4 | Accurate data allows daily billing. |
| Nursebuddy | 2012 | 5 day | None | 2 | CQC inspections now completed in hours not days. |
| CareLineLive | 2012 | 5 day | None | 7 | Reporting allows efficient matching of supply to demand. |
| Access | 2012 | 24/7 | 7 | 10 | Care compliance gap greatly helps with CQC compliance. |
Access domiciliary care software
At Access over 10,000 registered domiciliary care locations use our domiciliary care management software.
We are the only domiciliary software system on the market that also includes integrated eLearning and CQC compliance and policies tools.
And Access Assure, our technology enabled care solution, offers digital living insights to enable care that is personalised, proactive and preventative.
To find out about the domiciliary care software we offer at Access, contact us here to discuss your needs or book a demo.
If you are a domiciliary care startup, we offer care foundations packages with special discounts and payment terms to help you get started with the right software for your service.
Looking for a quick quote tailored to you? Let’s start talking today.
