Visiting Angels vs Care Counts Kirklees: Two Direct-Employment Providers Compared
If you’re searching for home care in Huddersfield or the wider Kirklees area, whether for a parent, a partner, or yourself, both Care Counts and Visiting Angels may have come up as local options. This page compares them honestly, so you can make the right choice for your family.
Short answer: Care Counts has operated since 2006, employs carers directly, and focuses on personal care and independent living support. Visiting Angels also directly employs all carers and adds a formally structured carer matching process, minimum 1-hour visits, a broader clinical range, and a comprehensive carer employment package. Speak to the Visiting Angels Kirklees and Calderdale team →
At a glance
|
|
Visiting Angels |
Care Counts Kirklees |
|---|---|---|
|
CQC Rating |
Good |
Good |
|
Direct employment |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Minimum visit |
1 hour — guaranteed |
Not published |
|
Same carer every visit |
Yes — formally guaranteed |
Not formally published |
|
Client chooses their carer |
Yes — by personality profiling |
Not publicly advertised |
|
Zero-hours contracts |
None — all contracted hours |
Not published |
|
Clinical healthcare |
Stoma, catheter, NIV, vitals, diabetes, gastrostomy, nail care |
Personal care and independent living focus |
|
Years established |
Global network 20+ years |
Since 2006 |
Direct employment: a shared foundation
Both providers directly employ their carers, which is a meaningful structural difference from agencies that use self-employed or bank staff. Direct employment creates a clearer accountability chain and makes it easier to maintain consistent standards.
Where they differ is in what sits on top of that foundation. Visiting Angels adds a comprehensive employment package: above-minimum-wage pay, paid travel time, guaranteed annual pay rises, no zero-hours contracts, and a loyalty programme. The public information available from Care Counts does not detail the same level of published commitment on these points.
Carer matching: formal process vs standard practice
Care Counts has operated since 2006 and will have developed matching processes over that time. At Visiting Angels, the process is formally documented and client-led: before care begins, clients receive a personality profile and choose their specific Visiting Angel. That carer visits every time, as a guarantee rather than a preference.
Clinical range: covering complex needs
Care Counts focuses on personal care and independent living. Visiting Angels covers a wider clinical tier: stoma care, catheter management, non-invasive ventilation, diabetes monitoring, nail care, vital signs monitoring, and gastrostomy support. For families managing complex or evolving needs, that breadth removes the disruption of switching providers.
Why the carer model matters
At Visiting Angels, every carer is:
- Paid above minimum wage, not the lowest possible rate
- On a guaranteed part-time or full-time contract, with no zero-hours arrangements
- Paid fortnightly with paid travel time and mileage
- Guaranteed an annual pay rise every year
- Supported with free training, DBS checks and mental wellbeing support
- Part of a loyalty programme that rewards long service
Ready to talk? Enquire about Visiting Angels Kirklees and Calderdale →
Where Care Counts has the advantage
Nearly 20 years of operation in Kirklees gives Care Counts a meaningful local track record. Families looking for a long-established direct-employment provider with roots in the area will find Care Counts worth exploring.
Our verdict
Both providers share a direct-employment foundation. If local longevity is your main criterion, Care Counts has a solid track record. If client-led carer selection, a published clinical range, and a structured carer employment package are higher priorities, Visiting Angels offers a more comprehensive model.
