Community Micro Enterprise Providers

A Community Micro Enterprises (CME) is small, locality focused provider of home care/support. CME’s are viable, sustainable, committed to high standards of practice and won’t let people down.

CME’s are a great option for people looking for home care/support services who want something more personal, bespoke and with more flexibility and consistency from who is supporting them.

All CME’s offer low levels of support/help in the home but some CME’s provide personal care services as sole traders.

Leeds Directory, in conjunction with Community Catalysts have developed a comprehensive standard of registration specifically for CME’s. This standard of registration includes (but is not limited to)

Public Liability Insurance
Enhanced DBS Check (formerly CRB)
CCJ Check

CME’s are required to complete Safeguarding training provided by Leeds City Council in addition to having access to any other training relevant to ensuring that they can provide a quality care recognized by Leeds City Council.

CME’s are also connected with legal and business advice to ensure that they are operating according to best business practice and are required to adhere to the Leeds Directory Code of Good Practice.

Choosing your provider

To help make sure that everything goes smoothly when buying a service, you should follow these steps:

Any organisation listed in the Leeds Directory that provides a service in the home, garden or one to one in the community, has been checked and vetted by us. These organisations will have a green tick against their listing.

If you are receiving services from a sole trade home care/support service and you are not sure if they are registered with the Leeds Directory you can contact our helpline on 0113 378 4610 for confirmation.

Have a look at the five-star ratings and reviews to check what other customers think of the service they have received from a provider.

If possible, you should ring at least three different providers to compare quotes. You should always leave a message with your name and number so that they can call you back. Any visits to your home should be pre-arranged and the provider should clearly identify themselves before entering your property.

Questions you should ask your provider

what you will want the person to do, such as things you might need support with or any regular activities you want to be accompanied to
important personal information including if the agency staff need to use any moving or lifting equipment or if English is your second language
what qualifications and experience does the CME have
what happens if I’m not happy with the work of the person you provide
what happens if the CME doesn't show up, or shows up late, for a planned appointment?
What happens if the CME is ill or is due to go on holiday? If another CME service is brought in to cover these times are they also registered with Leeds Directory?

Before commencing with provision of service the CME should provide you with a contract. This will clearly set out who will do what, when, where and how and also how you would resolve any issues, for example if you are unhappy with the service provided and/or if one of you wants to end the contract. The contract should also state how much you will have to pay and any payment arrangements. The CME should provide invoices with receipts.

We advise you to read through any contract very carefully as both parties will sign this contract.

If your circumstances and needs change you should discuss this with your CME provider straight away. The provider will then undertake a review and let you know if they are still able to support you.

If your current CME is unable to continue to support you please contact Leeds Directory to discuss other options, be that a different CME provider or a more traditional care agency.

If you have a social worker, you should also contact them and discuss the changes.

As part of their registration CME’s providing personal care services are required to have an risk assessment process in place, which they will make available to you on request. You may also have specific questions arising from the Coronavirus pandemic;

Mandatory Vaccinations

CME’s do not meet the requirements for mandatory Covid-19 vaccination as issued on the 6^th January 2022.

You may want to check whether the person delivering your care has been vaccinated against Coronavirus and then decide as to whether you want them to deliver your care based on their answer. Please note, CME’s are not obligated to share their vaccination status with you.

Guidance on mandatory vaccinations is changing. Keep informed about the changes to guidance via the GOV.UK website

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Social Distancing

CME providers should be delivering services in line with government guidance where mask mandates and social distancing rules are in place. This includes (but is not limited to) providing and wearing any necessary PPE e.g., gloves, aprons and masks, and maintaining a social distance during the delivery of services where possible.

Where mask mandates and social distancing rules are not in place you should discuss your own needs and concerns around the use of PPE with the CME. This way you can discuss how they can provide services in a way that makes you feel safe and supported.

In order to be exempt from CQC regulation a CME must work alone as a self-employed sole trader, contracted directly by, and working under the control and direction of, the person receiving support or their representative.

If at any time a CME employs another worker who is providing personal care in someone’s home they will need to register with CQC; they would then be classed as an agency.

If it comes to your attention that a CME is not complying with the above stipulations, please contact the Leeds Directory Helpline.

CME’s have their own individual complaints procedures and we always encourage anyone wanting to make a complaint to attempt to address their concerns directly with the provider first.

If direct resolution is not possible Leeds Directory has a complaints procedure in place to support, you in addressing any issues you may encounter. Where we are unable to support directly, we will support you to complaint to the relevant regulatory body or ombudsman as well as to Leeds City Council as necessary.

Find out more about Leeds Directory’s complaints procedure.

Last updated: 3/8/2022

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