About Chamomile Care
A trusted, CQC-registered independent home care provider delivering calm, person-centred support across Oxfordshire.
Chamomile Care provides professional domiciliary care to adults and older people who wish to remain living safely and comfortably in their own homes. Care is delivered with a strong emphasis on dignity, reliability, and continuity, supported by experienced leadership and a values-led approach to care.
Families choose Chamomile Care because they want more than a service. They want reassurance, consistency, and a provider who genuinely understands the responsibility involved in supporting someone at home.
CQC Registered
Continuity Focused
Local Oxfordshire Teams
Fully-Trained Staff
A Calm, Person-Centred Approach to Care
Care at home is deeply personal. It requires trust, patience and genuine respect for the individual.
Chamomile Care’s approach focuses on:
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Treating every person with dignity and compassion
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Providing unrushed, respectful care
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Maintaining familiar routines wherever possible
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Supporting independence rather than taking over
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Communicating clearly with families and professionals
Every care plan is tailored, because no two individuals, circumstances or families are the same.
Experience, Governance and Professional Standards
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Chamomile Care is led by individuals with extensive experience in adult social care and a strong background in governance, accountability and operational standards. This combination shapes how the organisation operates day to day.
High standards are embedded across:
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Recruitment and safer hiring practices
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Induction and ongoing training
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Supervision and performance monitoring
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Safeguarding procedures
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Documentation and accountability
This structured approach supports consistency, safety and professionalism throughout the service.
Meet Our Founder - Mike Ackers
With more than 13 years’ experience in adult social care, Chamomile Care’s founder entered the sector following a deliberate and values-driven career change.
Originally trained in electronics and communications engineering in the 1980s, he qualified to operate and maintain ship’s radio systems and served as a Radio Officer in the Merchant Navy. After coming ashore, his career progressed through technical roles maintaining bank dealing-room systems and office machinery, before moving into a long-standing role with the Ministry of Defence. Over a 22-year period, he worked both as a civil servant and consultant, concluding his MoD career at RAF Brize Norton.
This background developed a strong understanding of governance, accountability, risk management and the importance of robust operational standards — all of which now underpin how Chamomile Care operates.
Although an early ambition to pursue medical training could not be realised due to personal circumstances, a later transition into adult social care proved transformational. Since entering the sector, he has found the work both professionally and personally meaningful, supporting individuals with diverse needs while upholding dignity, safety and independence.
Experience gained within the MoD has translated directly into care delivery, particularly in relation to quality assurance, regulatory compliance and consistency of practice. High standards are expected not only in the care delivered to clients, but also in the training, professionalism and ongoing support provided to Care Workers.
Chamomile Care was established in response to concerns about care quality observed elsewhere in the sector, with a clear commitment to delivering care to a higher standard. Alongside extensive practical experience, the founder holds both Level 3 and Level 5 Diplomas in Health and Social Care, providing a strong theoretical and regulatory foundation for leadership and governance.
Training and workforce development remain central to the organisation’s ethos, reflecting a philosophy often attributed to Richard Branson:
“Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t.”
Today, 87% of Chamomile Care’s Care Workers are either undertaking or already hold a Level 3 qualification. In addition, 92% have been with the organisation for more than two years, and 25% for over four years — figures that significantly exceed sector averages. Chamomile Care is also a proud Oxford Living Wage employer, reflecting its commitment to fair pay, staff wellbeing, and the delivery of sustainable, high-quality home care across Oxfordshire.
CQC-Registered and Quality Focused
Chamomile Care is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and operates in line with all required standards of safety, effectiveness, responsiveness, caring and leadership.
Quality is supported through:
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Regular care plan reviews
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Ongoing staff supervision
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Client and family feedback
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Continuous learning and improvement
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Clear escalation processes where concerns arise
The aim is not only compliance, but consistently high-quality care in everyday practice.
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A Reputation Built on Trust
Chamomile Care’s reputation has been built through long-term relationships with families, professionals and local communities across Oxfordshire.
Recognition has included external awards for quality and enablement, but the strongest measure of success remains the trust placed in the service by those receiving care and their families.
Much of the organisation’s growth has come through recommendation rather than advertising, reflecting the importance of consistency, professionalism and reliability
How Chamomile Care Supports People at Home
Support is flexible and tailored, depending on individual needs and circumstances.
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Personal Care
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Companionship
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Dementia Care
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Medication Management and delegated healthcare tasks
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Respite Care
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Reablement and recovery-focused support
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Support for complex needs
Each service forms part of an overall care plan designed to support safety, comfort, independence and quality of life.
Local Care Delivered by Local Teams
Chamomile Care focuses on serving Oxfordshire communities rather than operating across distant regions. This allows for stronger continuity, improved punctuality and more meaningful relationships between care workers and the people they support.
Care is provided across areas including Abingdon, Didcot, Oxford, Witney and surrounding villages, with teams who understand local routes, services and community networks.
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A Culture That Supports Care Workers
High-quality care depends on stable, supported staff. Chamomile Care prioritises:
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Thorough induction and training
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Ongoing professional development
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Respectful management and supervision
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Realistic scheduling
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Recognition of the emotional importance of care work
This supports stronger retention and continuity, which directly benefits clients and families.
Frequently asked questions
Families often have similar questions when exploring home care. The following are some of the most common.
Why should I choose Chamomile Care over another home care provider in Oxfordshire?
Choosing a home care provider is an important decision, and we believe trust, reliability and genuinely compassionate care should come first.
Chamomile Care is an award-winning, locally managed provider, rated Good overall and Outstanding in Caring by the CQC.
Our experienced management team, trained Care Workers and commitment to continuity help us provide personalised support that respects each individual's dignity, independence and preferences.
We are also an Oxford Living Wage employer, recognising that supporting our Care Workers is an important part of delivering high-quality care.
Above all, our aim is to provide care that people and their families can feel confident in.
Are Chamomile Care's Care Workers trained and DBS checked?
Yes. Our Care Workers undergo enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and receive training appropriate to their responsibilities.
Training includes essential care skills, safeguarding, infection prevention and control, moving and handling, and other subjects relevant to the people they support.
We also encourage continuing professional development, including recognised health and social care qualifications and apprenticeships.
Our commitment to training helps Care Workers deliver safe, compassionate and person-centred support.
Will the same Care Worker visit regularly?
Continuity of care is an important part of the service we provide. We aim to arrange visits with a consistent team of familiar Care Workers, allowing trusting relationships to develop over time.
Having familiar people providing support can be particularly reassuring for those living with dementia or feeling anxious about accepting help.
Although staff availability, holidays and sickness sometimes require adjustments, we work to minimise unnecessary changes and maintain reliable, consistent care.
What types of home care does Chamomile Care provide?
Here’s a clear breakdown of the types of home care services Chamomile Care provides:
Support with everyday personal care tasks, delivered with dignity and respect:
1. Bathing/showering
2. Grooming and hygiene
3. Oral care
4. Toileting and continence support
5. Assisted transfers and mobility support
Help around the home to keep life comfortable and safe:
1. Light housekeeping
2. Laundry
3. Meal preparation and mealtime support
4. Shopping and errands
5. Home safety checks
Ensuring clients are eating well and safely:
1. Planning balanced meals
2. Preparing and cooking food
3. Assistance with feeding (where needed)
4. Monitoring nutritional intake
Supervised and safe support with medication management:
1. Prompting and reminders
2. Assistance with administration (when appropriate)
3. Liaising with prescribers/GPs for concerns
Person-centred care tailored to people living with dementia:
1. Structured routines
2. Memory support
3. Meaningful engagement
4. Reassurance and orientation
Companionship & Social Support.
Reducing isolation and promoting wellbeing:
1. Friendly conversation
2. Accompanying to appointments
3. Support with hobbies and interests
4. Community access (where safe and agreed)
Complex & Clinical Support (where assessed and agreed).
More clinical or specialised tasks delivered by trained staff:
1. Catheter care
2. PEG feeding support
3. Stoma care
4. Post-operative care
5. Risked delegated clinical tasks (as per care plan and regulations)
Reablement & Transitional Support.
Short-term, goal-focused support:
1. Helping regain independence after hospital stays
2. Skills rebuilding (e.g., mobility, self-care)
3. Reducing future care needs
How quickly can care be arranged?
At Chamomile Care, we aim to arrange care as quickly and safely as possible while ensuring the highest quality of support. In most cases, care can be put in place within 24 to 72 hours of your initial enquiry, subject to assessment and availability of suitable carers.
We begin with a comprehensive needs assessment to understand what support is required, who will be the best match, and how we can make care both comfortable and effective. If urgent care is needed (for example, after a hospital discharge), we will prioritise your case and work with you and your healthcare professionals to mobilise support swiftly.
Our team will guide you through every step, explain timescales clearly, and confirm start dates so that you feel confident and supported from day one.
Do you support dementia and complex needs?
Yes. Chamomile Care supports people living with dementia and those with complex care needs, with care tailored to each individual and delivered by trained, consistent care teams.
Support is designed to promote safety, familiarity, dignity, and emotional wellbeing, including:
1. Calm, consistent routines
2. Familiar Care Workers to reduce anxiety
3. Meaningful engagement and companionship
4. Communication adapted to cognitive needs
5. Close involvement with families
Care plans are person-centred and evolve as needs change.
Where assessed and appropriate, Chamomile Care can support more advanced or clinical needs, including:
1. Medication management and delegated healthcare tasks
2. Post-operative and recovery support
3. Mobility and transfer assistance
4. Catheter, stoma and continence care
5. Support for long-term neurological conditions
6. End-of-life comfort-focused care
All complex support is delivered in line with risk assessment, training, competency, and clinical guidance, ensuring safety and governance.
How is continuity of care maintained?
Continuity of care is a core part of how Chamomile Care operates. It is maintained through structure, planning, strong communication, and not left to chance.
How continuity is achieved
1. Consistent care teams
Clients are supported b y a small, regular group of Care Workers, rather than a rotating pool. This helps build trust, familiarity, and emotional security.
2. Careful matching
Care Workers are matched to clients based on:
2.1. Personality and communication style
2.2. Experience and training
2.3. Specific needs (e.g. dementia, mobility, complex care)
3. Detailed care plans
Each client has a clear, personalised care plan that covers:
3.1. Routines and preferences
3.2 Medical and medication needs
3.3. Communication approaches
3.4. Risk management
3.5. Plans are reviewed regularly and updated as needs change.
4. Strong management oversight
Senior staff monitor visits, consistency, and quality, ensuring:
4.1. Changes are identified early
4.2. Issues are addressed quickly
4.3. Families remain informed
5. Reliable scheduling.
Rotas are built to prioritise stability and predictability, so clients see familiar faces and know what to expect.
6. Ongoing communication with families. Families are kept informed, involved, and listened to, which supports continuity beyond the care visits themselves.
How do families stay informed?
Families stay informed through clear, proactive communication and structured oversight, so they are never left guessing about how care is going.
How Chamomile Care keeps families informed
1. Regular updates
Families receive ongoing feedback about how care is going, including changes in wellbeing, routines, or needs.
2. Named point of contact
There is a consistent manager or coordinator overseeing care, giving families someone familiar they can speak to directly.
3. Prompt communication about changes
If anything changes (e.g., health, mood, medication, or care needs) families are notified quickly and transparently.
4. Care plan reviews
Care plans are reviewed with input from families, ensuring support continues to reflect the person’s needs and preferences.
5. Openness and accessibility
Families are encouraged to ask questions, raise concerns, and share insights, helping create a genuine partnership around care.