Getting Started
A Guided Process, From First Call to First Day of Care
Whether you're arranging care for yourself or someone you love, the process should feel clear, reassuring, and guided by people who understand what matters.
We’ll walk with you from the very first step — answering your questions, carrying out a nurse-led assessment, and building a plan that’s shaped entirely around the person receiving care.
No stress. No guesswork. Just a thoughtful, professional process that leads to care you can trust.
Your Care Journey
Our Six Steps
Step 01. Initial Contact
Your initial step involves a conversation with our knowledgeable care consultants. We prioritise understanding your needs, addressing your questions, and discovering the ideal care solution for your loved one. This process is obligation-free and offers guidance, allowing you to explore options without pressure while gaining expert insights on funding and care solutions.
Step 02. Nurse Assessment
If Obsidian aligns with your needs, we schedule a nurse-led care assessment at a convenient time. Our skilled nurses will evaluate your health, environment, risks, preferences, and goals, ensuring a comprehensive approach to care. This assessment can occur in your home or through a video call, providing a thorough understanding of your medical and emotional support needs, enabling us to create a tailored care plan that suits your lifestyle.
Step 03. Care Plan Design
After the assessment, we develop a customised care plan using our Five Shapes of Care framework. This approach ensures that the care is aligned with you or your loved one’s needs, routines, and long-term goals. It is personalised to your specific requirements, can incorporate one or more Shapes of Care, and offers transparent pricing and funding guidance.
Step 04. Care Team Match
Once the care plan is established, we match you with a caregiver or care team tailored to your needs, ensuring compatibility and continuity. We prioritise trust and connection, providing ongoing support and supervision to maintain quality care.
Step 05. Service Begins
Care starts with your dedicated team following the plan. We ensure support, routines, and communication for reassurance. Our approach facilitates a smooth transition into care, with services tailored to fit your daily routines. Care coordinators are committed to overseeing your journey, providing the necessary guidance and support every step of the way.
Step 06. Ongoing Reviews
Care needs evolve, and so does our approach. We conduct regular check-ins to ensure alignment with your loved one’s changing needs. This includes regular feedback, reassessment, and proactive adjustments to care for well-being.
"Our blended care plans adapt to individual needs using a five-framework model, ensuring seamless, high-quality support that evolves with you."
—Obsidian Homecare
Built Around Our Five Shapes of Care
Every care plan is guided by our unique Five Shapes of Care model — a holistic framework that ensures no aspect of your loved one’s wellbeing is overlooked. Whether it’s practical support, emotional connection, medical complexity, or specialist care, we build the plan using one or more of the following Shapes:
✓ Circle of Comfort – Personal & Practical Care
✓ Heart of Compassion – Social Support & Companionship
✓ Diamond of Excellence – Complex & Clinical Care
✓ Star of Dignity – Palliative & End-of-Life Care
✓ Triangle of Expertise – Specialist & High-Dependency Care
We often blend multiple Shapes into a single plan — because real life doesn’t fit in a box. One person might need personal care and companionship. Another might require complex nursing with behavioural support. Your plan reflects your real-world needs — not a rigid category.
This approach ensures your care plan is not just clinically sound, but emotionally meaningful and human centred.
What to Expect When You Reach Out
Starting care in Ireland can feel like a big step — but we make it straightforward and supportive from the very first call. When you reach out to Obsidian Homecare, here’s what happens:
✓ A warm, no-pressure conversation with one of our care advisors to understand your situation
✓ The option to book a comprehensive in-home or video assessment, carried out by a trained care professional (assessment fees apply)
✓ Honest guidance on what services and supports could work best for you
✓ Clear next steps with no obligation to proceed unless you’re ready
Funding & Support in Ireland
Navigating care funding in Ireland can be tricky — but we’re here to help. We’ll walk you through what’s available and what might work best for you.
✓ Help accessing HSE Home Support Services (formerly Home Help Scheme)
✓ Guidance on Fair Deal for nursing home alternatives and how home care fits in
✓ Advice on Direct Payments, tax reliefs, and private care budgeting
✓ Transparent pricing — always clear, never confusing
Family Involvement & Peace of Mind
Whether you’re down the road or across the country, we make sure families stay involved and informed — because care is a shared journey.
✓ Real-time updates via the Obsidian Homecare Services App
✓ Direct communication with your care team at any time
✓ Scheduled reviews and plan adjustments as needs change
✓ Support for working families, long-distance relatives, and informal carers
Working Alongside the HSE
We regularly collaborate with the Health Service Executive (HSE) to ensure our clients receive the best of both public and private care options. Whether you're currently receiving HSE supports or not, we can help you:
✓ Understand what HSE-funded home support services may be available to you
✓ Coordinate care alongside Public Health Nurses, GPs, and HSE case managers
✓ Complement HSE-provided hours with additional private care — so there are no gaps
✓ Navigate Direct Payments or Personalised Budgets if eligible
Our goal is to create a care plan that works with what’s already in place — not replace it unless needed.
Hospital Discharge Support
Coming home from hospital is a critical time. Whether it’s after surgery, an illness, or injury, we ensure the transition is smooth, safe, and supported — so recovery happens at home, not back in hospital.
✓ Fast-track assessments to arrange care before discharge
✓ Support with wound care, medication, mobility, and personal care
✓ Liaison with discharge coordinators, consultants, and therapists
✓ Short-term or long-term care options — flexible to your recovery timeline
We work with hospitals across Ireland and understand the pressures on families trying to get everything sorted quickly. We’re here to lift that load.
Rural & Regional Care Across Ireland
Whether you're in the heart of Dublin or the quiet roads of Kerry, we believe high-quality care should be available wherever you call home. Our care network reaches across Ireland, with services adapted for:
✓ Rural and remote communities, where local resources may be limited
✓ Reliable carer travel and coverage in hard-to-reach areas
✓ Tech-enabled updates and communication through our Homecare App
✓ Flexible visit times to suit local transport, weather, or accessibility issues
We’re proud to support rural families — and we never let location stand in the way of excellent care.
Each Personal Care Plan Includes
✓ Bespoke Care Package: Tailored to your specific needs, preferences, and lifestyle, ensuring a personalised care experience.
✓ Obsidian Homecare App: Access to real-time updates, care schedules, and communication with your care team through our easy-to-use app.
✓ Expert Care from Obsidian Homecare: Professional, qualified carers and nurses providing high-quality, compassionate care.
✓ 24/7 Call Centre Support: Always available to assist with any questions or concerns, ensuring peace of mind at all times.
FAQs
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Absolutely. We want the care to reflect your needs at all times. Contact us and we’ll arrange a review.
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Every 3 months, or sooner if needed. We’re proactive, but always open to your input too.
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A registered nurse leads the plan, with input from the client, family, GPs, and any relevant professionals.
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Yes. We prioritise consistency. Your care team is briefed on the plan and supervised by our nursing team.
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We respond quickly. A nurse will reassess and update the plan, often within 24–48 hours.
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Absolutely. Our care plans are flexible and tailored to your specific needs, preferences, and goals. We take into account any special requirements to ensure the plan works best for you.
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Yes, your involvement is key. We ensure that you and your family are always informed and engaged in the planning and review process to make sure the care plan stays aligned with your evolving needs.
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Of course. If your needs change, we can adjust the frequency of visits, level of care, or type of services provided. We are here to support you as your needs evolve.
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Our nursing team regularly supervises caregivers to ensure that care plans are being followed to the letter. We maintain open communication with both the care team and the family to monitor progress.
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Yes, emergency care needs are always factored into the plan. We ensure that the care plan includes clear instructions for handling urgent or unexpected situations to guarantee swift action when needed.
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If you ever feel the need to change your caregiver, we’re happy to accommodate that. We want you to feel comfortable and supported by the right people, and we’re here to facilitate any changes you require.