Gardiner's Homecare

10 Church Street, Caversham, Reading RG4 8DZ
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9.9 185 Reviews
  • Gardiner's Homecare, Reading
Gardiner's has over 50 years of providing domiciliary care to people in their own homes in and around Reading and South Oxfordshire.

Their experienced and friendly team are passionate about helping others and supporting them to continue independent and fulfilling lives in the comfort and familiarity of home.

If you are looking for someone to provide company and a little help around the house, or perhaps to assist with personal care or medication, Gardiner's can help.

Gardiner's takes great care to recruit care workers with a passion for helping others. They highly value their team, looking after them and supporting them at all times. It is a family business with an enviable reputation locally. They frequently receive fantastic feedback from grateful clients and their families, and indeed have been recognised by this website on several occasions for that.

Care Provided by Gardiner's Homecare

  • Type of Service
  • Home Care Provider
  • Privately Owned
  • Specialist Care Categories
  • Call in Service
  • Cancer Care
  • Cleaning Service
  • Companionship
  • Dementia
  • Domestic Services / Home Help
  • Food Preparation & Serving
  • High Dependency Care, two carers attending
  • Laundry Service
  • Learning Disability
  • Medication Assistance
  • Older Person Care
  • Palliative Care
  • Personal Hygiene Care
  • Physical Disability
  • Respite cover
  • Sensory Impairment
  • Shopping Service / Errands
  • Sit in Service
  • Transportation Service
  • Other Care Provided
  • 24 Hour Care
  • Adult Home Care (18+)
  • Hospital Discharge
  • Live in Carer
  • Personal Care (on a contracted hours basis)
  • Personal Care Assessments
  • Risk Assessments in the Home

Good to Know

  • Owner
  • Gardiner's Homecare
  • Person in charge
  • Krista Hallett (Registered Manager)

Funding & Fees Guide for Gardiner's Homecare

  • Prices
  • Mon to Fri before 6pm - £35.00 per hour.
    Weekdays after 6pm + weekends all day - £39.38 per hour.


    Sleeping nights (10hrs): Mon-Thurs £165, Fri-Sun £185.
    Waking nights (10hrs): Mon-Thurs £215, Fri-Sun £240.


Total of 185, showing 41-60
9.9

Gardiner's Homecare has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.944) out of 10, based on 39 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Gardiner's Homecare has 185 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 175
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Date Published

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The care staff have been helping me and my husband for the last 12 months with the house and general chores.
They were able to quickly adapt to personal care for my husband when his condition deteriorated and was present at his passing.
The care my husband received was so kind and caring. They enabled
him to stay at home with dignity.
I continue to use Gardiner's, who once again helps me with chores around the house. Would highly recommend their services.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

The team were glad to have been of support to your husband, especially at the very end. He was at home and with his loved ones. Thank you for your high recommendation and for sharing your feedback.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Over a prolonged period, my wife was cared for with professionalism and compassion and not a little humour, a great combination.
The care manager and her office colleagues were also excellent when called upon.
Put simply, Gardiner's Homecare is gold-standard care.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

How great of you to rate our care as gold-standard! Thank you for sharing your feedback.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Gardiner's looked after our mum brilliantly for over five years as her health deteriorated. They provided friendly and professional advice and support so Mum could carry on living at home, as she wished to do. From our first meeting through to the finish, their managers and team of carers always worked
collaboratively with us. No problem was too big.
Mum very quickly came to know and welcome her team of carers, who were flexible, responsive and always happy to help out - almost like part of the family.
We would wholeheartedly recommend Gardiner's.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

Thank you for sharing your experience and for your wholehearted recommendation. We were delighted to be able to support your mum.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Living so far away in Canada, we have been overwhelmed by the quality of care, service and communication given by Gardiner's.
My mother always expressed how wonderful her carers were and a joy to have around. Such lovely, kind girls.
They gave us a lot of peace of mind.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

Cannot be easy being so far away from a loved one. We are all pleased to have been able to provide both support to your mother and peace of mind to you.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Gardiner's looked after my father throughout the last year of his life. Over that period, a small group of regular carers provided the majority of my father's care, with the rest being provided by an only slightly larger group of occasional carers. As a result, my father received care with a very high
degree of continuity. The carers were obviously trained to a high standard and provided care in a consistent way, which is important for a dementia sufferer. The most impressive part was that the carers were all so committed to treating my father as a human being, entitled to respect and dignity. I have no hesitation in recommending them.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality care from a small team that are well trained. Delighted to hear that this was your experience and that you would happily recommend us.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I was in unchartered territory when I made the initial phone call to Gardiner's Homecare but I can't praise their services high enough. The office staff were understanding and supportive and led me through the process of obtaining appropriate care for my mother. As far as the carers were concerned,
my elderly mother began to see them as friends and looked forward to their visits. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending this provider - in fact, I already have. Thank you

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

Delighted to read your comments and we thank you for your recommendation. Many do find it a tricky time when faced with finding support for their loved ones and we are glad to have been of help.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I used Gardiner's Homecare to give me support for my wife daily. Their support, while I was not at home, I had periods where I would be away for several days, was excellent.
I found their staff and administration, both professional and responsive in supplying an excellent care service.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

Delighted to hear you were pleased with our support. Thank you for your comments and we shall share these with those involved.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Although it was only a short period of time that I used Gardiner's Homecare to help with my husband's failing health, I found their staff, administration to carers, both professional and responsive in supplying an excellent care service. Also, their support and care given to me. Thank you so much -
I highly recommend your services.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

Thank you from all at Gardiner's. We appreciate your feedback and are glad to have been able to support you.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Following my hospital discharge after my hip replacement, I used Gardiner's Homecare to give me support for a period of two weeks, twice daily. The carers who visited me were excellent, always cheerful, respectful and considerate of my needs and I could not have asked for a lovelier caring bunch of
people to walk through my door. I had used Gardiner's Homecare some years ago for my late mother so there was never any hesitation that I would use them again and I would recommend them to everyone in need of carers for either themselves or a loved one.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

It was a delight to support you through your recovery period and we wish you all the best for the future.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I cannot recommend Gardiner's Homecare highly enough. My mother has dementia and can be very difficult, it took a lot of perseverance, patience and skill to deal with her, but the carers managed to get in the door in the end and she really enjoyed their visits. Communication is excellent as is their
support, quickness to deal with everything that arises day to day and were able to up care when things were difficult. I really don't know what I would have done without their support.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

Delighted to hear that you would recommend us and that you were so pleased with the support provided. Many thanks for your feedback.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Gardiner's Homecare provided twice-a-day calls to my elderly mother to provide support to me as my mother's main carer and to make sure she took her medication. By helping her with personal care twice a day, this enabled me to focus during the day on other responsibilities with my own family and business
as well as getting in food and sorting out finances. We asked Gardiner's Homecare to provide help at a time when staff were in short supply. As a result, we had more than the usual number of carers, often stepping in at short notice. Without exception, they were all very professional, kind and supportive, and my mother looked forward to their visits. Communication via their app provided a useful update on each of their visits and access to an ongoing timetable of who would be visiting and when. Thank you, Gardiner's Homecare; I could not have survived without you!

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed review of your experience of our service. We are delighted to hear that we were such a great support to both you and your mother during her time with us.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Gardiner's superb team have looked after our father for the last few years with tremendous care and attention and we strongly recommend them - both management and carers.
The peace of mind that comes from knowing that Dad was being looked after by a consistent, capable, flexible and reliable team -
underpinned by cheerfulness, genuine compassion and care were wonderful. Many of the Gardiners team feel like extended family members.
Throughout the pandemic, they did not falter in the level of care provided which is amazing.
Dad appreciated the cooking skills - ranging from well-cooked scallops to creamy porridge (telling me I needed a lesson from them as mine wasn't good enough...) and of course new people to tell his fund of stories to.
We would like to say a resounding thank you to you all. You are amazing people doing an amazing job - we salute you.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

How wonderful to read! We shall ensure his team of carers receive this feedback as they will be touched. Thank you for sharing your experience of the support we provide, your words are much appreciated.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

From the initial contact with Gardiner's, everything has been without fault. They were recommended to me by a previous client and I would not hesitate to recommend them.
The team of carers who looked after my Father were amazing, so kind, caring and respectful.
All of the support team in administration
and client services were responsive and really supportive and so keen to help and meet our care needs. A First Class Company and Team.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

Such a lovely review and great to know you would have no hesitation in recommending us. Thank you for sharing your experience, we were glad to have been of support


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Gardiner's were able to provide my parents with their wish, to remain safely in their home for the remainder of their lives. Their care package started with just 2 visits per week for everyday chores, but were able to provide daily personal care as and when it was deemed necessary. The girls were always
cheerful and nothing was too difficult to remedy.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

Many thanks for sharing your experience of our service. We are delighted to have been able to help support your parents to remain at home as they wished.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We engaged the services of Gardiners to look after our ailing mother with short daily visits. We were very happy with the staff and the care that they provided and have no hesitation in recommending their services.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

Delighted to know you would recommend us; thank you for sharing your experience of our service.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Gardiner's have been a great support to Mother and I over an extended period where the ability to tailor changes in care requirements was crucial.
The carers were at all times supportive and comforting to my mother whilst offering both care and companionship. My mother looked forward greatly to her
visits from Gardiner's and formed a strong bond of trust and friendship with her carers, taking great interest in their personal lives as if they were extended family members.
I was also offered advice and guidance to help me navigate the prospect of future changes in health and needs, for which I was extremely grateful.
Gardiner's offers so much more than care in the home, they give you the benefit of their years of experience in areas which are unknown.
The app is an invaluable resource to be able to access remotely how the visits have gone.
I would not hesitate to recommend Gardiner's to anyone who is thinking of setting up care plans for a relative - they are second to none.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

Wow, your feedback is so wonderful, thank you! It means so much to us all and is much appreciated. Thank you.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Gardiner's was so professional and efficient in supplying a quick and personal care service for my mum and her husband who has dementia. I cannot be more positive about the agency. They were recommended to us and I would have no hesitation recommending them to others.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

We are so pleased to have been able to provide support and really do appreciate your feedback and recommendation, thank you.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

From the moment I visited Gardiner's office to start talks about my mum's care, to this week when she moved into full-time residential care, we have had nothing but kindness and understanding from the whole team. My mum really enjoyed her daily visits and came to look upon her nurses as friends - particularly
her main carer. The support provided enabled her to live independently for much longer than she could have managed alone and the warmth, encouragement and careful observations from her carers were invaluable to us both. I particularly appreciated being able to log in and see how each visit had gone, especially when I had any concerns about Mum. It was really reassuring to know that she was safely tucked up in her flat, all settled for the evening.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

Such all-round lovely feedback, thank you for sharing! The team will be delighted to know how happy both of you were with the support and service provided.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Gardiner's provided care for my mum last year and I would like to thank them for their support, reliability and kindness in helping my mum. This enabled her to remain in her own home and gave her extra support and companionship that she needed. The carers were very kind, attentive and provided feedback
on each visit, bringing things that needed attention to me that otherwise may have gone unnoticed. So I can't thank Gardiner's enough for their help and the support, including the staff in the back office who provided regular feedback, which is so important when you are not always able to see your loved ones on a regular basis.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

It is great to know that your mum received the support required to stay at home as she wished. We shall share your comments with her team and they will love to know they made a difference. Such lovely feedback, we thank you too!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I used the services of Gardiner's from September 2021 until December 2021 for my mother who was coming to the end of her life and needed extra care. I was so pleased with the service from Gardiner's, the office staff were very empathetic to my concerns about my mum and the quality of care my mother
received from the daily carers was superb.
Mum was not at all happy at first to receive extra care but soon established a great relationship with her regular carers. She looked forward to their visits as much as I looked forward to a little respite. I cannot speak too highly of the care Mum received in her final days.

Reply from Suzanne Screen, Office Manager at Gardiner's Homecare

We are so happy to have been able to provide you both with some support during what must have been a difficult time. Thank you for your kind words and we shall share these with her team.


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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.944)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.944) out of 10 for Gardiner's Homecare is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 39 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 39 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Home Care Provider is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.944 for Gardiner's Homecare is calculated as follows: ( (220 Excellents x 5) + (11 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 232 Ratings = 4.944

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows: 3 points for the first Positive Review, 2 points in total for each of the next 9 Positive Reviews (1st = 3, 2nd = 0.5, 3rd = 0.5, 4th = 0.25, 5th = 0.25, 6th = 0.1, 7th = 0.1, 8th = 0.1, 9th = 0.1, 10th = 0.1)

    The 5 points relating to the number of Positive Reviews for Gardiner's Homecare is based on 39 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as follows: 3 + 0.5 + 0.5 + 0.25 + 0.25 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 5

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Home Care Provider does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Performance

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 26 Apr 2018

Overall
Good

  • Caring

    Good
  • Effective

    Good
  • Responsive

    Outstanding
  • Safe

    Good
  • Well-led

    Good

Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England.

View Latest Report

Awards / Recognitions (5)

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Meet the Team (11)

John-Joe

John-Joe Cottam

Job Title: Managing Director

Joined: 2010

John-Joe is the joint owner and managing director of Gardiner’s Nursing & Homecare. He is the grandson of Gardiner’s founder Dorothy Gardiner. John-Joe studied Psychology at the University of Leicester before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2003.


John-Joe worked as an audit manager with many successful owner-manager-managed businesses until December 2009.


In 2010 John-Joe joined Gardiner’s, taking over the running of Gardiner’s Nursing & Homecare in April 2011.


Krista

Krista Hallett

Job Title: Registered Manager

Joined: 2015

Krista joined Gardiner’s as a Care Manager in March 2015. In September 2018, following Annabel’s retirement, Krista took on the role of Registered Manager.


Before joining Gardiner’s, Krista worked in the care sector for 10 years, starting as a healthcare assistant and then progressing to a Senior care worker/Care Coordinator, assisting with all aspects of the care industry.


Suzanne

Suzanne Screen

Job Title: Office Manager

Joined: 2013

Suzanne is the office manager here at Gardiner’s. Her role is to help ensure that everything runs smoothly behind the scenes, this includes looking after our accounts and payroll processes. Suzanne is involved in many other areas of the business including marketing and social media.


Prior to joining Gardiner’s in September 2013, Suzanne was the Practice Manager at Caversham Heights Dental Practice for over 15 years, working with David Cottam, John-Joe’s father.


Germaine

Germaine Goswell

Job Title: New Client Manager

Joined: 2024

Germaine's main responsibility is welcoming enquiries and answering any questions they may have. Anyone wishing to proceed with our service is then guided through the process of assessment and providing the required support.


Germaine has gained her NVQ Level 5 in Health and Social Care and has many years of experience in the care sector.


She has a wealth of knowledge that she can bring to the role and share with you.


Leanne

Leanne Edwards

Job Title: Care Manager

Joined: 2016

Leanne's main role is to manage the support of her team of clients and care workers. She keeps in regular contact with them, adapting to their changing needs.


Leane has been in the care industry for a long time and joined Gardiner's as a Care Worker in May 2016. In September 2017 she became a Senior Care Worker at Gardiner's before being promoted to the role of Care Manager.


Alex

Alex Snow

Job Title: Care Manager

Joined: 2017

Alex's main role is to look after her team of clients and care workers, providing regular support and adapting to their needs.


Alex originally trained as a staff nurse at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and went on to specialise in respiratory medicine before becoming part of the cardiac care team. She started with Gardiner's as a care worker before progressing to Care Manager, bringing a wealth and variety of experience.


Lianne

Lianne Maguire

Job Title: Care Manager

Joined: 2015

Lianne manages a team of care workers and clients. She keeps in touch with them regularly to respond to any changes required.


Lianne, also known as Mags, had worked in the care industry for over 10 years before joining Gardiner's in 2015. She has a vast amount of experience and knowledge that she brings to the role of Care Manager.


Hayleigh

Hayleigh O'Brien

Job Title: Recruitment & Development Manager

Joined: 2021

Hayleigh looks after the recruitment of care workers and the continuing development of the team at Gardiner's.


Hayleigh joined Gardiner's as a Care Worker in December 2021, previously working as an HR administrator.  She moved into her current position in May 2023, perfectly combining her knowledge of both previous roles.


Jasmine

Jasmine Corbin

Job Title: Care Co-rdinator

Joined: 2023

Jasmine oversees all the duties, booking in care workers for each visit. Her priority is to keep a regular team in place and as small a team as possible. Whilst also arranging cover for well earnt holiday and unexpected time off. Continuity of care is very important at Gardiner's.


Jasmine started at Gardiner's as a Care Worker so understands the needs of the clients and the care workers and the value of matching the right people.


Tracy

Tracy Beamond

Job Title: Senior Care Worker

Joined: 2018

Tracy supports the office team and care workers. Her role varies from completing client assessments, reviews and to guiding and observing care workers.


Tracy joined Gardiner's as a Care Worker in November 2016 before becoming a Senior Care Worker in June 2018. Before this, she worked with adults with learning and physical difficulties supporting them in their own homes. Before that Tracy worked in various children's residential homes.


Cheryl

Cheryl Willis

Job Title: Office Administrator

Joined: 2011

Cheryl is the welcoming face of Gardiner's Homecare. She is based on reception and greets visitors with a warm smile and if is unable to assist herself, she points you in the right direction.


Cheryl started at Gardiner's in 2011 as a Care Worker before progressing to Office Administrator in 2014. She has a variety of experience having also come from a background in pensions, retail, accounts, and administration.