Self‑employed carers wanted

Respite Carer Jobs in Rochester

Flexible respite work across Rochester — set your own rates, typically £18.80–£20 per hour

  • Set your own rates, with no agency cut
  • Choose your clients and your hours
  • Contracts, invoicing and payments handled for you
Apply now

Registering takes a few minutes · How soon you start depends mostly on your DBS check

Description

PrimeCarers connects experienced, self‑employed carers with families in Rochester and the wider Medway area who need short‑term and weekend respite cover. Respite work can range from a few hours in an afternoon to overnight or several days to give a family carer a rest. You’ll meet families directly, agree the hours you’re willing to do, and bring your skills to support someone at home.

This kind of work suits carers who want flexibility and control: many carers use respite shifts to top up income around family life, combine with other clients, or move away from agency rota constraints. You choose who you work for, the clients you accept, your service area and your hours. Carers on PrimeCarers are self‑employed and set their own rates — typical roles sit around £18.80–£20 per hour depending on needs and experience.

The role involves companionship, personal care, medication prompting where appropriate, meal support and ensuring the person is safe and comfortable while their usual carer has a break. You’ll also be asked to keep clear records and communicate with the family about any changes. We often see requests across Rochester for weekend stays and short blocks of cover, and families also look for reliable carers in nearby towns such as Chatham, Strood, Gillingham, Snodland, Rainham and Gravesend.

To join you’ll need at least one year of professional care experience, an Enhanced DBS check (PrimeCarers can help arrange one if needed), the right to work in the UK and verifiable references. PrimeCarers takes care of the contract, invoicing and payments, and provides insurance while you’re working through the platform — so you can focus on the care. PrimeCarers also supports simple, transparent agreements between you and the family.

Applying takes minutes. Create a profile, add your experience and availability and we’ll verify your documents. Profiles typically go live within days of verification, after which families in Rochester and across Medway can invite you to discuss respite work. You’re free to accept or decline any booking — there’s no obligation to take shifts you don’t want.

If you’re an experienced carer feeling ready for more control over your work, PrimeCarers can help you find short‑term and weekend respite opportunities around Rochester. Get started today and keep the flexibility you want while building relationships with local families.

What carers earn around Rochester

Carers on PrimeCarers are self-employed and set their own rates. Typical ranges are based on what carers in the area currently charge.

Hourly care

Based on 288 carers in the area

£18.80–£20 per hour

Overnight care

Based on 248 carers in the area

£17–£19 per hour

Live-in care

Based on 2001 carers in the area

£145–£160 per day

What you would take home in Rochester

You set your own rate on PrimeCarers, and the rate you advertise is what a client is charged for your time. Our commission comes out of that rate rather than being added to it. Put your week in and the figures below move with it.

A week

£400

25 hours a week, before tax

A month

£1,733

The same week across a calendar month, before tax

The arithmeticA weekA month

Charged for your time

£20 an hour x 25

£500

£2,166.67

PrimeCarers commission

20%, VAT included

- £100

- £433.33

You receive

£16 an hour

£400

£1,733.33

Visits shorter than six hours are charged at the hourly commission rate. The commission is taken out of the rate you advertise rather than added on top of it, and the VAT on it comes out of our share.

Tax is yours to sort out

Carers on PrimeCarers are self-employed, so Income Tax and National Insurance come out of the take-home figure above. Nothing is deducted for you and this page does not work out what you owe. Tax and money as a self-employed carer walks through registering with HMRC and what to put aside.

Rates from what 288 carers within 30km of Rochester on PrimeCarers charge for this kind of work, taken from the platform when this page was last built. 33 hourly and night placements within 30km of Rochester are open at the moment.

Register as a carer to set your own rate and apply for work around Rochester.

Register as a carer

Why carers choose PrimeCarers

Set your own rates

You’re self‑employed and choose what to charge; many carers work around £18.80–£20 per hour depending on the client and shift.

Flexible hours

Pick short‑term, weekend or overnight respite shifts that fit your life. Choose clients, hours and service area.

Meaningful local work

Support families in Rochester and nearby communities with practical care and companionship when a family carer needs a break.

Administration taken care of

PrimeCarers handles client matching, contracts, invoicing and payments, with insurance included while you work.

How it works

  1. 1

    Create your profile

    Sign up in minutes, add your experience, availability and references so families in Rochester can find you.

  2. 2

    Get verified

    Upload DBS and right‑to‑work documents. PrimeCarers can help arrange an Enhanced DBS if you need one.

  3. 3

    Choose work and start

    Families invite you to discuss respite cover. Accept the bookings you want and get paid through the platform.

Frequently asked questions

You need at least one year of professional care experience, an Enhanced DBS (we can help arrange this), the right to work in the UK and verifiable references. If you meet these, you can join and start being matched with families in Rochester and Medway.

Carers on PrimeCarers are self‑employed and set their own rates. You decide what to charge for respite work and negotiate directly with families. Typical roles sit around £18.80–£20 per hour, but you set the final rate.

PrimeCarers manages contracts, invoicing and payments between you and the family. Insurance is included while you work through the platform, so you won’t need to arrange additional cover for bookings made via PrimeCarers.

Applying takes minutes and profiles typically go live within days of verification. Once live, families across Rochester and nearby towns can invite you to discuss respite shifts.

No. You choose which clients and shifts to accept. Respite work is ideal if you want flexibility without committing to set rotas.

Ready to start earning on your own terms?

Join the carers already working with families around Rochester through PrimeCarers. Set your rate, choose your clients, and let us handle the admin.