Retire Your Agency Career.
Become a Private Carer.

PrimeCarers offers several advantages over working for a traditional care agency. As a carer, you can set your own rates and work with the clients of your choice, which often results in higher pay. Additionally, you have more control over your work schedule and can manage it to fit your lifestyle. PrimeCarers also provides support and resources to help you deliver quality care, making it an excellent option for those looking for greater flexibility and independence in their work.

As a private carer, it's important to understand that you could be held, at least partially, liable for any harm that occurs as a result of you not being there when you said you would. It is important to understand that you have a responsibility to your clients and there are consequences, both financially and legally, if you do not meet those responsibilities. This is not like being with an agency where you can simply phone it in when you don't feel like working that day. Therefore, it's crucial to have a valid and supported reason for your absence. If you are unable to attend your client, you should make every effort to do so. If you are still unable to attend, notify the responsible and capable person overseeing the care (usually the one who booked you, such as a daughter, son, mother, father, or neighbour) as soon as possible.

You should then make alternative arrangements to cover your absence and inform PrimeCarers so that we can find a carer to cover for you. We understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise, such as illness, and we are here to help you navigate through such situations. Just be sure to keep all parties informed, and we will do our best to provide support and assistance.

Yes, we insure you vicariously via our carer insurance provider. Please see the terms of service in the footer of the website for details.

Yes, you can work with multiple clients at the same time on PrimeCarers, depending on your availability and the requirements of each job. You can manage your schedule and duties through the platform to ensure that you are able to provide high-quality care to all of your clients.

No, PrimeCarers is not regulated by the CQC, as we are an introductory service that connects clients with qualified and experienced carers, care workers, and personal assistants. However, we comply with all regulations and standards set by other regulatory bodies such as the Care Inspectorate and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) in Northern Ireland to ensure the safety and quality of our services.

No, clients will not have access to your personal and contact information on PrimeCarers. All communication between clients and carers takes place through the platform's messaging system to protect the privacy of both parties.

To register as self-employed, you can visit the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) website and complete the registration process online. You will need to provide some basic information about yourself and your business, including your name, address, and National Insurance number. Once you are registered, HMRC will issue you with a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number, which you can use to prove your self-employed status. You can also find further information and guidance on the HMRC website.

Here are some useful links to help you get started:

HMRC website for registering as self-employed: https://www.gov.uk/log-in-file-self-assessment-tax-return/register-if-youre-self-employed
HMRC website for self-employed guidance: https://www.gov.uk/topic/business-tax/self-employed

No, it is not always necessary to be registered as self-employed before taking on work as an independent contractor. If you earn less than £1000 per year, you do not have to register at all. However, if you do earn more than this amount, you must register within three months to be compliant with tax laws and regulations. Registering as self-employed ensures that you are paying the correct amount of tax and National Insurance contributions on your income. At PrimeCarers, we recommend that you consult with a qualified tax advisor to ensure that you are meeting your legal obligations.

Yes, carers on PrimeCarers need to pay their taxes, including National Insurance contributions. As self-employed contractors, carers are responsible for their own tax and National Insurance contributions. For more information on how to register as self-employed and pay your taxes, you can visit the UK government's official website on self-employment: https://www.gov.uk/topic/business-tax/self-employed.

To learn more about the benefits of self-employment, you can visit the official website of the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE): https://www.ipse.co.uk/. And for further information on National Insurance and how it works, you can visit the UK government's official website on National Insurance: https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance.

For live-in care, the client is expected to either provide you with food within the household budget or give you a daily allowance of between £5 and £7.50 for food. However, it is recommended that you discuss this with your client beforehand.

For hourly and overnight care, you are responsible for providing your own food.

At PrimeCarers, we want to make sure that you are paid fairly for the important work that you do. Once you have completed a shift, we will automatically generate an invoice for the hours that you have worked, minus our commission. For live-in care, our commission is 12.5%, which means that if you charge the average day rate of £140.00, you will take home £122.50 per day.

We understand that getting paid on time is important to you, which is why we process payments automatically on a weekly basis. This means that you can expect to receive your payment within a week of completing a shift. If you have any questions or concerns about your payments, please don't hesitate to reach out to our support team. We are here to help you every step of the way.

At PrimeCarers, the pay rate for carers varies depending on the type of care and location. However, it's important to note that the actual rate is ultimately decided through a negotiation process between you and the client. This means that you have the opportunity to set your own rate based on your experience and qualifications, and the client can choose to accept or negotiate your proposed rate. Keep in mind that we provide guidance on appropriate rates based on industry standards to help facilitate this process. We want you to feel empowered to negotiate the fairest rate for your services, so that you and your client are happy in the long run.

To prove that you are self-employed, you can provide your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) number, which is assigned to you by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Your UTR is a unique 10-digit number that identifies you for tax purposes. You can find your UTR on any correspondence you have received from HMRC, or by logging in to your HMRC online account. You can also call HMRC to request your UTR. Once you have your UTR, you can share it with PrimeCarers and any clients you work with as proof of your self-employment status.

You can also provide evidence such as invoices, receipts, and bank statements that show you have received payment for your services as a self-employed worker. It's also a good idea to keep accurate records of your income and expenses, as well as any contracts or agreements you have with clients.

As a carer on PrimeCarers, you may be wondering if you can subcontract work to colleagues or friends. The answer is that it is possible, but only with the approval of the client. It's important to note that PrimeCarers prefers that you don't subcontract work, as it can affect the quality and consistency of care that clients receive.

If a client agrees to you subcontracting work, you must still book all visits through the PrimeCarers platform, and the subcontractor must also be registered with PrimeCarers. Additionally, you will need to pay the subcontractor directly from the payment you receive for the visit through the platform.

Remember that the priority should always be providing the best possible care to clients and ensuring that they are satisfied with the service they receive.

Yes, you can hire an accountant or tax professional to do your taxes for you. They can help you ensure that your tax return is filed correctly and on time, and may be able to identify deductions and credits that you may have missed. However, it's important to remember that you are ultimately responsible for ensuring that your taxes are filed correctly and on time.

If you have a complaint as a carer on PrimeCarers, you can contact their customer support team through the messaging system or by email. They will investigate your complaint and work with you to resolve the issue.

PrimeCarers covers all areas of the UK for job opportunities. You can search for jobs in your local area or in other regions depending on your availability and preferences.

Keeping track of your taxes and expenses is crucial when you're self-employed. One way to do this is to use accounting software such as QuickBooks or Xero. You can use these platforms to track your income and expenses, generate invoices, and even file your tax returns. You should also keep receipts for any business-related expenses, as these can be used to reduce your tax bill.

Yes, you can continue to do other work whilst working via PrimeCarers. As a carer, you have the flexibility to choose when and how often you work, allowing you to balance your work with other commitments.

If you would like to go off-platform with your client, you have the right to do so, so long as the client pay the off platforming fee. This fee covers the full cost of getting you the role and helping them to find you, and ensures that we can continue to provide our services to other clients.

Failure to comply with this requirement will result in large fines, on you and your client, which will be enforced through the courts. To prevent unauthorized off-platforming, we use a variety of legal methods, including:
- Test accounts that identify possible circumvention
- Paying clients to collect evidence about attempted circumvention
- Employing private investigators when we suspect circumvention
- Using an increasingly sophisticated set of online tracking and investigation tools

We take off-platforming very seriously and encourage you to contact our support team at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns. We are here to help you find the best possible care and ensure that your experience with PrimeCarers is a positive one.

To become a private or independent carer, anyone with enough experience and client management skills can start providing high-quality care to clients. It is important to have the ability to manage your own schedule, find clients, and handle administrative tasks such as invoicing and payments. You may also need to have relevant certifications or qualifications depending on the specific care services you offer.

We encourage all carers on our platform to seek out ongoing training and development opportunities to enhance their abilities and stay up-to-date with the latest best practices. You can find training courses and resources through various providers, such as local care organisations, online training platforms, or professional associations. Some courses may be free or subsidized, and others may require an investment, but we believe the benefits of improving your skills as a carer are well worth it.

If you are working as a self-employed carer, you are required by law to register with HMRC within 3 months of starting work. Failure to do so can result in penalties and fines.

No, clients cannot contact your references directly on PrimeCarers. However, PrimeCarers may contact your references during the vetting and approval process.

To do your taxes, you'll need to register as self-employed with HMRC and file a Self Assessment tax return each year. This involves declaring your income, expenses, and any tax owed. You can either do this yourself using HMRC's online Self Assessment service or hire an accountant or tax professional to help you.