Useful products and services for self-employed carers

Neither. PrimeCarers is an introductory platform: we help self-employed carers and private clients find each other and arrange care directly. We are not your employer and we are not a traditional care agency that supervises visits or directs your work. Carers on the platform are self-employed and stay responsible for their own tax, National Insurance, insurance and how they deliver care. We carry out checks such as ID, DBS and right-to-work verification when you join, but we do not set your rates or manage your day-to-day work. Because you are self-employed, the practical things on this page are yours to arrange, which is why we have gathered some options to compare.

No. As an introductory platform we are not a broker, adviser or reseller. The providers on this page are examples to show the kinds of options that exist — they are not recommendations, endorsements or approvals, and we are not paid to list them. There are many other providers available. Compare a few options, read each provider’s own terms, and decide what is suitable for your own circumstances.

There is no single law that forces every self-employed carer to hold insurance, but most carers who provide personal care choose to, and many clients and families expect it. Cover people commonly consider includes public liability (for claims if you accidentally injure someone or damage property), professional indemnity or “errors and omissions”, and personal accident cover. Because you are self-employed on PrimeCarers — not employed by us — any cover is arranged by you, and PrimeCarers is not your insurer or broker. Check exactly which care activities a policy covers, and read the wording before you rely on it.

Usually not. Statutory Sick Pay is paid by an employer, and as a self-employed carer you do not have one, so if illness or injury stops you working your income can stop too. People manage this in different ways — savings, income protection or accident-and-sickness insurance, or state support such as “New Style” Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit where eligible. Benefit and eligibility rules change, so check GOV.UK, and read any policy’s waiting (deferred) periods and exclusions carefully before buying.

Possibly. Self-employed people can generally deduct costs incurred “wholly and exclusively” for their work when calculating taxable profit — this can include items like PPE and business mileage (HMRC’s simplified mileage rate is currently 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles in a tax year, then 25p). Training that updates or maintains skills you already use is often allowable, whereas training to gain a brand-new skill can be treated differently. It depends on your circumstances and PrimeCarers cannot give tax advice — keep receipts and a mileage log, and check GOV.UK or speak to an accountant.

It depends on the care you provide and what clients expect. Commonly recognised areas include the Care Certificate, moving and handling, safeguarding adults, medication awareness, basic life support and first aid, infection prevention and control, and condition-specific training such as dementia or end-of-life care. Some tasks need practical, face-to-face or client-specific training rather than online learning alone, and you should only carry out tasks you are trained and competent to do. Keeping your certificates together and up to date also helps reassure private clients.

Only if you are properly licensed and insured for it. Ordinary “social, domestic and pleasure” car insurance often does not cover using your car for work, and driving clients can raise questions about business use and carrying passengers — so speak to your motor insurer before agreeing to it and make sure the use you describe is covered. Keep an accurate mileage record too. This is general information, not insurance advice.

No. The links on this page are included as general signposting only. PrimeCarers is not paid if you visit or buy from any provider listed here.

We can explain how the PrimeCarers platform works and how to present yourself well to private clients, but we cannot choose insurance, tax, accountancy, banking, legal or clinical products for you, and nothing on this page is financial, tax, legal, insurance, immigration or clinical advice. For those decisions, speak to the provider directly or to a suitably qualified, regulated adviser.