What Are Live-in Carers Entitled To?

Live-in carers in the UK are entitled to 14 hours of breaks each week, generally divided into 2 hours per day. They should have a room provided rent-free. In addition, a food allowance or a well-stocked kitchen should be provided.

What is Live-In Care? The Essential Guide For 2024

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Accommodation and Living Expenses

Live-in carers typically live rent-free in the homes of their clients. This is because they must be on-site and available day and night. They also have room to sleep and rest in between attending to their clients’ needs.

The carer’s meals are usually provided, although this can vary. Some carers may be expected to buy and prepare their own food with a provided allowance, while others may include meals as part of their accommodation.

Working Rights and Benefits

Although the nature of live-in care work could seem to blur the line between work and personal time, live-in carers must understand their rights and entitlements.

Carers are entitled to be paid for the work they put in. The pay of live-in carers can vary depending on factors such as experience, qualifications, and level of care needed, but they should at least receive the minimum wage. This includes time spent ‘on-call’ during the night.

As well as breaks, live-in carers are entitled to time off. They can also be reimbursed for travel expenses, especially if they must use their vehicle for tasks like shopping or transporting the client.

Duties and Boundaries

Live-in carers perform various duties, from personal care tasks to domestic work. However, this doesn’t mean they are on-call maids. While they may assist with household tasks, it should always be balanced with the care they provide.

Carers also have private lives and deserve respect for their boundaries. They should not be asked to perform duties outside their job description or comfort zone or work outside agreed hours without compensation.

Final Thoughts

Being a live-in carer is a rewarding yet demanding job. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand what you’re entitled to. As a live-in carer, your rights include a fair wage, reasonable working hours, regular breaks, and respect for your privacy and personal time. If you’re considering this career path or need to hire a carer, PrimeCarers can help. We match excellent private home carers with the individuals who need their services, ensuring that both parties understand and respect each other’s rights and needs. The combination of this understanding and respect with good communication can help ensure a beneficial relationship between carer and client.

For more information on live-in care, please check our other blog posts on PrimeCarers for wide-ranging advice about this form of care. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to help!