Private carers
Find a private carer you choose
See vetted, self-employed carers near you with their photos, rates and reviews. Meet the ones you like, then book them directly. We handle the checks, the contract, the insurance and the payments.
3,500+ vetted carers across the UK
Prefer to talk it through? Call 0203 369 3624
Wendy O.
5.0· 2 reviews
Liliana S.
5.0· 5 reviews
Real carers on PrimeCarers today
- vetted carers across the UK
- 3,500+
- typical rate, set by the carer
- £20/hr
- average rating from families
- 4.8/5
- to search, meet and interview
- Free
Three ways to get a private carer
Agency, do it yourself, or choose your own carer with the checks done
A private carer means one person, chosen by you, who comes to the home rather than a rota from an office. There are three ways to arrange that, and they differ a lot in who is in charge and where the money goes.
Through an agency
The agency employs the carers and sends whoever is on the rota. Simple to set up, but you rarely choose who comes, and a large share of the fee goes to the office.
£28–£35 an hour
Hire someone yourself
This is the cheapest option on paper. You find them, check them, write the contract, sort insurance and, if they are not self-employed, become an employer with payroll and pension duties.
£16–£18 an hour
A private carer through PrimeCarers
You choose from vetted, self-employed carers and meet them first. We do the checks, contract, insurance and payments, and the carer keeps most of what you pay.
£18–£25 an hour, typically £20
| Agency | Yourself | PrimeCarers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| You choose the carer | Rarely | ||
| Same carer every time | Depends on the rota | ||
| Enhanced DBS, ID and right to work checked for you | |||
| Contract and insurance sorted | |||
| You avoid becoming an employer | Only if they are self-employed | Carers are self-employed | |
| Help if the carer is ill or leaves | We will always try to find cover | ||
| Typical hourly cost | £28–£35 | £16–£18 | £18–£25 |
Where your money goes
Agencies charge more and pay carers less, because the office sits in between. With a private carer the money mostly reaches the person doing the caring, which is why good carers stay.
Carer takes home ~£12
Carer takes home ~£17
Thinking of switching? How to move from agency care to a private carer and private carers vs agency carers.
What a private carer does
Most of daily life, and a few things that need a nurse
Families ask us this more than anything else. Here is where the line usually falls, so you can plan the care around it.
What they do
Personal care
Washing, dressing, toileting and continence, done with patience and dignity.
Medication
Prompting and helping with prescribed medicines, including blister packs.
Meals and the house
Cooking, light housework, laundry, shopping and keeping the fridge stocked.
Getting out
Appointments, the shops, a walk, church, seeing friends. Carers can drive you.
Company
A chat, a game of cards, help with the phone. Often the part families value most.
Nights and live-in
Sleeping or waking nights, and full live-in care when visits are not enough.
Where the line is
Clinical tasks need training
Injections, catheters, PEG feeding and similar are for carers trained in them, or a nurse. Tell us what you need and we can help you look for a carer who has that training.
Moving and handling needs the right kit
Hoists and transfers are fine with the equipment and a carer trained to use it. Lifting someone by hand is not.
Money and decisions stay with the family
Carers do not hold cards, PINs or make decisions on someone’s behalf. Power of attorney stays where it belongs.
Heavy DIY and deep cleaning
A carer keeps the home tidy and safe. Gutters, decorating and end-of-tenancy cleans are a different job.
The full list, including the grey areas: what carers are not allowed to do.
The part people worry about
Who employs whom, and who is responsible for what
Hiring a person to come into a family home sounds like it should come with a stack of paperwork. Here is how the arrangement works.
You are not the employer
Carers on PrimeCarers are self-employed. No PAYE, no pension duties, no sick pay or holiday pay to arrange. You book the care you want and pay for the care you had.
Can I employ a private carer directly?The contract is already written
Every booking sits on our standard contract between you and the carer, with 48 hours’ notice to end hourly care and 7 days for live-in, so both sides know where they stand from day one.
The legal and financial side, explainedInsurance is included
Carers are covered while they work through us. You do not need to buy a separate policy or check theirs.
Private carer insurance guideCQC is not part of this
The CQC regulates care providers that employ staff. A self-employed carer you have chosen, introduced through a platform like ours, sits outside that. Our own checks are what stand in its place.
Do self-employed carers need CQC registration?What it costs
Carers set their own rates. Most sit at about
£20/hour
Every carer’s exact price is on their profile before you talk to them, so there is nothing to negotiate in the hallway. Rates vary with experience, location and what the care involves.
- The carer’s rate, which they set themselves
- Our fee, already inside the price you see
- Insurance while the carer works
- The contract, and secure payment after each visit
- Enhanced DBS, ID and right-to-work checks, kept current
- A named person at PrimeCarers you can call
How to find one
From first search to a carer at the door
Some families are talking to a carer the same day. Nobody is rushed; you go at the pace that feels right.
Search near you
Put in a postcode and see the carers who cover it: photos, experience, rates, reviews and when they are free.
Message the ones you like
Ask about experience with dementia, driving, pets, whatever matters. Or tell us what you need and we will shortlist for you.
Interview for free
It can be a call, a video chat or a visit to the house. There is no commitment until you have met them and you feel sure.
Book, and we handle the paperwork
The contract, the insurance and the payments all run through us. You can change the schedule at any time, and you only pay for care that happens.
Meet our carers
Real carers, ready to help
Every carer sets their own rate and writes their own profile. Here are a few of the 3,500+ on PrimeCarers.
Sabrina B.
View profile“In our house we often say “what would we do without Brina?” And if this recommendation seems overly enthusiastic then I assure you she’s worth every single word.”
Liliana S.
View profile“The quality of life that she's given my parents has been priceless. The peace of mind she's given my sisters and I, through a very difficult time, has been invaluable.”
Sandra M.
View profile“It made our difficult lives so much easier and in fact it gave a quality to my mum's life inspite of how advanced her condition was towards the end.”
Safety first
Someone coming into their home? We take that seriously.
Letting a carer into the home of someone you love takes trust. We've built every layer of protection so that trust is earned, not assumed.
Vetting that never stops
Enhanced DBS, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview before a carer appears, then continuous DBS monitoring for as long as they work. We check that a carer is caring; their skills and training are for you to check with them.
Insured and above board
Every visit is insured, contracted and paid securely online after care happens. There is no cash and no informal arrangement to manage.
A real person who knows you
Your own account manager and a UK support team who know you, your carer and your situation, not a call centre script.
Help when plans change
If your carer is unwell or away, our team will always do their best to find you vetted cover at short notice.
What clients say
Our Latest Carer Reviews
Margaret N
"Excellent - Lovely lady. My mother is so pleased with the work she does in helping her."
Read the full review
Julia S
"Julia is a highly skilled and companionate carer who is able to give so much of herself and adapt to any situation."
Read the full review
Andres Felipe C
"My son who he is caring for automatically welcomed Andres and can be heard laughing & having fun with Andres."
Read the full reviewQuestions families ask
Private carers, answered
A carer you hire directly rather than through a care agency: one person, chosen by you, who comes to the home on the days and times you agree. On PrimeCarers they are self-employed and vetted, and you book them through us so the contract, insurance and payment are handled. More on what a private carer is.
Search with a postcode and you will see carers who cover that area, with photos, experience, rates and reviews. Message the ones you like, interview them for free, and book when you are sure. If you would rather we did the shortlisting, call us on 0203 369 3624. How to find a private carer, step by step.
On PrimeCarers most carers charge between £18 and £25 an hour, typically about £20, with our fee included. Agencies usually charge £28–£35 an hour for the same visit. Overnight and live-in care are priced per night and per week. The full cost breakdown.
There is no law that says a self-employed carer must hold one, which is exactly why you should insist on it. Every carer on PrimeCarers has an Enhanced DBS check before they can appear in a search, and we monitor it continuously afterwards. DBS checks for private carers.
You can, but if the carer is not self-employed you take on payroll, pension, holiday and sick pay duties. Carers on PrimeCarers are self-employed, so you book care rather than employ a person, and none of that applies. Can I employ a private carer? and the legal and financial side.
Clinical tasks such as injections or catheter care unless they are trained for them, lifting someone without the right equipment and training, handling money or making decisions on someone’s behalf, and heavy DIY. Everything else in daily life is usually fine to agree between you. The full list.
Carers working through PrimeCarers are insured while they work, so you do not need to buy a policy or check theirs. If you hire someone outside a platform, ask for proof of public liability insurance before care starts. Private carer insurance, explained.
No. The CQC regulates organisations that employ care staff. A self-employed carer introduced through a platform sits outside CQC registration, which is why our own vetting matters: Enhanced DBS, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview before anyone appears, and continuous DBS monitoring after. CQC and self-employed carers.
For most families who want the same person each visit and a say in who that is, yes. An agency is simpler if you never want to be involved in choosing, and it will always send someone, even if it is not the person you know. Private carers vs agency carers.
You are not locked in. Under our contract, either side gives 48 hours’ notice to end hourly care, or 7 days for live-in once the first week has been worked, which protects you as much as the carer. Notice covers visits already agreed, not future work. Tell us if a match is not right and we will help you find someone else. Handling problems with a carer.
Guides
Everything we have written about private carers
Thirty-odd guides from families who have done this before, and the questions they wished they had asked sooner.
Other options
See who could be caring for them next week
Real private carers near you, with their rates and reviews. Pick the ones you like and talk to them for free.