Can I Employ a Private Carer?

Yes, you can employ a private carer – directly, through an introductory service like PrimeCarers, or via a care agency. However, it is crucial to manage legal obligations regarding their employment status and annual payment.

Private Carers – The Definitive Guide (Updated for 2024)

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Introduction

We all want to ensure our loved ones are well cared for – especially those elderly, chronically ill, or with special needs. Sometimes, these individuals require special attention, which family circles cannot provide due to full-time commitments such as jobs or other responsibilities. In such cases, employing a private carer is often the most beneficial route.

Options to Employ a Private Carer

Direct Employment

The first option to employ a private carer is directly doing it. This means you will go through the recruitment process, interview potential carers, and decide who you want to employ.

The main advantage of direct employment is that you have the utmost control over the carer type you wish to hire, ranging from companionship to special needs carers. However, taking on the responsibility of being an employer, you would need to manage tax, sick pay, annual leave, and other similar matters.

Employing Through an Introductory Service

The second option is to employ a private carer through an introductory service such as PrimeCarers. These services act as a middleman to connect those who need carers with the carers themselves.

Using an introductory service brings several benefits:

• You get access to a pool of vetted, competent and well-trained carers.
• They manage all administrative tasks, such as payments and scheduling.
• Coworker disputes can be easily settled by their intermediation.

However, whilst tailored to your needs, the chosen carer might not always be your first choice.

Employing Through a Care Agency

The third option is employing a private carer through a traditional care agency. Here, the agency is the employer; they pay for the carer, pensions and holiday cover.

This option significantly reduces the administrative burden you would face by hiring a carer directly. However, it comes with a trade-off – agencies often have multiple clients per carer, leading to a potential lack of personalised, dedicated care.

Legal Requirements and Obligations

Regardless of the route you take to employ a private carer, legal obligations must be fulfilled. This may include:

• Employer liability insurance
• Health and safety assessments
• Working time directives
• Ensuring payment of at least the national minimum wage.

When employing a private carer directly or through an introductory service, these duties generally fall on your shoulders as the employer. On the other hand, a care agency would, however, undertake these duties on your behalf.

Conclusion

Every situation is different, and the route you choose to employ a private carer depends on your unique circumstances – it will likely be dictated by your availability, in-house competence in managing staff, and the specific care needs required. Each route has its own trade-offs, and using an introductory service like PrimeCarers often presents the best balance in terms of cost, control, and administrative work.