Some people, commonly those who need more support, choose to employ people to provide care services rather than simply paying by the hour or day. This page looks at some of the do's and don't around the employment route such as references, pay, tax and National Insurance, or using an agency to handle these matters for you.
Independent carers
Employing your own carer can be significantly cheaper than going through an agency. But you will need to think about references and background checks. Be sure to ask for at least two references, including one from someone they have cared for previously.
Home care agencies
Home care agencies are expensive but will take over the burdens of employing your own carer such as a payroll, complaints procedure and insurance. They can also:
- pre-screen potential employees
- provide an induction and ongoing training
- replace workers who are sick or on holiday.
Telephone a couple of agencies and ask for a brochure and price list to get an idea of the kind of care services they offer. Before signing a contract, make sure you understand exactly what is covered. Find out if there are any additional fees that apply to specific services or add-ons and what the procedures are for termination or requesting another provider.
A detailed job description can help home care agencies select a suitable carer for you (see Employing your own professional home carer).
How home care agencies are monitored
By law, home care agencies must meet certain standards of care that protect your safety and rights. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only register care services if they meet what they call ‘essential standards', and monitor them to make sure they continue to do so.
In practical terms, if you are getting care from a home care agency, you can expect:
- to be involved and told what's happening at every stage of your care
- treatment and support that meets your needs
- to be safe
- to be cared for by qualified staff
- your care provider to constantly check the quality of its services.
Read a summary of the standards you should expect by law:
Complaining about home care agencies
By law, every home-care agency must have an efficient procedure for dealing with complaints. This is assessed by the Care Quality Commission as part of their inspection process.
If you have a complaint about a home-care agency, the first thing you should do is tell the manager or another senior staff member. You might want to ask a friend or relative, a voluntary organisation like the Citizens Advice Bureau or a charity to help make your complaint.
If you're unsatisfied with the way the agency deals with your complaint, you can contact the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO). In most cases the LGO will only consider a complaint once the agency has been given the opportunity to deal with the situation. It's a free service and the LGO's job is to investigate complaints in a fair and independent way.
East Sussex County Council