Your visiting care questions answered
There is lots to consider when it comes to choosing an agency to work with. At Fitzrovia, we are always upfront and honest with our live-in carers and are happy to answer any questions you may have. Below we have collated many questions we are often asked by the live-in carers who are coming to work with us, and the answers we give.
Our How To Become A Carer Guide, also contains everything you would want to know about starting a career in care.
How do I register with Fitzrovia Homecare?
To be shortlisted for interview you will need to meet the following criteria in full:
- Proof of your eligibility to work in the UK
- Agreement to complete the relevant DBS/PVG checks
- A minimum of 3 months’ experience in a care setting
- 3 professional references, one must be from your current or previous employer
- Evidence of professional development including any training certificates
Self-employed visiting carer FAQs
Day visits
The pool of visiting carers we work with live in London and North Surrey. Therefore all the visiting care assignments will be in this area. Visiting care is typically for those with fewer, less complex, needs and will be arranged by clients as and when they need it. Our minimum assignment lengths are 1 hour and so you will need to have good availability. We are able to be flexible around your diary which is a benefit to working self-employed, however, the more consistent your availability, the steadier source of clients you will be matched with.
Waking night duty
Many of our elderly clients will need support during the night. We offer a service whereby a carer will be awake, in the client’s home, ready to support if need be. Your role would be to ensure that the client is sleeping, resting or at least safe, sound and secure.
Sleeper duty
We also offer sleeping duty shifts. These are where you will have a bed provided at the clients home and you will sleep through the shift. You are on call should you be needed to help the client.
Our recommended hourly rate for day visits is between £15-£31 depending on the length of the visit and day of the week.
You can also claim travel expenses directly to the client.
For the visits, we recommend you charge £4 per visit in London Zones 1-3 and full fares per visit in Zones 4-6. If you drive to a visit, we recommend charging 45p per mile for your outbound and return journey.
As the carer, it is your responsibility to invoice your client each week for any expenses. Travel allowance should always be agreed with the client ahead of the visits.
A carer from overseas will be expected to pay for their own flights or transportation to and from the UK.
Care work requires a specific type of person; someone who is kind and caring, but also diligent and professional. Below are some essential and desirable qualities we are looking for in carers who ant to work with us:
- You can be from overseas, but you must have the right to work in the UK
- At least least 3 months’ experience as a carer
- Up to date training certificates (or be willing to pay for training)
- Well-spoken, and fluent in written and spoken English
- Willing to work 2-12 weeks at a time
- Organised and a good communicator
- Honest, kind, respectful, gentle in nature, always prepared to go the extra mile for clients
- Able to support those living with dementia
- Happy working in isolation
- Physically fit and able to cope with demanding daily routines
- Good cooking skills
- Have a valid driving license
- Happy to work in a house with pets
You can work as a carer in the UK if you have:
- British citizenship or you have a certificate of registration or a naturalisation as a British Citizen (with a national insurance number)
- The Right of Abode in the UK or a UK Ancestry Visa. You are eligible for this if your grandparents, parents or spouse were born in the UK
- EU Pre-Settled or Settled status
- A UK Government Share Code, proving the right to work in the UK
- A Frontier Worker Permit
If none of these apply, then you cannot work as a self-employed carer in the UK unless you are sponsored by an individual who has registered as a sole trader and acquired a licence to sponsor Skilled Worker application. However, this very rarely occurs.
You must have at least 3 months’ professional care experience and up to date certificates in relevant care training.
No. We do not sponsor work visas.
Overseas carers who want to work with us must have the right to work in the UK.
Yes. However, you must present the following documentation:
- Proof of your right to work in the UK
- Relevant training certificates
- A DBS on the update service or one that can transferred
- Professional references
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