Live-in care is when the carer lives in the home with the person they are caring for and provide care whenever is required. This is what makes it the most comprehensive care. Live-in care gives our clients the advantage of full-time care and companionship within their home 24 hours a day. Live-in carers will work with the clients and their families if necessary to support them in their daily routines. Private live-in care, as any care enables people to stay in their home for as long as possible. As live-in care is the most comprehensive care option, many of our clients build up to it and live in care tends to be the step before going to a care residence.
On average, live-in carer pay rates are between £100 and £140 gross per day. This can vary depending on a variety of factor such as experience, the type of care required and if any specific additional languages are required. The salary range is provided as gross pay, this is because as a live-in carer, you may decide that you would prefer to be considered self-employed and therefore will be responsible for paying your tax and National Insurance contributions.
However, if you do not want to be responsible for your own tax and National Insurance contributions, then you can be considered employed by the client. This would mean that they are responsible for paying your National Insurance and tax contribution, but they would be paying you a net salary which would most likely be less than that stated earlier.
If you are working as a live-in carer and you are working for a client that requires more specialised care due to a disability or an illness that is progressively getting worse, you are able to request a higher salary. This is because typically you will be required to have more hands-on experience as a carer as well as experience with the issue that requires speciality care. Especially as a private live-in carer operating within the clients home, it is essential that you have the experience and expertise to properly care for your client.
On average, a live-in carer working with a client with specialist care needs is able to ask for up to £160 gross per day, however, it is not unheard of for live-in carers to be paid more than that. Again it depends on the experience and qualifications of the carer as well as the type of care that is required.
The minimum wage of a live-in carer is inline with the National minimum wage or London minimum wage if you are based in London. Minimum wage is only applicable if you are aged between 21 and 25 years old, otherwise, you will qualify for the National living wage which is slightly higher than the minimum wage. Living and minimum wage typically increase each year, but as it stands the minimum wage for the UK is currently £7.70 per hour and the living wage for the UK is currently £8.21 per hour, in London, the living wage is again slightly higher at £10.55 per hour.
It is not recommended if you are starting out your caring career and wanting to get into live-in care with no previous experience. This is not to say that you will not be able to get into live-in care eventually but you will need to build up your experience beforehand. There are a few different ways that you can build up your experience as a carer when you are first starting out. One of which is volunteering at a charity that specialises in adult and elderly care. This will expose you to a range of different situations and conditions that you will be dealing with as a full-time carer but with the support of staff around who are more experienced and can show you the best ways in which you can assist. Other ways you can build up your experience is by registering with a domiciliary care agency and taking courses that will provide you with an in-depth knowledge of different conditions and debilitating illnesses.
Live-in carers are able to assist with a wide range of duties but mostly focus on maintaining the health and wellbeing of their clients. So while they will help with household chores their main duties will include things like medication management, assisting with physiotherapy exercises, taking the client to appointments and liaising with doctors, mobility support, grooming and personal care. Live-in carers are also a source of emotional support and friendship, it can be frustrating and very emotional for the client to accept that they now are in the position they need care. Being a source of comfort and a friend to lean on when they are having a bad day is an essential part of being a carer.
Live-in care provides personalised, one on one care that is flexible to the client’s everyday requirements. Live-in care ensures people are able to remain within their home, their community and maintain their schedule for as long as they wish. As a live-in carer, you are an integral part of ensuring that they are able to live their golden years in the way they wish.
As a live-in carer, you will be responsible to assist with almost everything such as:
While being a carer is an incredibly demanding, emotional and draining profession, it is also one of the most rewarding. Knowing that you are looking after someone so that they are able to stay in their home, within their community and surrounded by cherished positions and photographs that hold precious memories.
With your care and knowledge, you will be able to help guide your clients through adjustments within themselves that would be difficult to manage on their own. Whether they are dealing with the loss of a spouse, a decline in general health or navigating a recent diagnosis with more serious health issues.
Knowing they have had such a profound impact on their client’s lives is one of the main motivators with many of the carers that we work with. Not only are you helping the client, but you are also helping the family. A live-in carer takes the pressure off family members to try and assist and support in situations that they do not feel comfortable in, for example, if their loved one has Alzheimer’s or Parkinsons and requires more complex care than they can provide. Relationships can become strained, but with a live-in carer, they are able to maintain happy and healthy relationships with their loved ones.
Knowing where to start your live-in care job search can be overwhelming. This is where consulting an experienced live-in care agency is a good starting point to go from. With an agency, you have access to expert, experienced advice. Agencies also take the hassle of finding and applying to jobs directly, our consultants will work with you and present you with jobs that match the requirements that you have explained to them. Our consultants take the time to get to know you, understand your caring style, what salary you’re looking for and in what areas you are looking to work.
Our consultants are also on hand to help and answer any questions you might have along the way, using a live-in care agency in London like Guardian Carers means you have a direct line to the experts. Not only do you have a direct line during the search, but our consultants are constantly on hand to help with any follow-up queries or concerns you might have once your search has been completed.
Our years of experience within the care industry means we know what is required for carers and clients to be a perfect match, we are looking to help you find a client that you can have a harmonious relationship with.
We pride ourselves on providing a premium level of service to our candidates because we know they will be providing our clients with a premium care service.
Here at Guardian Carers, we pride ourselves on being able to delicately align a premium, luxury service for an aspect of your life that is so personal.
So much so that 95% of the carers we work with result in a happy, long term placement. Using an agency that specialises live-in care like Guardian Carers means you can be sure you will receive support from every side, we will take the stress that comes with trying to find a job and present you with options that perfectly align with what you are looking for. We work with you to find solutions, whatever your needs. To make perfect and seamless placements is Guardian Carers ethos. With Guardian Carers it is your care, your home, your way.
Give us a call. We are ready to help. We believe we can find your perfect carer.