No, there is no charge for either a carer or a client to join the AtHome portal.

There is a small percentage charge when a client books a carer, This helps us run our service.

The cost of care is often determined by the level of care required. It may vary depending on the carers location, skills and experience and length of time they are required. Hourly care rates can cost anywhere between £20-29 and live-in care can cost upwards of £850.

Our business model enables both client and client’s family to be firmly in control of organising and overseeing care. This allows us to keep overheads to a minimum and pass this saving on. For the use of our system, we charge a flat percentage fee of the carers pay rate (plus applicable taxes). The rate depends on the type of care you are looking for and ranges from 15% to 20 % (other care companies charge up to 60%) Our fee helps run our service included, but not limited to:

• System maintenance

• Software costs

• The cost of advertising your care requirements

• The cost of undertaking all the required checks for a carer

• Agreement templates for the client and carer as well as other useful documents

• Ongoing client support

The carers rate will be agreed upon before you engage them, and an invoice for the placement fee will be set before care starts. To give both the client and carer confidence that the role is secure we request the invoice is settled before care starts. The carer will then invoice their client for the care they have performed weekly, after-care provision.

Our carers set their own rates, so short notice assignments may incur a slightly higher fee, but it really depends on the nature of the care and the carer you choose.

We recommend paying the carer a fair wage to get the most motivated and engaged carers who will stay in the position and not look to move for a higher rate of pay. However, you can advertise a role at the rate you wish - we can help you to understand the industry standard expected rate for your role, depending on needs.

It is completely free to sign up to our service and look for a carer or companion. This is the first saving.

Additional savings can be found on care spend. On a weekly care spend of £900, an average saving would be approximately compared to domiciliary agencies, £100+ per week and vastly more compared to some care home settings. This means that you can share these savings with the carer, giving them a fairer wage, so they’re more likely to be a long-term placement giving you consistency and reliability. T

No, when a carer sets their prices they factor in the time they expect to spend unable to work or taking as holiday as they are self-employed.

Carers will charge for the equivalent of a second-class train ticket to and from a placement or a mileage rate of .45p a mile if they drive. They will also charge £40 weekly for food or the client can include the food for the carer in their usual food shop. The carer will invoice the client directly for additional expenses.

You can pay your carer directly however you wish by agreement with yoru carer.

Our service fee is paid with a direct debit or bank transfer.

Yes, we can arrange either a video call or a phone call after you view their profile and if you would like to proceed. Please note, that you agree to our terms of service.

Handover arrangements should be agreed directly between clients and carers. We would recommend that handovers take place where possible at 12 midday so carers can be paid a half day for both the day they commence an assignment and the day they finish an assignment. If a carer is traveling to their assignment, a client may wish to allow travel time - this is at the discretion of the client

Yes, we only allow self-employed carers and companions to register on the AtHome portal.

AtHome is classified as an ‘introductory agency’ we do not manage any aspect of an agreed assignment.

We provide all of the tools and agreements and forms you are likely to need to engage a carer via our client portal.

This means you can search, vet and engage new carers 24/7.

Along with your family and other care professionals, we recognise that you know what is best for your loved one. This is one of the reasons we are able to offer our service with such competitive fees.

No, we do not offer this service as onlien transactions are subject to fees, so to keep your costs as low as possible we ask you pay your carer direclty.

Our mission is to ensure carers receive fair pay and clients are satisfied and receive good care at a fair price.

We charge one of the lowest fees in the sector and offer real value for money.

For full transparency, clients pay their carers directly so they can be sure their carers are getting a fair wage for the work they do

We invoice our fees separately

Carers are required to provide a variety of information, including, a DBS check, right to right-to-work in the UK, ID such as a passport, among other certificates. They will be available for your perusal. Please ensure that you are happy you have chosen the right carer for your requirements.

Yes, we are able to register carer and companions in all areas of the United Kingdom

No, As we are an introductory agency, we are not permitted to train our carers, however, all carers go through a robust onboarding process and often have their own certifications to share with their clients

This will depend on your care needs and the agreement with the carer. For live in care, generally, carers will work a 10 hour working day, with a 2 hour break. For hourly care anything from 2 hours can be requested.

The terms and hours of work will be agreed between you and your carer before care commences. This will be noted in the contract you complete with the carer.

Yes we request all self employed carers have their own insurance or opt into insurance we can provide at their request.

See terms and conditions for full information, but in summary, for live in care you must give 7 days notice to cancel the contract. For hourly care, then you must give 48 hrs notice to cancel the contract. This applies to both carers and clients and varies for hourly care and live-in care and what you have agreed directly between the carer and client may differ.

For live-in care, carers can work on a variety of shift patterns. It varies from carer to carer and role to role. A Carer and a Client can agree the pattern that suits them both best.

All we ask is that our carers have a clean and prepared separate bedroom, suitable bathing and toilet facilities, clean bedding, and provision of ample food, any specific dietary requirments costs will be met by the carer. Most carers are happy to eat with the client and prepare and eat the same food and most carers are happy to share a bathroom, but if this will be a requirement, it should be advised to the carer.