Self-Employed Carers

Carers registered with AtHome provide their services as independent, self-employed care professionals. They are not employed by AtHome, and AtHome does not direct or supervise how they provide care.

A self-employed carer oversees and directs the care they provide and is in total control of the care provision with the client. They agree the parameters of their work, including working arrangements and break times, and they confirm pay rates directly with the client.

GOV.UK says that someone who is self-employed will commonly:

• Agree/quote their own rates for work

• Work without direct supervision

• Submit invoices for work completed

• Be responsible for their own tax and National Insurance

• Not receive employee holiday or sick pay

• Work under a contract for services independently

• Have responsibility for running their own business

Further information:
https://www.gov.uk/employment-status/selfemployed-contractor

Do Self-Employed Carers Need to Register with CQC?

An individual care worker providing care directly to a person does not automatically need to register with CQC.

CQC explains that personal care can fall outside CQC registration where the individual receiving care, or an appropriate related third party acting for them, makes their own arrangement with an individual care worker and remains responsible for directing and controlling that care.

CQC also confirms that introductory agencies do not need to register for introducing care workers, provided the agency has no ongoing role in directing or controlling the personal care provided after the introduction.

AtHome operates as an introductory agency. We help clients understand their requirements, identify potentially suitable carers and make introductions. The client then chooses their carer and agrees the care arrangement directly with them.

This allows our clients to benefit from lower rates and a wide choice of care professionals specific to their needs and budgets

Our Role:

We support clients on an ongoing basis with the practical and administrative side of their care arrangements, while supporting them to remain in control of their care and their relationship with their chosen self-employed carers. This can include helping with additional introductions, providing information and documentation, supporting use of our platform, and helping resolve general administrative queries. AtHome does not direct, supervise or manage the care provided by the carer

Further information from CQC:
https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/registration/personal-care-ongoing-role-introductory-agencies-individual-care-workers

Self-employed carers do not need to be registered with CQC

Self-employed carers, (also referred to as Personal Assistants by CQC) who are directly employed by an individual, or related third party, and self-employed PAs with an agreement to work directly for an individual do not need to be CQC registered. To find out more here if you are unsure.