Employing a carer

polgara

Very odd situation for me to be in as a HR person but my Mum has just made the decision (a hasty decision in my view) to get rid of the care agency that supports her and wants to employ one of the carers that she gets on with and who she feels supports her more effectively.  I deal with her financial matters but don't have power of attorney or anything like that - I just pay the bills.  On questioning my Mum on stuff like holiday pay, insurance, tax etc she was 'I'll just pay her £xxx for so much a day (7 days a week!).  I've already put a stop on the 7 day a week working and have drawn up a very basis contract of employment but have no idea about NI/Tax implications for how to pay her....I've got a gut feeling the carer/Mum want to do it via cash in hand etc but I'm just as aware that those arrangements can all lead to problems in the long run - any advice (apart from screaming at Mum, which I've already done  )

74jax

I'd ask the carer to go self employed and invoice your Mam, that way you also have a money trail of where it is going.

Dox

What level of payment are we talking about?

Helpful: https://www.which.co.uk/later-life-care/home-care/organising-home-care/how-to-employ-private-carers-aszsg4j2q80m

JGB1955

How is she going to cope with holiday and sickness cover?  How are you going to get DBS and other employment checks?  My father had live-in care, provided by an agency.  One of his carers suggested that he should be employed on a personal basis.  I lived 150 miles away and had no desire to become an employer with all the legislation that might involve.  3 months down the line, the carer (still employed by the agency) had a bit of a 'disagreement' about my father's care plan and just walked.....  The agency found a replacement 'on the rota' within hours.  What happens if your carer ups and walks?

polgara

JGB1955 said:

How is she going to cope with holiday and sickness cover?  How are you going to get DBS and other employment checks?  My father had live-in care, provided by an agency.  One of his carers suggested that he should be employed on a personal basis.  I lived 150 miles away and had no desire to become an employer with all the legislation that might involve.  3 months down the line, the carer (still employed by the agency) had a bit of a 'disagreement' about my father's care plan and just walked.....  The agency found a replacement 'on the rota' within hours.  What happens if your carer ups and walks?

I agree with all of this but unfortunately she has capacity and won’t listen to reason. I live 60 miles away and work full time in the NHS so I could really do without this.

The pay will be £100 a week.

polgara

Dox said:

What level of payment are we talking about?

Helpful: https://www.which.co.uk/later-life-care/home-care/organising-home-care/how-to-employ-private-carers-aszsg4j2q80m

£100 a week

sazaccount

polgara said:

Dox said:

What level of payment are we talking about?

Helpful: https://www.which.co.uk/later-life-care/home-care/organising-home-care/how-to-employ-private-carers-aszsg4j2q80m

£100 a week

So they will only be working for a maximum of 11 hours a week? 

polgara

Yea - anywhere between 7-10 hours a week. They’ve agreed on £10/an hour as the going rate but Mum hasn’t thought about holiday pay etc

AskAsk

self employed would be the easier route.  ask the carer to bill your mum and she pays her.  the money can be paid in cash if the carer wants to be paid that way.

greyteam1959

If the carer works for an agency be very very careful.
Get a copy of the care agencies terms & conditions & read it carefully.
There is normally a clause that states if the carer starts to work privately for somebody they have worked for through the agency then a fee has to be paid.
My parents care agency require a fee of £4000.
Not just as simple as your Mum thinks.

74jax

I'm guessing the carer will only be working for your mam? Do they only work for your mam via the care agency at the moment? 
How much does your mam pay the agency and how much does the carer get? Is £10 an hour worth it for the carer to leave a company who will cover all insurances etc? 
What happens if something happens to mam due to a fault of the carer, or the carer has an accident on your property, or is ill, or on holiday. Ask things your mam needs to consider.
If it's over 7 days. It's only an hour a day, I would push the carer to go self employed so they can also work for other people.
If your mam goes through social services in the future for attendance allowance these payments will be declared.