Live in care is a diverse, highly rewarding and specialist role where qualified carers work one-on-one to provide personalised, compassionate care to individuals in their own home.
In contrast to visiting care, the professional lives in the individuals property, offering a comprehensive service with defined working hours, breaks, shift patterns and private sleeping quarters to accommodate the needs of both the carer and the service user.
Guardian Angel Carers, a nationwide provider of person-first UK home care, explains how live in care works, what pay rates are realistic in 2023, and how live in care differs from other general care services and can profoundly improve the quality of life and experiences of individuals wishing to remain independent and supported in the comfort of their own residence.
Average UK Pay Rates for Live In Carers
Experienced care coordinators take great care to match live in carers with their clients, and much depends on the care needs of the individual, and the specifics within their care plan, which can impact the skills, knowledge and expertise of the allocated carer.
Across the UK, the average salary for a live in carer is roughly £100 to £140 per day as a gross value. Still, it can be difficult to pinpoint the wages a carer should expect since rates will depend on several factors, such as:
- The necessary experience of the assigned carer.
- Types of care required, such as domiciliary, personal or nursing care.
- Additional needs, such as fluency in a specific language.
- The employer – whether public or private sector.
Because of the time demands and irregular working hours associated with live in care, many applicants tend to be those without childcare responsibilities who can commit to supporting people in their community on a long-term basis.
However, well-structured live in care can provide a positive work/life balance, with scheduled days off or periodic working patterns such as a set number of days working and sleeping overnight care, followed by several days off while another carer takes over responsibility.
Private vs Public Sector Live In Care Roles
Carers who are thinking about applying for a live in care role naturally want to compare their options in terms of pay, job security, working hours and support, and may need to choose between working in a residential care home, as a private live in carer, or within a public sector workforce.
Pay rates vary considerably depending on placements, but private live in care regularly working with one individual or family tends to be the most secure and well-paid placement, where care clients wish to benefit from the continuity of having a known, trusted person looking after their needs or those of a loved one.
As a rough comparison:
- Full-time live-in or overnight roles tend to pay an average of up to £675 per week.
- The average pay for night care assistants in care homes is £21,450 a year, or £412.50 per week.
- High-quality private care providers such as Guardian Angel Carers offer rates of £800 to £1,150 per week.
A supported and well-paid position is beneficial both to the care recipient and the carer, ensuring excellent standards, equipment, training, knowledge, and guidance from senior carers as required.
Guardian Angel Carers also provides extensive benefits in addition to competitive daily and weekly rates to acknowledge the time commitment and value live in carers offer their local communities.
Examples include free uniforms and PPE, Blue Light Discount cards, generous paid holiday entitlements, CPD and paid training, bonus and milestone schemes, and complimentary breakdown cover to ensure every live in carer has ongoing support, both inside and outside of their working hours.
Structuring Long-Term Live In Care Arrangements
While the average salary linked with live in care roles varies, it is also important to evaluate the shift patterns offered and how time off and breaks work when combined with a position that comprises care in the home.
Typical live in care shifts might cover 10 to 13 hours, seven days per week, balanced against a number of pre-agreed days off, with breaks built into each shift.
Additionally, live in carers should have private sleeping arrangements, normally a separate bedroom, ensuring they can switch off, relax, and have personal time without expecting to be in a waking care role 24/7.
Live in carers provide much more than practical assistance or medication reminders, and the focus of the role is to ensure the client is supported, healthy and well, so alongside household chores, a live in carer might:
- Help with mobility or rehabilitation exercises.
- Take their client to social activities, events and appointments.
- Assist with personal care such as bathing, dressing and hair styling.
- Provide friendship and emotional support.
Simple tasks such as preparing favourite meals for a comforting, home-cooked dinner, sitting down to watch a TV series, or ensuring an individual can keep their beloved pets by helping with walks, feeding, and grooming can make a significant difference to quality of life.
What Are the Benefits of Working as a Live In Carer?
As we have seen, average salaries, working hours and benefits differ between employers, but any carer thinking about live in care will find this position a truly personalised, one-to-one service that offers a superb amount of reassurance, comfort and peace of mind to the client and their loved ones.
Moving into residential care is often a challenging decision, and the option of remaining at home surrounded by memories, family, pets, photographs and possessions cannot be overestimated in impacting the experiences of care users, particularly those in later life.
Live in carers do not work around the clock but take away worry, stress and pressure from family carers and provide routine, familiarity and consistency, helping clients follow their schedules and keep their homes safe, clean and well-organised while ensuring their personal needs are well cared for.
Private home care agencies can often consider live in care applicants without pre-existing experience but with the nature, compassion, skills and kindness so important to supporting clients in their own homes. More highly skilled live in care posts with an element of nursing care may be better suited to experienced carers with formal qualifications or certifications.
A full list of current live in care posts, pay rates and job specifications available through the network of Guardian Angel Carers branches is available through the group's Care Recruitment Portal.
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Source Company – https://www.gacarers.co.uk/
