Frequently asked questions – live in care roles

So long as you are eligible to work in the UK you can apply to work with us even if you live abroad.

To be eligible to work in the UK you must have either a British passport, settled or pre-settled status as part of the EU settlement scheme, or hold a current visa that allows you to work in the UK with no restrictions. If you apply to work with us and you do not have one of these documents, we regret that we will be unable to process your application. Please note that we cannot assist with any sponsorship or visa requests – including those that hold a skilled worker visa or if you are applying for a health and social care visa. 

For more information on what documentation is required for working in the UK please visit the UK government website.

You will need at least 6 months professional care experience. You might have professional experience as a support worker, or as a care assistant in a residential or domiciliary care setting.  Or you might already be an experienced live-in carer looking for a new way to maximise your earning potential.  However, if you have less than 6 months professional care experience, please do reach out to our team for a chat.

We’re often asked if there’s an age limit for our live-in care roles and some people are surprised when we say ‘no’. We have carers of all ages joining us, but the majority of our carers are aged 50+. That’s why we’re proud to be an age diverse employer with Rest Less. All of our team members share the same values and passion to provide the very best care. Due to working time regulations, you do need to be 18+ to work as a live-in carer.

A member of our recruitment team will be able to conduct your formal interview virtually through a video call.  This gives us a great opportunity to learn more about your skills, experience and values. For advice on how to prepare for your video interview, watch this video

You will receive the initial offer and contract of employment via email from your recruiter. Once you have read the documents you will need to sign them with an e-signature. All you need to do is click on the box at the end of the document and type in your name, click send and the document will be returned to us automatically.

All offers of employment are subject to us carrying out checks on your background and character. Before you can attend our training we will need to contact your two most recent employers for a reference. Your recruiter will ask you to complete a form giving the contact details of four people we can contact for your references. It is important that you complete this as soon as possible so that we have plenty of time to contact your references. Any delay in us hearing back from them will mean a delay in you starting work with us.

Criminal records checks

We will need to carry out an enhanced police check (DBS) in the UK. This is a requirement for anybody working with vulnerable adults. You will be given access to your compliance portal  where you can add copies of your ID documents which will enable us to apply for your DBS. Whilst we apply for this as soon as possible, please be aware that the processing time for this check can be anything from one week – one month, or on rare occasions it can be longer. If you are working in Scotland we will also need to complete a PVG check for you.

Overseas police checks 

If you have lived outside of the UK for twelve  months or more in the last five years you will need to apply for an overseas police clearance. You can either organise this yourself and bring a copy with you to training, or ask our compliance team to support you with obtaining your overseas police check. It is normally a case of going to your local police station and requesting the check in person, often they can complete it on the same day you apply.

• Passport / ID card
• Two proofs of address dated within the last three months
• Driving licence (if you have one)
• Overseas police clearance (if needed)
• Any nationally recognised UK training certificates
• Proof of National insurance (if you have one)

We will pay for your accommodation; a continental breakfast and you will receive £5 towards your lunch expenses. You just need to pay for your evening meal and cover any additional personal expenses. You will also need to pay for your travel to training, which will be reimbursed in accordance with our expenses policy.

You will need to book your own flights. You should aim to book flights at least four weeks in advance to keep costs to a minimum.

We are a national company and support our clients throughout England and Scotland. This could be in cities, towns or villages. At TGCG we look to match you with an ongoing client based on your skills and experience and the client’s needs, likes and dislikes, rather than purely on location. We know that companionship works both ways and that the experience is best for both of you when we get this right. Our aim is for you to work within a fifty mile radius of your UK base, but you may also be offered placements further away than this.  We do ask that you are flexible with travelling, but don’t worry, you can claim your UK travel expenses back.

We offer a variety of rota patterns and you can decide which pattern you would like to commit to. We believe in maintaining a healthy balance between live-in care and your personal life.  That’s why we have introduced a wider range of rota patterns to give our carers more control over the way they work.  Whether that’s working eight - twelve weeks with a lower needs client (working on average six - eight hours per day) or supporting our more complex clients over two - six weeks (working on average ten - twelve hours per day). Please note your daily rate will vary depending on the agreed number of daily hours you are working

We have also introduced the option of short part week rotas because we understand how important it is to find work that fits in around the rest of your life. Our part week rotas will allow you to deliver the highest standards of care, enabling older adults to stay in their own homes and at the same time achieve a healthy work/life balance for yourself. Working either five or four days, you will be providing tailored care and support to our clients in the comfort of their own homes.

Yes, we are a fully managed service which means that you have support from our experienced team of managers and care professionals 24/7. You are never left to cope alone at TGCG. We also pay directly into your UK bank account every month and manage all of your tax and national insurance contributions.

Yes, a care plan is written by your care manager during the assessment of each client, detailing medication, medical conditions and all assistance required for that person’s day-to-day care. And what’s more the plan is stored on an electronic portable device within each client’s home.

Yes, every live-in carer will have their own room while on assignment. Before accepting any live-in carer jobs, your room will be checked by one of our care team staff to make sure it's suitable and to ensure there is good WiFi.

Break times vary depending on the placement and the client’s daily routine. You will have a 2 hour break usually between the hours of 11am and 4pm. Either the client's family member or another carer will cover your breaks for you.

Risk assessments are carried out regularly by our care managers. We need to ensure that we can provide the best care possible, in the best interests of our clients. It’s important that our carers have all the information they need to provide high quality care, so if you feel a risk assessment is necessary, please speak with your care manager.

As a live in carer, it helps if you can drive as it means you can get out and about with your client, if their condition allows it. If the client still has a car we suggest that you are added to the family’s insurance policy. To drive, you’ll need a full UK driving licence.

Once you have completed the training the  office team will be working hard to make sure you are cleared for work. Normally you will return back home and we will let you know as soon as all of your checks are completed. 

Once your compliance checks are complete, our scheduling team will offer you your first placement.

We will work with you to change your flight and support any administration costs.

Our pay is calculated based on your skills and care experience. Rewarding you for your experience, rather than being based only on your clients' needs.  We do also have some client placements where you will receive an enhancement to your daily pay rate.