What independent hiring means
Independent hiring means finding a carer through a job board, word of mouth, or an introductory agency. The carer is either self-employed or employed directly by the family. There is no managed agency standing between the family and the carer.
DBS checks
It is the family’s responsibility to obtain an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on any carer they hire directly. An enhanced check covers convictions, cautions, and information held by police that may be relevant to working with vulnerable adults. It does not check competence, work history, or attitude — those are separate questions.
Employment law obligations
If the carer is genuinely employed (rather than self-employed), the family takes on employer responsibilities: PAYE, National Insurance, pension auto-enrolment, a written employment contract, holiday pay, and sick pay. These are legal obligations, not optional. Whether someone is genuinely self-employed depends on the actual working relationship, not what either party calls it.
The regulatory gap
CQC does not register or inspect independent carers. There is no inspection report to read and no rating to check. The family’s due diligence replaces CQC oversight. That due diligence should include references from previous care roles, a current enhanced DBS, evidence of relevant training or qualifications, and a trial period before a permanent arrangement.
What happens when something goes wrong
Without an agency, the family handles complaints and disputes directly. Employer liability insurance is essential — it protects the family if the carer is injured at work. Specialist policies for families employing carers are available from a small number of insurers; a general home insurance policy is unlikely to cover this.
When independent hiring makes sense
Independent hiring tends to work well when there is a strong personal recommendation, when the family has the time and capacity to manage employment responsibilities, and when continuity with a specific person matters more than agency cover. It tends to work less well when needs are unpredictable, when no one in the family has time to manage the arrangement, or when the care needs are complex enough to require trained backup.