We believe it is essential that you feel as comfortable as possible with bringing a carer or personal assistant into your home. Interviewing a carer before hiring them is a good way to check that someone is the right person for you. Before interviewing a potential carer, it is a good idea to prepare your questions to make sure you ask everything you want to and gather all the information you need to make a decision. Having read the carer’s profile, you will be aware of their experience, hobbies/interests, and their personal statement, but an interview will allow you to delve deeper and find out more about a carer, their experience and personality.
Interviews can be very nerve-wracking for some people, so try to make the carer feel at ease. Avoid asking yes/no questions, try asking something in a way that allows them to give a more detailed answer - how, what, when why and where are good words with which to start your questions For example, instead of asking ‘Do you have experience with dementia care?’, you can ask ‘What was your experience of caring for someone with dementia like? How did it go?’ Try to discover whether the carer properly understands what matters to you the most. Make sure that the carer will be able to meet you or your loved one’s care requirements. You can always ask for a carer’s references if you think it will help you in an interview, or when making a decision.
We will help you find a replacement carer within 24 hours. Once a replacement carer has been found, a new agreement will be signed between you and the new carer. Your main carer will have to amend their invoice to ensure you do not get charged/pay twice.
This model works best when one carer can manage your loved one’s care needs. An introductory service provides better quality of life as it allows someone to stay in the comfort of their familiar environment, surrounded by your family/friends and neighbours. Having your own carer at your home makes it easier for you to see your family members and friends especially during difficult times such as those we all experienced during the pandemic.
Our introductory service helps you find the best carer and gives you full control, affordability, and flexibility. Free phone consultation to discuss care needs Daily support and advice from our care staff Search for and view approved carers online We help you find, shortlist and choose your carers Create and manage your care together with your chosen carer Review your bookings Stay informed with your care journal We provide and support you all the way, enabling you to manage this relationship. You can be assured that your carer has been thoroughly vetted, is well paid, and is motivated to provide the best care to you or your loved one. Copy of DBS checks and training certificates can be provided to you on request.
Our introductory model of care has provided hours of care to UK families since 2017. Smile Care Agency introduced this model to give families choice, transparency and control over their care and to help build a relationship with the carer directly, with an emphasis on continuity. The CQC does not regulate introductory models of care, but you can rest assured that we apply the same strict standards of carer selection and vetting. Smile Care Agency understands that the best place for our loved ones to live and enjoy their lives is in the environment they know best, as this feels more comfortable. We can help people stay in their homes. We created this platform to enable care service seekers to find the suitable carers who matches the needs of their loved ones.
Carers set their hourly rates according to their experience level, areas of expertise, and the recommendations they have built on their profiles. The minimum hourly rate chargeable on the Smile Care Agency platform is £15 per hour. Please be aware that carers are working on a self-employed basis and therefore have to cover their travel costs and other reasonable expenses. We are committed to ensuring that carers can earn a living wage via offering their services on Smile Care Agency. The cost of using our introductory care service is quite low, making it more cost effective than a traditional domiciliary agency or care home.
Access to a pool of skilled and experienced carers. Gelp with everyday tasks, social activities, or personal care You are at the center of your own care and support at all times 24/7 support from a dedicated and highly trained, fully vetted self-employed care professional Support from your chosen carer, who will become part of the family
We are approving carers across the UK on our platform daily – if you do not find any carers in your post code area, please share your care needs and suitable carers will apply directly to you. After creating a job advert, it will be sent out not only to our approved carer’s database, but also to thousands of carers who are in the process of getting approved. If they show interest in the job posted, unapproved carers can upload the relevant documents and book their interview to be approved and apply for the job.
Yes, the minimum shift length is one hour. We believe that short 15- or 30-minute visits do not give the carer enough time to properly care for the client. Our minimum shift length ensures a better standard of care and a more meaningful relationship between the carer and service user.
Choice: We believe that you are the right person to choose your own carer. With Smile Care Agency, you have complete control over who you hire as your carer, so you can choose the best person for you. Trust: We only allow carers onto the platform who have been vetted. You or your family get to choose and interview your own carer, check their qualifications, and speak to the carers' referees for extra security. Speed: If you share your care needs on our site, you can hire a carer within minutes. This is great for emergency care, or post-hospital care. Quality: Smile Care Agency carers have on average 5 years of experience working in the care industry. You can clearly see their qualifications and experience on their profile. This means that when choosing a carer, you know you are in safe hands. Cost: Smile Care Agency gives you real choice & control, gives you access to the best technology in the sector and allows clients to book consistent care from the same carer. Also, carers on the platform cost significantly less than those from a traditional agency. Support: Our technology takes care of all the admin associated with hiring a self-employed carer. This includes carer search, choose, service agreements and invoices, which can be easily approved by you. The Smile Care Agency app doesn’t store your payment details as all payments are completed via STRIPE system. If you ever have any questions or doubts, our client support team is here to answer your queries. Just Email: info@smilecareagency.com
We cover all the United Kingdom (Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland). We currently have carers in every postcode in the UK and hundreds of carers and personal assistants are signing up to the platform every month. Please search for carers to find the availability of carers in your area.
