Frequently Asked Questions

A live in carer provides personalised support in a person's own home. This may include companionship, personal care, bathing, dressing, toileting, meal preparation, medication support, mobility assistance, light housekeeping, transport to appointments, social activities and support with daily routines.

Live in care does not usually include heavy cleaning, major gardening, property maintenance, clinical nursing procedures requiring a registered nurse, or continuous day and night support without additional arrangements.

Yes. A live in carer must have their own private bedroom where they can sleep, rest and have personal time during breaks and overnight periods.

Live in care is not continuous active work for 24 hours a day. Grace & Goodwill's standard is that live in carers should generally provide no more than 8-10 active hours of support within a 24 hour period. If care needs regularly exceed this, the care package may need to be reassessed and additional support may be recommended.

Grace & Goodwill's standard is that live in carers should receive a minimum of 2 hours uninterrupted break each day. During this time, the carer should be free from duties and may leave the property if they wish.

Occasional night time support can usually be accommodated within a standard live in care arrangement. However, if a carer is regularly required to provide support more than 2 times during the night, Grace & Goodwill considers this outside a standard live in care arrangement and additional night support charges may apply.

If a person regularly needs support more than 2 times during the night, Grace & Goodwill may recommend reassessing the care package and introducing additional support, such as a waking night carer, overnight cover or another suitable arrangement. This helps protect both the person receiving care and the wellbeing of the carer.

Yes. Many couples choose live in care so they can remain together in their own home while receiving personalised support. Care requirements will be assessed individually to determine whether one live in carer is suitable or whether additional support is required.

Emergency care can often be arranged from the same day, depending on the time the request is received. In most emergency situations, we aim to provide support within 48 hours of an emergency request being submitted through the website or by telephone.

Some live in carers can drive, subject to licence checks, insurance arrangements and the requirements of the placement. Driving needs should be discussed during the matching process.

Families should provide reasonable access to meals and refreshments during the placement. Where meals are not provided directly, Grace & Goodwill recommends a food allowance of approximately £50 per week.

If your chosen carer becomes unwell, Grace & Goodwill can provide rapid replacement introductions, sourcing a suitable alternative carer from our network to ensure your support continues smoothly.