Frequently Asked Questions

Private carers can look appealing on price, but we need to be honest with you - there are major risks involved.

The Hidden Risks of Private Carers

Private carers may seem cheaper, but the risks are serious, and families often don't realise until something goes wrong.

No qualifications required

Private carers don't need any formal training or qualifications. They are not CQC regulated. They could have little experience with medication management, dementia care, or medical emergencies. Your loved one's safety depends entirely on their goodwill and common sense... and well.. whatever they tell you they can do.

No background checks

There's no legal requirement for private carers to be background-checked. You have no way of knowing if they have a criminal history, safeguarding concerns, or even fraud convictions. DBS results can be tampered with, concealed, or just surface-level checked. You're inviting a stranger into your home with access to your vulnerable loved one and their belongings, and they could be concealing serious issues from you.

One person. One set of eyes. No backup.

When your private carer gets sick, wants a holiday, or simply decides to leave, you're left high and dry. There's no backup team. No cover. Your loved one's care stops. You're scrambling to find alternative arrangements with no notice. And if your carer can't adapt when your loved one needs more support - or refuses to work weekends or evenings - you're stuck.

Medication errors are dangerous and go undetected

This isn't just about popping a pill out of a box. Medication management requires constant training, knowledge, and oversight from multiple people. Private carers often make critical errors: wrong doses, missed doses, dangerous drug interactions, overdoses, and underdoses. And here's the real danger- without audits, management or supervisors, these errors can go on for months or years without anyone noticing. Your loved one could be slowly harmed without you realising.

No monitoring or oversight

Nobody's checking the quality of care. No supervision. No spot checks. No safeguarding protocols. If your loved one is being neglected, mistreated, or their medication is being mismanaged, you might not find out until it's too late.

No insurance or accountability

If something goes wrong - a fall, a medication error, theft, harm, there's no adequate insurance to cover it. Normal public liability doesn't cover a person putting the wrong drug in a person's body. No company to hold accountable. If your loved one is injured or harmed, you have limited recourse. You're on your own.

Blurred lines. No middle ground.

Without a manager or company in between, the relationship becomes complicated. Boundaries blur. When you need to address a problem, there's no formal process. When you need to make changes or escalate concerns, there's no structure. It becomes emotional. It becomes personal and messy.

Training is outdated or non-existent

Private carers rarely receive ongoing training. Their knowledge becomes outdated. They don't learn new best practices. They don't get updated on safeguarding, infection control, or how to handle medical emergencies. Your loved one receives care based on what someone learned years ago—or picked up informally.

Vulnerable to exploitation

Without proper employment contracts or oversight, private carers can take advantage. Asking for cash payments under the table. Demanding higher rates. Taking on too many clients and rushing visits. Your loved one becomes vulnerable to financial or emotional exploitation.

No specialist training

Dementia care, Parkinson's support, end-of-life care, PEG tube management, catheter care—these require specialist knowledge and training. Private carers rarely have this. They won't know how to handle behavioural changes, medical complications, or emotional crises. Your loved one's complex needs go unmet.

Gaps in care go completely unnoticed

If a private carer forgets to give medication, skips a visit, or makes an error, you might never know. There's no alarm system. No tracking. No accountability. Your loved one could be at serious risk without you realising. Please read more about these here. 

How we get started

First, our care navigator will visit you at home. They'll meet with you and usually a family member to understand your needs and build a comprehensive care plan that actually reflects your life.

During this visit, we'll talk through everything that matters:

Your Daily Life

• What support you need day-to-day

• Your routine, personal care and dressing

• Eating, drinking and nutrition

• Mobility and any physical support needed

• Sleep and rest

• Companionship, social interaction and activities that matter to you

Your Health

• Your medical history and any health conditions

• Current medications and how they're managed

• Any pain or discomfort

• Skin integrity and infection prevention

• Breathing and any respiratory concerns

• Mental health and cognition

• Spirituality, religion and culture—what's important to you

Safety & Environment

• Any hazards or safety concerns in your home

• Falls history and prevention

• Fire safety

• Equipment you might need

• Moving and handling requirements

• Emergency protocols and who to contact

Practical Matters

• What times work best for visits

• What you're usually able to do independently

• Financial arrangements and pricing

• Your service user guide and contract

• Lasting Power of Attorney details if relevant

• When you'd like care to start

Additional Assessments We'll also complete capacity assessments, risk assessments and any other evaluations needed to keep you safe and ensure your care is personalised.

This usually takes 1-2 hours. It's a proper conversation, not a tick-box exercise. Ask as many questions as you need—we want you to feel confident and informed before we start.

• Attendance allowance - https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance

• Disability living allowance/ PIP - https://www.gov.uk/dla-disability-living-allowance-benefit

• Pension credit - https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit

• Winter fuel payment - https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility

• Free bus pass - https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-elderly-person-bus-pass

• Free TV License- https://www.gov.uk/free-discount-tv-licence

• Council Tax Support - https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction/lancaster

• Free NHS dental treatment & prescriptions: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions/check-if-you-can-get-free-prescriptions/

• Travel costs to receive NHS treatment - https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/

We hold your place while you're away. When you need to pause care temporarily—whether it's a holiday, hospital stay, or family emergency—we charge a 50% retainer fee to keep your spot with us.

Here's why this matters: we keep your dedicated care team in place. Our carers still get paid during the quieter weeks. And when you're ready to come back—whether that's after a relaxing break or hospital discharge—your familiar team is waiting for you. No gaps. No scrambling to find new carers. No feeling stuck.

We've seen families go to hospital, lose their care company to someone else, and then feel trapped because they can't get back into their original provider's schedule. That's stressful enough without adding care chaos on top of it.

With MoralCare, your place is secure. Your team is ready. You can focus on getting better, knowing your support on standby.