Elder is an award-winning care marketplace connecting self-employed carers to families seeking care.

We’ve built the intuitive ElderHub app to help you find and apply for opportunities that match your availability and preferences, and communicate with clients. Our platform makes it easier to manage your work, book breaks, and get the right support when you need it.

Once you’ve passed our suitability screening you’ll be able to use the ElderHub to –

•  build your own carer profile – detailing your experience, background, and interests.
• record a short welcome video so potential clients can get to know you better.
• set your preferences, such as your desired location, and the environment you like to work in
• browse and apply for live-in care and visiting care opportunities straight from your phone
• chat to potential clients to understand if an opportunity is a good match
• use the ElderHub to access detailed care information from your clients, manage your work schedule, and communicate with Elder support teams.
  
  

Elder is a marketplace – connecting self-employed carers to families seeking care. We have three core functions – (1) help self-employed carers and families to find each other, (2) match with each other and (3) manage their ongoing relationship directly. We enable this through our unique technology, for carers this is the ElderHub, which is an all-in-one tool to give you complete choice and control over how and when you work.

Elder will never assign clients to you without consent, or tell you how to do your job. Unlike with an agency, the agreement for care sits between you and your client – meaning you’re free to work together and provide care in the way you both see fit.

Yes – all the carers on Elder’s platform are self-employed. We don’t offer employment opportunities to carers.

This means that you are responsible for your own taxes and National Insurance contributions. If you want to learn more about self-employment, you can find more information here.

You’ll find three different types of placements –

• Longterm/ongoing live-in care
• Short-term live-in care (lasting for a minimum of 3 days up to multiple weeks)
  
• Visiting care

If you agree to a live-in care opportunity on the Elder platform, you’ll be required to move into your client’s home to provide personal care, companionship, and help with daily activities. This may include –

• help with washing and toileting
• Mobility support
• Companionship
• Welfare checks
• Cooking and meal times
• Light housekeeping
• Food shopping
• Light gardening
• Pet care
  

For more information on tasks self-employed live-in carers won’t be expected to do, please read our Carer Standards here.

Self-employed live-in carers typically work up to 8-12 hours a day. If working an ongoing placement – i.e. one without an end date, self-employed carers book break periods (usually a week at a time) to rest and recharge.


For more information on what you can expect from a live-in care placement, take a look at our guide.

Our platform was built exclusively for self-employed carers to make finding clients and managing work easier than ever before. The ElderHub app can support you by – 

• connecting you to suitable opportunities across Great Britain, which you can apply for in seconds
• being your ‘shop window’, showcasing your experience and personality to families instantly via your comprehensive carer profile
• providing a simple interface for managing your schedule and booking breaks
• ensuring you’re paid on time, every time via our secure payment system
• making communication with clients and The Elder support team easier via the inbuilt Chat feature
• giving you access to an extensive knowledge and help centre

Yes, if you’re an experienced carer with clear, fluent English and have the relevant documentation to work in the UK, you’re free to apply to the Elder platform.

We ask that the self-employed carers have 6+ months of professional experience in adult or elderly care and must be happy to provide references.

We recommend all the self-employed carers on our platform obtain relevant insurance – having the right insurance in place can help protect you legally and financially from potential risks.

Carers on the Elder platform can purchase Carer and Personal Assistants Insurance from our partner Fish Insurance at the discounted rate of £59* per year (usually £89 per year). Click here to find out more.

Before gaining access to the ElderHub, you’ll need to submit an application and pass our suitability screening to ensure the platform is right for you. It involves meeting the following eligibility criteria

• The ability to pass an enhanced DBS check (England and Wales only)
• The ability to provide verifiable references from past professional experience as a carer
• Have the Right to work in the UK
• Have a valid form of photo I.D
• Have a good understanding of the English language (written and spoken)
  
  You can begin this process now by following this link.
  
  Once you’ve successfully completed this screening you’ll be sent an invite to download and log into the ElderHub app for the first time. The app is available for both Android and iOS mobile devices.
  
  

You can find our full list of policies and standards here.