Outstanding Carers Wanted in Northumberland, Tyneside & Cumbria
Are you a compassionate, capable person looking to provide outstanding care near you? Becoming a self-employed carer with Sparrow means having the freedom to provide high quality care while finally being fairly paid. With support from Anna, Tom and our network of Sparrow carers, you are independent but you never have to go it alone.
Freedom and Fair Pay
Set your own hours, choose your clients, and decide your rates. Sparrow carers typically earn £20-£25 per hour or more – often double what agencies pay.
All the Support You Need
Step-by-step guidance to get started, ongoing training, and connection to our local carer network. You’re self-employed but never alone.
Keep 100% of What You Earn
No fees, ever. Sparrow’s support is completely free for carers, including your DBS check, insurance, training, tax help, invoicing support and more.
We Help You Find Clients
Sparrow introduces you directly to people needing care and supports you to promote your business locally.
Could you provide high-quality independent care in Northumberland, Tyneside or Cumbria?
About Sparrow Self-Employed Carers
Sparrow is a family business founded by former nurse Anna and little brother Tom. As self-employed carers we saw how fantastic self-employed care could be—for us as carers, for the people we cared for, and their families too.
Working independently we had the freedom to provide the personalised and responsive care our clients really appreciated. Our clients saved money while we earned double our agency pay. It felt like a real win-win. But going it alone wasn’t always easy. Getting started as a self-employed carer felt pretty daunting. There were upfront costs, admin, tax returns, and the ever-present worry of finding clients. So we started Sparrow to help other carers overcome these problems.
Our aim is simple: to help caring, capable people get started and thrive in self-employed care so that they can provide outstanding care in their local communities. We do this by:
- Helping you get started as a carer and setting things up right from the start
- Linking you with other local carers for buddying, cover, advice, and friendly support
- Supporting with the business side of things, like bookkeeping and your tax return
- Helping you learn how to spread the word and find clients
Oh, and all of this support is completely free for carers. Our clients pay Sparrow a separate low 10% fee to cover all the services we provide.
Is Being a Self-Employed Carer Right for Me?
With Sparrow, you’re free to provide the highest standard of care, you’re finally fairly paid, and you get support from Anna, Tom and our network of local carers. But self-employment isn’t for everyone.
This comparison may help you decide if it’s right for you.
Self-employed care works well if you:
Are caring and capable – care experience helps but we value character more
Value freedom to choose your own clients and set your own schedule
Want to take responsibility for your own care business (with our full support)
Are looking for a long-term career providing exceptional care
Want to be part of a local carer network for peer support, cover, and collaboration
Are willing to promote your services with our support (and client introductions)
Want step-by-step guidance to get started
Sparrow may not be the best fit if you:
Need guaranteed hours and immediate income
Want someone else to manage all scheduling and admin
Don't want to be a member of a supportive network and carer community
Prefer guaranteed income over the freedom to build your own care business
Don't want any involvement in finding clients or running your own business
Are happy to work independently and don't value the support we offer
Only expect to carry out care work temporarily
Caring with Sparrow in numbers
£24/hr
typical carer earnings (double agency pay)
40+
Number of active Sparrow carers
£4000+
potential full-time monthly earnings
£0
No fees. Our services are free for carers
How Sparrow support self-employed carers
Here are four ways Sparrow helps you get started and thrive as a self-employed carer.
Step-by-Step Setup Course
Our introductory course covers everything you need to start caring independently – from CQC and HMRC requirements to DBS checks, insurance, training, and client agreements. Our clear guidance helps you avoid uncertainty and wasted time. With your setup costs covered we save you money too.
Ongoing business support
We support your business long-term with monthly bookkeeping and invoicing help, payment chasing, and weekly earnings updates. Through our accountant, we even handle your tax return – all at no cost to you. You focus on caring, we make the admin a cinch.
Join Our Carer Network
Connect with experienced independent carers through our network. Message other Sparrow carers for advice, share experiences, request cover when your clients need it, or team up to take on work that’s too much for one person alone. As a Sparrow you’re self-employed but never alone.
Help Finding Clients
We advertise and refer potential clients to our carers, so you can meet people looking for care and start when you’re both ready. We also give you marketing tools to spread the word and be found directly by clients. We’re here to help you grow your care business.
Ready to Find Out More About Becoming a Sparrow Carer?
1. Find Out if Sparrow Is Right for You
Click ‘Find out more’ and submit your details. You’ll be emailed a PDF to help you decide if self-employed care with Sparrow is right for you.
Complete the expression of interest form in the PDF and we’ll take it from there.
2. Check We’re a Good Match for each other
We’ll call to get to know each other and answer any questions you may have. If we’re both keen, we’ll arrange to meet in person for a cup of coffee in Hexham.
Trust and connection matter to us, so we want to meet you and make sure we’re a good match.
3. Start Your Journey with Sparrow
We’ll send you an onboarding form for ID, references, and our carer agreement. We’ll also gather information for your profile.
Once complete, you’ll join our online platform to access courses, connect with other carers, and receive client introductions.
Typical timeline: Most carers are fully fledged Sparrows, ready to provide outstanding local care within 4-6 weeks
Find out more about self-employed care with Sparrow
Sparrow Testimonials
“It’s worth your while”
The money’s good, and you’re in control of your own work. If you’ve got the experience but the business side puts you off, Sparrow sorts all that out for you.”
“The support from Sparrow made everything possible.”
“If you’re even vaguely considering a caring profession where you want the ability to provide a truly helpful service, not on a rush in/rush out basis; where you get to build really close working relationships; and you get paid well for your dedication – then join Sparrow!”
“Sparrow’s support gives me the confidence to work this way.”
“The support from Sparrow has given me the freedom to work the way I believe care should be done. I think being a Sparrow carer is a win-win situation. Better for the carer and better for the client, because they get continuity of care, not some random stranger who happens to have space on their roster.”
FAQs for Carers
Getting started with Sparrow:
Is Sparrow and self-employed care the right fit for me?
Self-employed care isn’t for everyone, and that’s absolutely fine. It works best if you’re:
- Based in the North East – we are currently looking for new carers in Northumberland, Tyneside, North Eastern Cumbria and Northern County Durham
- Self-motivated and organised – you’ll be running your own business and responsible for your clients
- Comfortable with some uncertainty – building a client base takes time, and there are no guarantees about finding work immediately
- Looking for something long-term – self-employment works best when you’re committed for years, not months
- Happy to be part of a community – Sparrow carers support each other and we expect you to engage with the network
- Looking for a minimum of 10-15 hours of care work with Sparrow
We provide extensive support to help you succeed, but you’ll need to be proactive too. If you prefer the security of regular employment or aren’t ready to take on business responsibilities, agency work might suit you better right now.
Still not sure? The best way to find out is to request our information pack, which will answer most of your questions. Once you’ve had a look at that, feel free to give us a call on 01434 444 888 to talk things through.
What makes an outstanding Sparrow carer?
At Sparrow we care more about who you are than what’s on your CV. Experience is valuable, but it’s no substitute for being genuinely motivated to provide the best care you can.
We look for three key qualities:
- Caring – You’re motivated by kindness and genuine care, not just self-interest. You go the extra mile for your clients and support fellow carers too.
- Communicative – You’re proactive, responsive and easy to get hold of. You keep in touch with clients, families and Sparrow, and you stay connected to our carer network.
- Capable – You’re self-reliant, take initiative and trust your judgement – but you also ask for support when you need it. Most of all, you do what you can to brighten someone’s day.
If this sounds like you, you’re probably in the right place.
Do I need formal care experience to work with Sparrow?
Not necessarily. Experience can be valuable – especially if you’ve worked as a carer or nurse – but it’s no substitute for being kind, reliable and genuinely motivated to provide exceptional care. We’ve met long-time professionals we wouldn’t trust to care for our own mum and dad, and people with no paid experience who clearly have everything it takes to be outstanding self-employed carers.
That said, we know some things can only be learned over time. Clients often really value carers with professional backgrounds. All else being equal, we prefer carers with experience – but it’s not a requirement.
If you’re brand new to care and haven’t supported anyone in your personal life either, we may encourage you to gain experience with an agency first or take a relevant hands-on qualification. But if you’re caring, competent and communicative, we’d love to hear from you – whatever your background.
Where do Sparrow operate?
Sparrow is based in Hexham, Northumberland, and we support self-employed carers working throughout Northumberland, North Eastern Cumbria, and Tyneside. We’re also looking to add carers in Northern County Durham soon.
We’re not currently able to support carers outside this area – unless you’re nearby and we really click! (In which case, we might be persuaded to stretch our geographic boundaries just a little.)
We don’t offer live-in care and we can’t offer sponsorships or help with relocations.
How much can I earn as a self-employed carer?
As a self-employed carer, you decide how much to charge – Sparrow doesn’t put any limits on your earnings. Most of our carers charge £22-25 per hour (often more for evenings and weekends).
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- A part-time carer working 15 hours a week at £25/hour earns £19,500 per year
- A full-time carer averaging 35 hours a week at £25/hour earns £45,500 per year
With £0 fees for carers and most of your costs covered, you keep 100% of what you earn. Finally, the chance to earn a really good wage as a carer!
Important: It takes time to build your client base, so earnings typically start lower and grow as you become established. We do everything we can to help you find clients, but there are no guarantees – especially in the early months.
How much do Sparrow charge carers?
Nothing. Sparrow never charges carers any fees.
You keep 100% of everything you earn. We cover the costs of your DBS check, update service, insurance, training, invoicing systems, accountancy support, carer community platform and more – all at no cost to you.
Instead, we charge your clients a separate 10% service fee. This means you get the full rate you agree with your clients, while they benefit from our support in helping them find outstanding carers, offering advice and signposting, and supporting them to find cover or additional care should they ever need it.
It’s a simple model: carers pay nothing, clients pay a small fee for the peace of mind and support we provide.
Support and how it works:
What support do Sparrow offer for carers?
We provide comprehensive support to help you get started and thrive as a self-employed carer:
Getting set up:
- Step-by-step support including HMRC and CQC requirements, setting rates and more
- DBS check & update service arranged and paid for, insurance covered
- Ready-made care agreements and other handy documents
- Help choosing the right bank account, software and other tools
Finding clients:
- Introductions to potential clients through our network, partnerships and advertising
- Marketing support including advice, personalised flyers, social media graphics and car magnets
- Help building your online presence and profile on our website
Ongoing support:
- Easy invoicing and payment tracking
- Ongoing accountancy support and your tax return sorted
- Award-winning online training courses
- Active carer community platform
- Support from Anna and Tom whenever you need it
Everything is completely free – no fees for carers, ever.
Do I need to be confident using technology to be a Sparrow carer?
We’ve made things as simple as we can, even if you’re not a tech whizz. That said, you will need a certain level of comfort with technology. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Either an Apple or Android smartphone (iOS 15+ or Android 9+). You’ll need this to access apps, including our carer community app, which we use to communicate with you about potential clients.
- The ability to respond quickly via app, email and text. We really value prompt, clear communication. If you can only check in occasionally or miss messages, it can make things tricky – sometimes even leading to lost clients for you or other carers.
It’s all pretty simple (even for some self-confessed technophobes we’ve worked with), but if downloading a few apps or staying in regular contact feels overwhelming, Sparrow might not be the right fit.
What if I'm already working as a self-employed carer?
That’s absolutely fine! You can bring your existing clients with you, and we won’t charge you or them a penny – as long as you’re also actively looking for new clients for at least 10 – 15 hours per week. Once you start working with Sparrow, when you take on any new clients they’ll simply pay our standard 10% fee.
One thing to keep in mind: we ask all our carers to use the systems we’ve set up for you. These tools are free and designed to make your life easier over time, but there will be some learning and adjustment upfront. If you’re happy with your current systems and don’t want to switch, we might not be the right fit for each other.
Can I be a self-employed carer without Sparrow?
Yes, absolutely. Many carers work independently without any introductory agency support, and if you’re self-reliant, highly experienced, or prefer finding your own path, that might be the best route for you.
Sparrow offers extensive support that saves carers time and money, but it’s not essential. We charge no fees to carers – you keep 100% of what you earn. However, your clients pay our 10% service fee, so if you don’t need our support and can save your clients that cost, going solo is definitely worth considering.
If you’re determined and confident about setting up independently, we’re glad you’ll be out there providing independent care. We need more self-employed carers like you! Feel free to give us a call if you’d like to talk it through.