1. Fill in the short form on this website. We’ll be in touch to discuss how we can help.

2. We’ll match you with one or more of our independent carers and they will be in touch to arrange to meet you.

3. We’ll collect feedback from you and your carer after your meeting. If you’re both happy to go ahead then congratulations, you have found your carer.

4. Sparrow don’t manage the care relationship directly so you will make arrangements with your carer from this point onwards.

5. We will stay in touch with you though and we're here to support and provide guidance whenever you need it. And if your care needs ever change or you want us to introduce you to another carer we can always help you with that as well.

Sparrow carers are all self-employed so they set their own fees. Many carers charge in the region of £20-£25 per hour. Sparrow add a 10% fee meaning that the total cost of care is likely to be in the region of £22-£27.50 an hour. This compares very favourably to typical care agency prices for personalised care.

It’s also important to know that by using Sparrow your carer will be paid significantly more than a typical care agency carer, even as you pay less. Sparrow's 10% fee is a fraction of the 50%+ that care agencies typically charge.

This enables Sparrow to attract high quality carers that are well motivated to provide the highest standard of care they are capable of and leads to exceptional care.

There are no upfront fees to join Sparrow and access our support and services. You will enter into a direct relationship with the self-employed carer(s) that we introduce you to. We will invoice you monthly on their behalf and they will receive 100% of the amount they charge you. Sparrow will set up a direct debit with you for up to 10% of the care you received.

The total you pay including our fee is usually far cheaper than agency care for exceptional levels of personalised care. It’s win win!

No, Sparrow is not a care agency. Sparrow operate as an introductory service, connecting independent, self-employed carers directly with individuals seeking care. The emphasis is on fostering personalised care relationships. We also provide ongoing support services to caregivers, but we do not manage your care on an ongoing basis.

Sparrow's ongoing services to your carer make it possible for them to focus on your care. This includes advice and guidance, DBS checks, insurance, training, accountancy services and more.

We're also here to support you directly when ever you like . Although we can't manage the care you receive, we can always offer general advice and guidance. We can also help you find another carer should you be unable to find cover or if your circumstances change. Feel free to get in touch any time.

Independent carers are a great fit for most people looking for at home care. However, there are times when alternative arrangements might be more suitable for you or your loved ones. Here is some information to help you understand if Sparrow is right for your circumstances.

• It's essential to understand that Sparrow do not manage your care. Your care is managed directly between you and your carer. Sparrow are what the Care Quality Commission (CQC) term an introductory agency. As such we cannot guarantee or oversee care.

• Since an independent carer is an individual rather than an organisation, it may be more difficult for them to arrange cover in the case of illness or holidays.

• While Sparrow carers are all self employed and work independently, they often co-operate to cover absences for each other or provide more hours of care than would be possible for one individual. That's great news and a real perk of using a Sparrow carer, but care will still not be guaranteed so if this is essential for you, you may want to consider alternative arrangements such as using an agency,

• Although Sparrow cannot guarantee care or manage the relationship between you and your carer we can always look for another carer for you, either on a temporary or longer term basis. We cannot guarantee we will find you a carer at short notice, but we will always make our best effort to help you find the need so please just get in touch if that's the case.
  

In summary, Sparrow Independent Carers are a fantastic option for most people in need of care. As we are a network of carers we are often able to find additional support when you need it, but we don't guarantee or oversee the care provided by our self-employed carers. There may be circumstances in which another model may suit your needs better. Please get in touch with us to discuss your care needs. We'd be happy to help you understand whether an independent carer is the right choice for your circumstances.

At Sparrow we love being independent carers but there is no doubt that there are some real challenges to face when you get started, When we asked around about what is stopping people from getting into independent care we heard lots of different answers but these four stood out to us:

1. I don’t know where to begin, I need a step by step guide.

2. I love care but I don’t want to have to invoice, chase money and do all the business admin.

3. Being an independent carer is too isolated. I want to work with other people.

4. I’m worried about finding clients consistently.

Sparrow has been specifically designed to address all of these concerns. We help you with all of them, leaving you free to concentrate on providing fantastic care.