When Anna and I started Sparrow in 2023, we knew the most important decision we’d make would be deciding which carers to work with. Get that right, and everything else would follow. Get it wrong, and nothing else would matter.
The Question That Guides Everything
We quickly realised there was no checklist or set of criteria that could tell us whether someone would be a good carer. We’d seen highly experienced carers whose main interest seemed to be an easy life and better pay. We’d also seen people with no paid care experience provide absolutely outstanding care because they had the right values and approach.
So we settled on a simple question to guide every decision: “Would we happily trust this person to look after our own mum and dad?”
This question became so important to us that we simply call it “The Question.” It forces us to be honest about our standards. It’s either “Yes, definitely!” or “No, thanks.” There’s no middle ground when it comes to your own family.
What We Actually Look For
Over time, we’ve been able to unpack what goes through our heads when we answer The Question. We’ve identified three key qualities we look for in every Sparrow carer:
Caring
This is the most important quality and the hardest to define. We’re looking for people whose focus is on doing everything they can to quietly make things as good as possible for their clients. They’re motivated by genuine care, not just self-interest. They go the extra mile and support their fellow carers too.
Communicative
We want carers who are proactive, responsive and easy to talk to. They keep in touch with clients, families, and Sparrow. They’re engaged with our carer community and stay connected.
Competent
We look for people who are self-reliant, take initiative, and trust their own judgment—but who also know when to ask for support. Most importantly, they do what they can to brighten someone’s day.
Our Selection Process
Because we’re making a subjective judgment about each person, we need to really get to know potential carers. Here’s how we do that:
- Written application – We ask carers to tell us about their background, experience, and motivation for becoming self-employed
- Phone interview – An informal conversation to explore their experience and approach further
- Face-to-face meeting – For the best candidates only, Anna and I meet every potential carer in person over coffee for an hour or more
- Reference checks – We take up a minimum of two references, including at least one professional reference
We found that phone or online interviews were helpful, but they just didn’t give us the same certainty that meeting face-to-face does.
After meeting a potential carer and checking their references, we put everything together and ask ourselves The Question. We turn down most carers who apply to us in order to maintain the highest standards we can.
What About Experience?
People often ask whether we require a certain number of years of experience. The short answer is no, we don’t.
Experience can be valuable, but it’s no guarantee that someone will provide good care. We’ve met experienced carers we wouldn’t trust to look after our own family, and people with no paid experience who clearly have everything it takes to be outstanding self-employed carers.
That said, many clients value carers with professional backgrounds. All else being equal, we do prefer carers with some experience—but it’s not a requirement. We’re happy to provide information about how much experience individual carers have, and you remain in control about whether a given carer is right for your circumstances.
What Happens After we Choose a Carer?
Once we’ve decided to work with a carer, we put several things in place:
- Enhanced DBS check with Adult Barred List (we cover the cost if needed)
- Insurance – we reimburse carers for their insurance costs
- Carer agreement – outlining the standards we expect
- Access to training – ongoing learning opportunities
- Community support – connection with other Sparrow carers
Only when all of these are in place are we happy to introduce a carer to clients.
A Final Thought
We hope this helps you understand the care we take in selecting Sparrow carers. The carers we choose are people we genuinely trust and respect—people we would be happy to have looking after our own mum and dad.
Of course, you’ll want to make your own judgment about whether any carer is right for your family, and we’re here to support you in making that decision. If you have questions about our selection process or want to know more about a specific carer, just get in touch.
Tom & Anna
Sparrow Self-Employed Carers