1. What was your situation and what challenges were you facing before you found Sparrow?
I was a parent-carer for my daughter who has multiple chronic health issues. Although she was becoming more independent, I still needed the flexibility to meet her needs between working hours. I also had two dogs that I didn’t want to leave for a dog walker to take out, so I needed hours to fit around them. I couldn’t find any job with the level of flexibility I needed or one that would pay a decent rate. This job ticks both boxes.
2. What did Sparrow do to help?
Sparrow helped me find the confidence to make the leap to becoming a self-employed carer, as I wouldn’t have known how to go about it otherwise. They provided lots of insight into the role and reassured me that I should only take on jobs I felt comfortable with and that were within my skill set. They also provided online training and organised my DBS check. Sparrow very quickly found me some amazing local clients to get me started.
3. How did you benefit from the support you received?
The support from Sparrow made everything possible. It was the difference between thinking “this is a good idea” and actually making it happen. I was able to very quickly establish a new career that I love. I’ve also been able to get advice and opinions from other Sparrows as the team has grown – there’s always someone who will have encountered a scenario you want to ask about. It was also helpful to get initial advice from Tom and Anna about what to charge clients, and it’s so useful having the dedicated accountant on hand for any tax and expenses matters.
4. What would you say to someone thinking about self-employed care with Sparrow?
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!