1. What was your situation and what challenges were you facing before you found Sparrow?
I’d been working for a care agency for over 20 years, so I had plenty of experience. I’d been thinking about going self-employed for a while, but the paperwork side of things put me off – I’m not good with all that. I also wasn’t sure I could find enough clients to make it work, so I kept putting it off.
2. What did Sparrow do to help?
Sparrow gave have an introductory course that covered everything I needed to get started – information about the CQC, access to training, free DBS check, and help finding the right insurance. They also helped with the business side – setting up a bank account, record keeping, minimising my tax bill, and they set me up with an accountant who does my tax returns. They quickly introduced me to potential clients too, so I was able to get going almost immediately.
3. How did you benefit from the support you received?
The support gave me the confidence to actually make the jump. I knew I wasn’t on my own – if I had a problem or needed to talk something through, I could just phone up. When I needed cover for holidays, other Sparrow carers were able to help out. It’s reassuring knowing there are people out there doing the same job who understand what you’re dealing with.
4. What would you say to someone thinking about self-employed care with Sparrow?
It’s worth your while. You get to build proper relationships with your clients instead of rushing from one visit to the next. 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.