How can we help

Aside from the fact that care professionals earn on average 25% more when working with Curam (after tax and our fees), our numerous, positive Trustpilot reviews, given by care professionals who use our platform, really highlight the benefits of working with Curam, these include the following:

· Feeling happy and proud

· Being self-employed

· Curam’s care professional support services

· The Curam app and website

· Easy admin and invoices

Read our ‘What do our Carers Think about Curam?’ blog to find out more.

Choice:

With Curam, you get to choose who you care for, when you work and where you work. We advertise your profile for you so that you can choose from different clients and different jobs. This choice ensures that you have full control over your career, lifestyle and helps you achieve work-life balance.

Better work-life balance:

As a Curam care professional, you will have the chance to organise work around your hobbies, other career interests and family commitments. This flexibility also allows you necessary time off to relax or socialise.

Earn more:

With Curam, carers earn 25% more on average than with traditional care agencies. There are no sign-up fees and our transparent fee of 15% is the lowest in the sector.

Service agreements and invoices:

Our app makes admin easy. All you have to do is input your client’s details, care recipient’s name, address, care services. You must create a service agreement and invoice before starting with a client.

Our App:

The Curam Carer app not only makes admin easy, it also makes finding care work quicker and simpler. With a few scrolls and taps you can find clients, respond to the ones that are interested in your profile and organise when and where a client would like you to provide care.

Support:

Our care professional support team are here to help if you need support when working via the Curam platform. We also have lots of useful blogs where you can find out more about being a self-employed care professional.

Curam is an online platform for self-employed carers. We have harnessed technology to give you, as a carer, choice and control over who you care for and the hours you work.

Care agencies typically send in different carers on a daily basis. With Curam, you have complete control and the opportunity for consistent clients of your choice.

Yes, you choose whether you want to apply for a job or whether you want to accept a client’s care request. Even if you are unable to assist, please always respond to a client

Yes, you are the captain of your own ship! You choose which hours you want to work.

You need to be over the age of 21 and have a minimum of 2 year's experience working as a carer in the UK to become a Curam care professional. 

You can find work as a personal assistant as well as a care professional with Curam, make sure you add this skill and any relevant experience to your profile.

Yes, you can work via the Curam platform whilst keeping the job you already have. Just make sure that you still register as self-employed as this is how you will be working with Curam.

You do not necessarily need a car or driving licence to work as a Curam care professional. However, you may wish to use a vehicle to get to jobs in more rural areas.

If you encounter any problems when trying to upload documents, you can contact our care professional support team at carer@curamcare.com.

In order for a qualification to show, you must have uploaded a clear and legible photo of your qualification certificate on your profile (see I am having problems uploading documents if you are having issues).

Our How to Write a Standout Carer Profile blog will help you to write the best care professional bio possible.

You will need two references, both of which must be based in the UK. The best people to be your referees will be people you have provided care services for before.

We do not accept friends or family members as references.

No, if you have a T4 or a student visa you cannot sign up as a self-employed care professional, which is a requirement to be on the platform.

We operate throughout the whole of the UK.

You can now upload an introductory video, up to 1 minute long, to your profile via the Curam Carer app. Carers are 3 times more likely to secure work if they have a video uploaded to their profile.

How do I create a profile video?

Your script: Before you start filming your video, make sure you’ve prepared what you’re going to say in advance. Here’s a reminder of some prompts:

1) How long have you been a care professional?

2) Do you specialise in a particular type of care?

3) Why do you love working as a care professional?

4) What are your hobbies?

Please avoid including any personal information or any details that could change - like specifics about your availability, for example.

Please note we cannot approve videos that contain personal details like your surname.

Also, your video must be no longer than 1 minute.

Click here for more information on how to upload your video.

Click here to sign up to be a Curam carer.

You can become an approved Curam carer after you complete these 3 simple steps:

Step 1: Download the Curam Carer app and create an account

Step 2: Complete your profile.

Step 3: Book your online approval meeting with one of our friendly recruitment team!

To become an approved Care Professional on Curam you will need:

• 2 years' experience working as a carer in the UK.

• An enhanced DBS (PVG/AccessNI) that is registered on the update service.

• Photo ID.

• To provide your right to work in the UK on a self-employed basis.

• A Care Certificate dated within the past 3 years.

• The details of 2 UK work references.

• Relevant, care related, work history.

Every care professional on the platform will attend an online approval meeting with one of our friendly recruitment team before joining Curam. They will check your DBS/PVG, your right to work in the UK and any qualifications mentioned on your profile (which will have to be backed up with certificates that you upload and we approve).

The photo you upload to your profile should be a clear, well-lit headshot. Clients are more likely to click on your profile if you are smiling and look approachable.

It should also be a recent, good quality photo of you. We therefore recommend that you update your picture on at least a yearly basis. If you change hair style, for example, you may want to change your photo to one containing your new look. Clients are more likely to read your profile if they see you have a new picture.

Your profile photo should:

• Make you look friendly and smiley

• Have good lighting

• Be in focus

• Have a clear, uncluttered background

Yes - you have to download the Curam Carer app to be approved as a self-employed care professional on our platform.

When you download the Curam Carer app and when your profile is live on the platform you will have full access to all of the features that Curam has to offer.

You can apply for jobs via the jobs board and clients are able to message you.

Please make sure that you update the app regularly – we are planning some new, exciting features and will be adding them in the future.

During the care professional sign-up process, you will be prompted to choose relevant files. Follow the instructions and choose the documents you want to upload.

The simplest way to get your documents and certificates onto your account is to take a clear and legible photo of them with your phone and upload these photos directly to your profile via the app.

You can save your application and come back to it.

After registering, you can amend your profile at any time, but any changes will have to be verified by the Curam support team (other than minor ones, such as information about your hobbies/languages).

All you have to do is log in to the app, go to the ‘find jobs’ section, select the type of work you are looking for at the top of the page. If you find a job that matches what you’re looking for you can click ‘apply for job’.

If you want to know more about how the jobs board filters work, please watch this short video.

Around 80% of clients actually decide to search and message care professionals directly instead of posting on the jobs board, so even if you cannot see any jobs near you, there still may be clients looking at your profile.

Make sure you make your profile as good as it can be. Some of the ways you can improve your profile are:

• Update your profile photo to a clear, smiling headshot

• Make sure you have uploaded photo evidence of all your qualification certificates

• Keep the experience section of your bio up to date, including the skills you have learnt in your recent care jobs

• If you have the opportunity to carry out extra care professional training, do it! Clients often look for well-qualified care professionals

Yes – to operate via the Curam platform you need to be self-employed and register as a sole trader, limited company or an LLP.

Take a look at the government’s guide on registering as self-employed. Then, you can register as self-employed here.

A unique taxpayer reference number is the number you need to fill out your tax returns. You can get one by registering as self-employed online. You should then get a UTR number in the post within the following 10 days (21 if you’re abroad).

We need your unique taxpayer reference number to check that you have registered with HMRC as a sole trader.

Most Curam care professionals choose to register as sole traders, meaning they are the only person working for their business.

A limited company means that the business has its own legal identity separate from its owners (even if it only has one person working for it).

Completing tax returns is a different process for both these self-employed statuses.

If you register as a limited company, you will need to supply extra information when completing your tax returns.

Yes, the minimum shift length is one hour. We believe that short 15- or 30-minute visits do not give you enough time to properly care for a client. Our minimum shift length ensures a better standard of care and a more meaningful relationship between the carer and client.

Tasks can vary from job to job. Here are some of the tasks that you may be asked to carry out:

• Personal care, including: preparing, serving and feeding food or drink, bathing, dressing, moving and handling

• Prompting clients to take prescribed medicines

• Administering first aid

• General domestic duties including: shopping, basic maintenance and gardening tasks

• Accompanying clients on any social, domestic or recreational trips outside of their home

You, as a self-employed carer on the Curam platform, set your own rates.

However, we insist that care workers do not earn less than the National Minimum Wage, which means that your advertised rate must be a minimum of £14.40 per hour.

To give you a rough guide - the average rate charged on the platform is £20.50 an hour for hourly visits, £120 for overnight shifts and £1,200 a week for live-in weekly.

Curam charges a fee of 15% on all shift invoices created on the platform. So, if you set a rate of £19.74 per hour, you will receive £16.77 per hour.

This is one of the lowest fees in the sector. It covers advertising of your profile, marketing to thousands of clients across the UK, self-employed carer insurance, our secure payment system and support from our friendly team.

Traditional care agencies often take up to 50% of their carers’ wages in fees. Since we are a platform for self-employed care professionals, we have far fewer overheads and are able to pass that saving on to you as a Curam care professional. As a Curam care professional, you will earn on average, 25% more than with an agency.

Clients pay your invoices via their Curam account.

Payments are processed by Mangopay – the secure payment processor we use. You will have to set up your Curam account to receive payments before you start contracting via the platform, we will send you a guide on how to do this.

To be paid on time you need to create your shift invoices in good time and ask the client to approve them before the shift begins.

Payment is released to the carer three working days after the shift ends, if the client pays by card. If the client pays by non-recurring Direct Debit this could take a further 5-7 working days. If the client is in receipt of Local Authority funding payments may be in arrears, please discuss with the client prior to assisting.

We use Mangopay to process carer payments. Here’s how to set up your account to receive payments:

1. From the Curam Carer App, please click the Menu button and click on your profile picture

2. Scroll down slightly and click “Add details for payments”

3. Ensure all the details are correct on the Personal Information page, click next

4. You are then required to upload a copy of your photographic ID (passport or driving licence). Please click the grey upload document box and either take a photo or upload the file from your phone

5. If your passport is from outside the UK, you will also need to upload proof of address in the UK. (Once uploaded click next)

6. Please enter your bank account details (note - these are not visible to us)

7. Click complete and save

8. You will receive an email to advise whether your account has been set up correctly

Note: The name on your photographic ID must match the name on your Curam account. Also, please ensure your photo is clear and legible – it needs to be perfect or will not be accepted by Mangopay.

If you encounter any issues, please contact us at accounts@curamcare.com.

No, you cannot accept payment in cash. Once you have created your service agreement and invoice, the client can pay you via the platform.

Cash payments are not accepted and will result in both you and your client being barred from the site, as well as both being liable to pay a fee of £1,000+VAT.

Please see our terms and conditions for more information, specifically point 9.3.

If you have any concerns about payments, you can contact the carer support team via email – accounts@curamcare.com.

If your client would like to employ you directly, then they can do this by emailing accounts@curamcare.com. Your client will be liable to pay a recruitment fee of £750+VAT however you are required to transact through the platform for a minimum of 90 days. Please note that any offsite payments that have not been agreed by Curam will result in a £1,000+VAT fee to both you and your client.

Please see our terms and conditions for more information, specifically point 9.4.

If the client pays by card, your payment should be released to you three working days after your shift ends.  If the client pays via non-recurring Direct Debit this could take a further 5-7 days.  If the client is in receipt of Local Authority funding payments may be in arrears – please ensure you discuss with the client before agreeing to assist.

Should a refund be required to the client due to you being unable to do the shift or the client cancelling, please contact us as soon as possible. To contact us please open the relevant invoice and click the “contact support” button, please submit your query.

As a Curam care professional, you will create a service agreement to outline the care you and your client have agreed on.

You should create a service agreement before commencing with a client.

You must adhere to what you have agreed on in the service agreement.

You can create a service agreement on the Curam app. The template is ready for you to use, you simply have to fill in the details and send it over to a client who will check that they agree with the terms.

Your initial invoice should be created immediately after you have created your service agreement. You can create an invoice on the Curam app. The template is already made and you just have to enter your rates and details. You can then send this invoice over to the client via the app.

We recommend that invoices are created on a weekly basis. Failure to do so will mean you are not insured.

A group Insurance Policy in place for Ecare Group, which also covers the Legal Liability of Care Professionals.

The cover includes:

Public Liability

Up to £1,000,000 covering claims against you if you have accidentally caused Bodily Injury or Damage to Property.

Professional Liability

Up to £1,000,000 covering claims made against you for Professional Negligence in your role as a Care Professional.

Legal Expenses

Where necessary the Insurer will appoint legal counsel to defend claims made against you under either of the above Liability sections.

Please contact one of our team at: accounts@curamcare.com for more information or for the complete terms.

We provide you with self-employed carer’s insurance once you start transacting with a client.

The insurance is activated by creating the invoice you send them. Our insurance provider is CFC. Please note you much have a relevant and up to date training certificate for carrying out any medical tasks for the insurance to be valid.

Your policy is insured with CFC. If you need to submit a claim, please email accounts@curamcare.com.

Your clients do not have to pay for your travel expenses; however, you may choose to ask clients if they would be willing to pay for your travel and negotiate this topic directly with them.

Normal practice is that travel expenses are paid separately by the client.

Tax returns are an essential part of being self-employed and it is important that Curam care professionals remember to complete the process.

We cannot complete your tax returns for you, it is your own responsibility.

If you do not complete your tax returns, or you submit them after the deadline you may have to pay interest or a penalty.

You can file your tax returns online or use a paper form. Paper forms must be completed earlier than online tax returns so that HMRC can calculate your bill in time for you to pay any money owed.

You can check when you have to complete your tax returns by on the government website. In 2020 you must complete online tax returns by midnight on 31st January.

If you do not want to complete your tax returns yourself, you can get an accountant, or a trusted friend or relative to do it on your behalf.

To be fully prepared for tax returns, you should keep business records that include information about your income and business expenses.

You should also keep proof of any expenses you deduct from your taxable incomes, such as receipts, bank statements and invoices.

If you have other employment, including on a PAYE basis, you should also keep records related to this, as well as your self-employed work for your tax returns.

We email you an invoice for our fee when we release your payment. This is just a copy for your records. Should you require these, please contact accounts@curamcare.com.

Here are just some of the allowable expenses you may deduct from your taxable profit:

• Clothing expenses, including PPE and uniform

• Training courses that are relevant to the work you do

• Insurance, advertising and work-related subscriptions, including Curam’s service fees (the money deducted from the rate you charge for care that pays for Curam’s service)

• Claim capital allowances, such as equipment you buy for your care work

• Phone expenses, stationary expenses and ‘work from home’ office and utilities expenses

• Travel costs to get to and from work and around during work, such as the cost of using your car or public transport

It’s important that your expenses are all permissible according to HMRC. If you want to check if an expense is allowed to be taken off of your taxable profit, you can call the HMRC self-assessment helpline or talk to an accountant.

Here's an example of an allowable expense: A client wants to go out for a coffee when you are caring for them (and the client does not choose to pay for your coffee), you may deduct the cost of the coffee from your taxable profit that year.

Curam encourages you to be part of a micro-team that can cover for you when you are sick or on holiday, if your client chooses this option. Members of your micro-team must be approved Curam care professionals.

If you are ill and cannot cover a shift, make sure you inform your client as soon as possible and advise them of members of your micro-team.

You should give as much notice as possible to a client if you are planning a holiday and you should try to introduce your micro-team to your clients ahead of your holidays.

However, the choice of who covers your shift is always that of the client and they can choose a different carer to the one you suggest or include in your micro-team.

Both clients and care professionals have the option to close their accounts by clicking on the following provided link. Additionally, within the settings menu of the client or care professional app, users can delete their account along with all associated data by accessing the delete account option.

We are here to help!

If you have any concerns about using the Curam platform, you can get in touch with our carer support team via email – carer@curamcare.com

We work closely with NACAS (the National Association of Carers and Support Workers) who are able to provide access to other useful information and support.

All of the approved care professionals on our platform are encouraged to create a micro-team with other care professionals.

When you are unavailable or sick, someone on your micro-team may be able to assist your client. The client always has the choice of the care professional they wish to hire.

To choose micro team members: go to the Curam Carer app, log in and from the menu select "Micro Team", then select “Search” and message the care professionals you would like to invite to your team.

We work closely with NACAS (the National Association of Carers and Support Workers) who are able to provide access to other useful information and support.

In fact, we have been working in partnership with NACAS to offer automatic membership to all approved Curam care professionals. This membership offers a multitude of benefits:

• Access to a range of over 100 health and social care online courses courtesy of the NHS Digital, e-LfH platform including the Care Certificate

• Discounted CPD Training- Continued Personal Development Health & Social Care Awards Levels 3,4 & 5

• Free health and wellbeing support

• Mental Health Support

• Discounts at various retailers

• Free Confidential Reporting Support

If you have complaints or suggestions please send an email to complaintsandsuggestions@curamcare.com

We are working on adding your training achievements to your Curam profile, so watch this space and make sure to update your Curam Carer App frequently.

CPD stands for continuing professional development and it’s a term used to describe the training the professionals complete to enhance and grow their skills. Building up your CPD points gives you demonstrable evidence of the amount of time you have spent developing new skills.

We know how important it is for any professional to sharpen their skills and build their knowledge-base. This is why we offer free online training to all approved Curam care professionals across a range of relevant subjects to help them enhance their expertise and to care with confidence.

Curam are currently offering free training to all approved care professionals via free NACAS membership. For a full list of the courses please go to https://nacas.org.uk/.

The online training courses are currently available to all approved Curam care professionals.

If you haven’t yet registered as a Curam carer you’ll need to do this to be able to access the training courses. To start this process please download the Curam Carer App. Once our carer team has approved your profile, you’ll then be emailed an invite to set up your free training account, and you can then access the training.

If you’re already an approved Curam care professional, then you should have already been emailed an invite to set up your free training account, so do check your inbox and spam folders. If you can’t locate your invite then please contact us and we can send you another one.

The courses are all online and can be viewed from a smart phone, tablet or a computer.
 

No, you choose the pace at which you complete each course. So if you want to stop at any point and then go back to your training, you can pick-up exactly where you left off.

Yes. For each course completed, you’ll be able to download and print your certificate. Your training account will hold all your certificates and you can upload these to your Curam profile.

Care professionals and personal assistants who offer their services on the Curam platform are self-employed, however, they are expected to follow the relevant code of conduct:

Click here for the English Skills for Care code of conduct

Click here for the Scottish SSSC code of conduct

You can get apply for an Enhanced Disclosure by applying for one on the Scotland government website. This normally costs £25. Alternatively it costs £59 to join the PVG scheme.

If you do not yet have a DBS, as a self-employed care professional, you can apply for an Enhanced DBS via the National Association of Care and Support Workers (NACAS).

NACAS Members get a discount on Enhanced DBS checks. Click here to find out more and apply for an enhanced DBS check.

All approved Curam care professionals also get automatic NACAS membership, to which there are other benefits.

You need an enhanced DBS/PVG/AccessNI in date of 3 years to be a Curam care professional.

A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is a check of a person’s criminal record which shows details of all spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings held on central police records (apart from protected convictions and cautions)

An Enhanced DBS shows spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, final warnings and any information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.

A PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme) is the Scottish version of DBS. It is a certificate that proves someone has no criminal record.

An Access NI (Northern Ireland) check is the Northern Ireland equivalent.

Your DBS should be in date of 3 years or be on the Update Service.

Make sure you register your Enhanced DBS on the Update Service within 30 days of getting it.