Common questions, honest answers

Registration takes about 10 minutes online. Once you've submitted your details, we'll call you within 1 working day to introduce ourselves and talk through next steps. With all your documents ready — ID, proof of address, qualifications, and references — you can be fully registered and ready to work within 3–5 working days.

Not necessarily. We can arrange an enhanced DBS check for eligible workers at no upfront cost to you. This is processed as part of your registration with us, and the certificate is stored in your worker profile. If you already have a current DBS on the Update Service, we can use that to speed things up.

We pay weekly every Friday via PAYE, so you get the same employment protections as any regular employee. Timesheets must be submitted by Sunday midnight for payment the following Friday. You'll receive a payslip each week showing your gross and net pay, tax, and National Insurance contributions.

Absolutely. You're in control of your availability. You tell us when you're available to work, which types of care settings you prefer, and which locations suit you. We match shifts to your preferences — nothing is ever forced on anyone. You can update your availability at any time through your worker portal or by calling your consultant.

We always back our workers. Our 24/7 on-call team is available around the clock for any urgent issues that arise during a shift. You'll also have a dedicated consultant who knows your history and can advocate for you. Whether it's a dispute, a welfare concern, or an unexpected situation on shift — we're a phone call away and we'll act quickly.

No minimum commitment whatsoever. Work as much or as little as suits your lifestyle — full time, part time, or just occasional shifts when you feel like it. Many of our workers use Careferral to supplement a permanent role, and others work exclusively through us. The choice is entirely yours.

We currently cover the Midlands, North West, Yorkshire, and London — and we're growing. If you're not sure whether we operate in your specific area, contact us and we'll confirm. We're continually expanding our geographic reach, so even if we don't cover your area today, we may do soon.

Requirements vary by role. For care assistant positions, you'll need an NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care, the Care Certificate, or a genuine willingness to complete the Care Certificate training during your registration. For registered nurse positions, you must hold a current, unencumbered NMC registration. For senior care roles, relevant experience is typically required. Contact us and we'll talk you through what's needed for the specific roles you're interested in.

Most roles are filled within 24 hours of your request. For same-day emergency cover — when a worker calls in sick and you need someone immediately — our on-call team will work urgently to find you a suitable, compliant replacement. The more notice you give us, the broader the choice of workers we can offer you.

Every Careferral worker undergoes a thorough compliance process before placement: an enhanced DBS check, two professional references verified directly with referees, right-to-work documentation check, occupational health screening, and full mandatory training compliance verification. You'll never receive a worker who hasn't passed every stage of this process.

It's simple. Workers submit their timesheets online at the end of each shift. You receive a notification to review and approve. Once approved, we generate a weekly invoice with a clear breakdown by worker, shift, date, and rate. All invoices are emailed directly to your finance contact and are available in your employer portal at any time.

Yes — and we encourage this. Continuity of care is important, and we understand that both service users and your team benefit from familiar faces. We record your preferred workers in our system and always try to match them to your shifts first. If a preferred worker is unavailable, we'll let you know and offer the next best match.

No minimum at all. You can book a single shift to cover an emergency, or set up a full managed staffing contract for ongoing supply. We're equally happy to help with one-off needs or to become your primary staffing partner — whatever works best for your organisation.

We place workers across a wide range of care settings: residential care homes, nursing homes, community and domiciliary care, NHS and private hospital settings, supported living services, and specialist mental health services. If you're unsure whether we cover your particular type of setting, contact us and we'll confirm.

Our rates are competitive and fully transparent — no hidden fees or surprise charges. The rate depends on the role type, seniority level, shift pattern (days, nights, weekends), and volume of bookings. Contact us for a personalised quote. For high-volume clients, we offer preferential rates and tailored SLA agreements.

Yes, completely free. All mandatory compliance training — including Manual Handling, Fire Safety, Safeguarding, Basic Life Support, and more — is provided at no cost to workers registered with Careferral. We believe compliance should never be a financial barrier to working in care.

Most mandatory modules require annual renewal. A small number, such as Food Hygiene, are required every three years. We track all of your certificates and send you proactive reminders when renewals are approaching — so you'll never be caught out by a lapsed certificate that affects your ability to work.

Yes. You can start completing training modules as soon as you begin your registration process. In fact, we encourage this — it means that by the time your compliance check is complete, your training is already done and you're ready to accept shifts immediately. There's no need to wait.

Yes. We offer group training bookings and on-site training delivery for employer teams. Whether you need to get a new cohort of staff compliant quickly or want ongoing training support for your whole team, we can arrange a programme that fits your schedule and budget. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Yes. All Careferral workers are covered by our professional indemnity insurance and employer's liability insurance while on placement. This gives both workers and the care settings they work in peace of mind. If you need specific details of our insurance coverage for your due diligence process, contact us and we'll provide the relevant documentation.

We take no-shows extremely seriously. If a placed worker fails to arrive for a shift, our on-call team will work immediately to find you a suitable replacement. We will also investigate what happened with the worker concerned. Repeated no-shows without valid reason result in suspension from the Careferral register. The reliability of our workers is something we protect fiercely.

Yes, subject to the necessary checks. All workers — regardless of nationality — must provide evidence of their right to work in the UK as part of the registration process. This includes verifying appropriate visa status, settled status, or pre-settled status where applicable. We follow UK immigration law rigorously and never place anyone who cannot demonstrate a legal right to work.

As a recruitment agency, Careferral is not CQC registered — CQC registration applies to the care providers who deliver regulated activities, not to staffing agencies. What we do take care of is robust vetting and compliance for every worker we supply: enhanced DBS checks, right-to-work verification, references, and up-to-date mandatory training. For employers who need compliance documentation for tenders or audits, we can provide our compliance pack on request.