The Risks of Hiring a Private Carer
Many families in Morecambe consider hiring a private carer - someone found through Facebook, word of mouth or a local community group. We understand the appeal. But before you decide, it is important to understand what you are taking on.
This page is not about scaremongering.
Many private carers are kind, well-intentioned people. But good intentions are not the same as proper training, insurance, oversight and accountability. When it comes to the safety of a vulnerable adult, the difference matters enormously.
No CQC regulation or inspection
Private carers are not registered with the Care Quality Commission. There are no independent inspections of their standards, training or conduct. If something goes wrong, there is no regulator to report to and no formal accountability. MoralCare is CQC registered and rated Good across all five domains.
You become the employer
Hiring a private carer directly means you take on legal responsibilities as an employer. This includes paying PAYE tax and National Insurance, providing holiday pay, sick pay and a workplace pension, and obtaining employer's liability insurance. Many families are unaware of this until HMRC makes contact.
No cover when they are off sick
If your private carer calls in ill, goes on holiday or simply stops turning up, your parent has nobody. There is no backup. We have had families contact us in crisis after exactly this situation. MoralCare has an internal bank team and has never missed a single visit since we started.
No formal training or qualifications
Private carers may have no formal care training at all. Medication administration, dementia care, catheter care, safeguarding and infection control all require specific, accredited training. All MoralCare carers hold a minimum Level 2 Health and Social Care qualification, with 80% holding advanced certifications.
DBS checks are your responsibility
You are responsible for verifying a private carer's background. Many families skip this step or do not know how to do it properly. All MoralCare carers are DBS checked before they start, with full references verified.
No insurance or complaints procedure
If a private carer makes a medication error, causes an injury or engages in financial abuse, there is no organisation behind them. No insurance, no complaints procedure, no safeguarding team. With MoralCare, every carer is fully insured and backed by formal policies and a registered complaints process.
No care records
Private carers rarely keep proper care records. If your parent is admitted to hospital, there is no documented history of their daily care, medication, fluid intake or health changes. MoralCare logs every visit in detail on our Nourish care system, with records accessible to healthcare professionals when needed.
| Private Carer | MoralCare | |
|---|---|---|
| CQC regulated | ✗ | ✓ |
| DBS checked | Your responsibility | ✓ |
| Sick cover | None | Internal bank team |
| Insurance | Unlikely | Fully insured |
| Qualified carers | Unknown | Level 2+ minimum |
| Digital care records | Rarely | Every visit logged |
| Employer obligations | You pay tax, NI, holiday | We handle everything |
| Complaints procedure | None | Formal CQC process |
| Safeguarding oversight | None | Supervisor-led |
Talk to us before you decide
We are happy to answer any questions about regulated care, costs and what to look for. No pressure, no obligation.