I live outside the UK. What do I need to know before applying?
There are many live-in carers in the UK who live in other countries such as Europe, South Africa, and even as far away as Australia. You may ask how they found out about live-in care. The internet is a wonderful tool these days and you can find out about almost anything if you need to.
However, sometimes internet sites can be quite clinical when what you really want is to talk to someone about the job before you commit yourself.
Every country has newspapers which advertise jobs in the UK, and this is where most care jobs are advertised. You will often find that interviews are held in your country so you can attend them without a journey to the UK. This is true of Europe and sometimes of South Africa, not normally Australia.
Word of mouth is a good way to find other carers in your country who can answer your questions about the job. Most countries with English expats will have their own expat forums which you can join and post your questions. Because this is such a popular way to make money and still live abroad, you will easily find others who do this.
Even if you are not British, you may still want to try your hand at live-in care. Make sure that you can speak the language. You must be able to read, write and speak to a reasonable standard because all your paperwork will be done in English. You must also be able to cook meals to an acceptable standard.
Before you even think of applying for a live-in care job, you must be able to prove that you are eligible to work in the UK, so it is important that you meet all these requirements before you start.
It helps if you have a friend or relative in the UK because you will need to provide a UK address. You will also need to open a bank account in the country so that you get paid. Some clients will give you a cheque but most- as do agencies - will pay directly into a UK bank account.
You will need to undergo some type of training before you start. This can range from one week to two weeks, so you need to have enough money to support yourself for this. While accommodation is normally covered by the agency, you will still need to feed yourself and pay for your CRB check. This is the Criminal Records Bureau which you must pass before you can work. Be aware that this can take up to two weeks to clear so you need to have enough funds to either stay in the UK or fly back home while you wait.
It is never a good idea to have a friend do your telephone interview for you because she speaks better English than you. You will still have to undergo the formal physical interview and if you are discovered to have done this, agencies tend to send you back home. Rather be upfront on your telephone interview. There is a certain amount of leeway for the language barrier.
It is important then to do your homework beforehand. Find out as much as you can, ask around and perhaps meet up with other live-in carers. Because this is so popular now, you will easily find other carers in your area, or through a forum.
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