Before you start working as a live-in carer you will have many questions to ask. This is one that is often asked.

So, what’s the typical rotation?

The answer is that there is no ‘typical rotation’. You can work as much or as little as you like.

Your agency will ask you at your interview and you will be given the opportunity to tell them the length of time you feel comfortable working.

The length of time you work is greatly dependant on you and your own circumstances. You should have an idea of what you want to work when you discuss this.

There are several things that you should consider

Flights

Living abroad may influence your decision. You will be dependent on availability and prices of flights so may find that in the summer months you need to work a little longer because the flights in and out of the UK are sky-high.

Winter months see lower flight prices so you may choose to work for less then because of the lower prices.

People who live further away such as in South Africa and Australia may need to work for longer simply because to work for less time means they do not even break even.

Health

You need to consider your own health and how fit you are. Live-in care is often hard work emotionally, with sleepless nights taking a toll. Do you often succumb to colds and flu and find yourself tiring easily? If so, you may opt for short trips with breaks in between.

Personal circumstances

Sometimes living and working away from your home and family comes at a heavy cost. Relationships may seem doomed to fail because you are away for several months at a time. You should consider your own relationship and what the effect of being apart will have on it.

Sometimes it may be better to return home more often, if finances permit, so that you still feel a part of your home life.

Your own goals

Often live-in carers have their own goals which they want to fulfil. This can be anything from paying off a credit card to buying a new washing machine. They set their own time frames to save enough money and only work that long before taking a break. While this does work, it also means that your agency cannot arrange ongoing placements for you, and you may find yourself ‘out of the loop’ and working less.

To sum up

The typical rotation is your own personal choice. It depends on what your goals are and how long you feel you can work before getting to tired to work well.

Whatever you decide, be sure to let your agency know as soon as you can. Also, it is not a good idea to ‘over-stretch yourself’ and work longer than you know you can. In the long run you will not be able to do your job as well as you should. Better then to take a break, work a little less and do a good job.  

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