- How does TrustonTap work?
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Every day we get enquiries from people looking for care for themselves or their loved ones. We listen to what care is needed, find out more about the individual and what days and times are required.
Using our innovative matching process, we then find the best carers who can help. If you are one of these carers you will be sent an opportunity with details about the assignment and you can choose if you want your profile sent to the client. This opportunity will also appear on your carer portal so you can easily monitor progress.
- How do I get bookings?
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Once a client has received profiles of the best matched carers, they will choose which carer they want to book. They may message you to ask some further questions. A client will book and pay through our website and you will be sent a copy of the booking by e-mail for your records. The booking will also appear on your carer portal.
- How much will I get paid?
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When you join TrustonTap you choose what rate to charge your clients. Most carers charge between £17/hr and £21/hr depending on their experience but there is the opportunity to charge for for exceptional carers. We would also encourage you to set your hourly rate higher for weekends and bank holidays.
We deduct 18% commission (& VAT) which means that you get to keep almost 80% of the rate you have set.
We will always be clear to you what your take-home pay is for your standard hourly rate, weekend rate and bank holiday rates.
We pride ourselves that you can earn significantly more per hour than if you work as an employee at a traditional care agency.
- What are your charges?
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Your rate shown on your profile is the rate the customer is charged for each hour of care you provide; we take a commission of 18% + VAT on the hourly rates. For example, if the rate on your profile is £18/hr you will take home £14.11/hr. We do not make any charges for expenses to you, so these are reimbursed to you in full. Mileage – if your client needs you to drive them somewhere in your car, is charged to the client at the standard rate (45p/mile).
Please note that you cannot charge mileage for travel to and from the client’s home.
- How many hours can I get?
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The number of hours you get will vary depending on your location and your own availability. Some carers are billing 40hrs + a week through TrustonTap. Others are billing a few hours a week. It can take time to build up your clients but if you are flexible on timing and in an area of high demand, you can increase your billings quite quickly.
- Can I fit this in around my family or another job?
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Yes. Caring through TrustonTap is ideal for carers with families or with other commitments. On your carer portal you can set your availability and you will only be sent opportunities that match the times you are free.
You can update this at any time.
- How is TrustonTap different to a traditional care agency?
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TrustonTap is an online platform for self-employed carers. We have used the latest technology to ensure that you are significantly better paid than carers who work for traditional care agencies, but also that you have control over who you work for and the flexibility to choose which hours you work.
- What are the benefits of joining TrustonTap?
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When you join TrustonTap as a self-employed carer you are joining a community of carers. You’ll have access to an online portal where you can manage your timesheets, set your availability, see all live opportunities we have sent you and read a range of supporting documents. Copies of all timesheets and statements are stored on your carer portal, making record-keeping easy.
We will support you to find clients. We match your skills and personality with those looking for care in your local area, so you don’t have to travel too far. We will send you opportunities that match your availability which you can say Yes or No to. You decide what days and times you want to work.
When you join us we ensure you get a better pay rate than the average carer wage by only taking a small commission.
As an introductory agency, our clients have to book a minimum of 4 hours which can be used over the week. We do not offer 15 or 20-minute visits. Instead, we tell the client that the carer will visit for the minimum of a 1-hour visit per shift. We don’t believe that good care can be rushed.
Our carers don’t need to worry about invoicing clients and chasing payments. We ask our carers to complete timesheets on a weekly basis, we invoice the client on your behalf and then pay you directly to your bank account a week later. You’ll receive payment statements to your email. They are also saved on your portal. The benefit of working with us is you are guaranteed payment, especially if the client is using a third party to pay for care like Purple, we still ensure payments are made on a weekly basis.
Unlike other sole traders, when you join TrustonTap you have a support network. Our team is available to answer any of your questions. Whether you’ve got a question about your clients or working self-employed – we try and help you the best way we can. We also try and find cover for your clients if you have a pre-planned holiday and we try our best to find you cover if you are taken ill.
- How do I register as self-employed?
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Go to the government’s guide on registering as self-employed and then, you can register as self-employed here.
- Do I need to be self-employed to work with TrustonTap?
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Yes – to operate via the TrustonTap platform you need to be self-employed and register as a sole trader, limited company or an LLP. Most TrustonTap carers choose to register as sole traders, meaning they are the only person working for their business. If you register as a limited company, it means that your business has its own legal identity separate from you (even if you are the only person working for it). If you register as a limited company, you will need to supply extra information when completing your tax returns.
- How do I get a Unique Tax Reference (UTR) number?
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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).