National Office
Please enter the office location/term above to receive results for your closest office as well as information matches
If you’re considering live in care for a loved one, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is: what exactly does a live in carer do?
Understanding the day-to-day duties, work hours, legal rights, and limitations of live in carers can help you make an informed decision and ensure your loved one receives respectful, high-quality care at home.
In this guide, we explain the role of a live in carer, how it works in practice, and how families can create the right environment for both their loved one and the Care Professional living with them.
A live in carer (referred to as a Care Professional at Radfield Home Care) moves into the home of the person receiving care and provides ongoing support with daily life.
This may include:
Live in carers are there not only to provide care, but also to help people feel safe, comfortable and confident in their own home – particularly helpful for those living with conditions like dementia, Parkinson’s, or recovering from a stroke.
You can find more about how this fits into Radfield’s full service offering on our live in care service page.
Yes; but within limits.
Live in carers help with light housework that directly benefits the person receiving care. This may include:
However, carers are not cleaners or housekeepers for the entire household. If you or your family require wider domestic help, this should be discussed and agreed in advance; ideally during a care consultation.
Although live in carers reside in the same home as the person they support, they are not working 24/7. Like all professionals, they are entitled to rest, privacy, and protected downtime – both during the day and overnight.
At Radfield Home Care, a typical live in care schedule includes:
Understanding what support may be needed overnight is a key part of your care consultation. We’ll ask questions like:
If a client is waking more than three times per night on a regular basis, additional overnight care will likely be necessary. In most cases, this would mean arranging a ‘sleep-in’ carer – an additional care professional who sleeps at the property and is on hand to provide overnight support. This ensures that the live in Care Professional is able to get enough rest to safely and effectively carry out their responsibilities during the day
Of course, we understand that not every night is the same. One-off disruptions or occasional poor sleep are normal, and we approach this with flexibility. But if we identify a pattern of regular overnight needs, we’ll have honest, open conversations to explore appropriate solutions.
We’ll also take into account the practical setup of your home – whether there’s a suitable space to accommodate an additional carer – and work with you to find an option that’s both comfortable and realistic.
During breaks or overnight periods, if additional cover is needed, we can support this through Radfield’s own care team or by signposting to trusted partner providers.
Yes, and it’s vital they do.
A Care Professional’s wellbeing has a direct impact on the quality and consistency of care they provide. In line with UK employment law and the UKHCA (United Kingdom Homecare Association), live in carers must be given protected rest periods each day.
At Radfield, we ensure:
We also understand that every household is different, and support needs can vary. During your care consultation, we’ll talk openly about what break cover might look like for your situation.
If the person receiving care is safe and comfortable being on their own for up to two hours a day, then no additional support may be needed during the Care Professional’s break. However, if continuous supervision or assistance is required, we will work with you to make sure cover is in place – this could involve:
Our goal is to ensure that breaks are taken at appropriate times – protecting the Care Professional’s downtime while making sure your loved one’s care needs continue to be met without compromise.
We also offer short-term live in care or respite services, which can help cover longer breaks between placements with minimal disruption to your routine – learn more here
If your live in carer is directly employed by Radfield, they are entitled to:
At Radfield, we work with directly employed Care Professionals, self-employed carers and agency-introduced carers, depending on what’s the best choice for your care needs and availability.
Regardless of employment status, all live in Care Professionals we work with are:
If your carer is self-employed or introduced via a trusted partner agency, they manage their own benefits (such as holidays and sick pay) independently. However, Radfield continues to:
We take our responsibility seriously, no matter the employment arrangement. Every person we place in a home is expected to uphold Radfield’s values, approach, and standards of compassionate, exceptional care.
You can read more about how we support all our Care Professionals through our Caring for our Carers™ commitment.
Live in carers have clear boundaries to keep both the client and the Care Professional safe. These boundaries are in place to ensure care is delivered appropriately, legally, and with the right expertise.
Pet care, such as feeding or walking a dog, can be supported – but only if it has been discussed and agreed during the care planning process. This is considered part of the matching process to ensure the carer is comfortable and capable.
A full risk assessment and care plan will outline these boundaries from the start, so everyone is clear and confident about what is (and isn’t) included in the carer’s role.
It’s not just about qualifications, although those are important. The best live in carers are:
At Radfield, we carefully match Care Professionals to our clients based not only on skill and experience, but personality, values and interests. Our goal is to create a warm, trusting relationship; not just a service.
Live in carers are protected under UK employment law, and clients benefit from:
This means your loved one is never left without support – and you’re never left without someone to call.
Live in carers do the following:
They help people live well in the place they love most; their own home.
If you’d like to explore what live in care could look like for your family, our local care teams offer a free consultation to understand your needs and talk through the best options. Get in touch with your local office today.