Hourly Pay and Benefits

You’ll find being an Hourly Carer a very rewarding role. To ensure that you’ll never find yourself in a situation that you are not entirely comfortable with, outstanding training is one of the major benefits of working with Helping Hands.

Initial training courses are part of your induction process and take place over an intensive 3 day period. The courses covered include First Aid, Food Hygiene, Moving and Handling, Health and Safety, Infection Control, Safer Handling of Medication and Care Skills, all of which count towards NVQ 2 and are mandatory for the National Minimum Care Standards.

Rates of Pay

Due to the nature of the work, our Hourly Carers are paid by the hour, according to the rate chart below.

  Band 1 Band 2 Band 3  Band 4 Band 5
  Starting rate

After successful induction

(minimum 12 weeks)

2 years service (No NVQ) 

NVQ 2 qualified

NVQ 2 &

2 years service

Weekday until 6pm £6.20 per hour £6.30 per hour £6.40 per hour £6.50 per hour £6.60 per hour
Weekday Evening from 6pm £6.70 per hour £6.85 per hour £6.95 per hour £7.05 per hour £7.15 per hour
Weekend until 6pm £8.00 per hour £8.25 per hour £8.35 per hour £8.45 per hour £8.55 per hour
Weekend Evening from 6pm £8.55 per hour £8.80 per hour £8.90 per hour £9.00 per hour £9.10 per hour

Mileage and Holidays

Being both mobile and flexible are 2 very important qualities for Hourly Care, you will need to have a car to get from visit to visit during the day. All mileage is paid at 30p per mile and is tax free. Due to the nature of the role it is essential that you have business car insurance. We will need a copy of your insurance in the first 4 weeks of starting work.

Hourly Carers are entitled to a maximum of 28 days paid leave per year. The holiday year runs from 1st April to 31st March and Carers accrue holiday on the basis of 1/52nd of the annual entitlement for each week of service in the holiday year. All holidays must have prior approval and authorisation and payment is at the Carer’s normal rate of pay.

Working for Helping Hands

To offer reassurance to our customers and their families about security concerns, our Hourly Carers wear a Helping Hands uniform and undergo a Criminal Record Bureau check (CRB). There is a £20 charge for the uniform which will be deducted from your first wage payment; this charge is to ensure that items are looked after and properly utilised. There is also a £44 charge for the CRB, but assuming all is clear, this will be refunded after 3 months service.