Private carer - what would you charge for this?

[Billbow]

I am a self employed carer. I visit a gentleman who has early stage dementia every day for around 1-2 hours. On Monday I arranged to take him out for the day with his daughter who doesn't drive. The trip was related to an old hobby of his and he had a wonderful time. Now the problem is i don't know what to charge. I usually charge £18 per hour.
I was with this gentleman and daughter for 7 hours and we travelled 100miles (50 each way) I know I can charge 45p per mile but that adds up and I'm not sure I'm comfortable charging the £18 per hour as his daughter was there to.

What do you think I should charge?

Your usual rate, you are still working, regardless as to whether his dd was there or not. Imagine if all of your clients decided to have a relative present during your hours, would you reduce your rate and still be happy to work?

Well in childcare settings I pay an agreed fee for shared care and a higher fee for sole charge as the responsibility is greater. So I would argue it's the same situation here and would decrease my fee accordingly for the time your client's daughter was present.

I would charge your standard rate plus mileage. You might choose to cap a day rate (so for example you may charge £18p/h but say £110 for a day).

however as a freelancer your day rate is very low anyway - so honestly I’d charge the full amount

I am a self employed carer. I used to do a 10% discount for blocks greater than 4hrs.

Don't feel guilty for charging the full whack. It's your livelihood at the end of the day. I also charge 55p per mile. Again don't feel guilty. They are still only paying cost. And I'd bet it was still a heck of a lot cheaper to go by car than to use public transport!

Maybe £15-£16 an hour, more because it’s a discount for a block of hours rather than because his Dd was there.

I would have thought the price would have been agreed beforehand! Did the daughter do all the care needs during that time, and you were essentially a taxi service, or did YOU still provide care to him? This would determine what I'd charge. You were still 'working' though even if not providing personal care the whole time, so you still need to charge for your time. It doesn't sound like during his 'hobby' you could head home for a few hours, but had to stay there with them?

I'm not a carer, but for my work, if we have a passenger, the cost per mile is the 45p + 5p per additional passenger. Its extra wear and tear on your car, so worth adding that too.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/rates-and-allowances-travel-mileage-and-fuel-allowances/travel-mileage-and-fuel-rates-and-allowances

DD has 24/7 care and when we don't have our regular live in agency carers we pay self employed.

Often they will be at home and spend a lot of the time doing not much. Many times they accompany her out and about and sometimes there is another relative there as well. Makes no difference to what we pay.

We pay the hourly rate for the hours we employ them regardless of whether it's a busy day or quiet day and who else is around.

Standard here in SE is £25ph but there are discounts for 24 hours or longer.

But was the dd there sharing the care, or was she along for the activity? I do think it's different if it was clear that it was a shared care arrangement from the outset, where OP would have been able to go off on her own for a set amount of time.

Charge your usual rate or things get messy.

Hourly rate here for care is £40 an hour with discounts for overnight (where 24h care). A lot more than your rate and everyone is in demand.

The outing was my idea and I asked dd if she would like to come along.

Although you would be well within your rights to charge for the whole day I think h given was your idea I'd be a bit taken aback at you charging for it. Again you would be filly in your rights to do so but it seems a bit off. In this instance I would charge for your normal hours (2) plus fuel. Next time you suggest a day out at that point clarity costs.

I'm se

I charge all hours worked

It's my time and if they didn't pay it/me work for them

I would be working elsewhere ,working and earning

Mileage is 45p mile

If you charge more then will be taxed on it

You were working. You need to be paid

Doesn't matter if anyone else was there

Still your time

I'm a mn so parents are 99% about but I don't charge any less

Really? I'd be absolutely delighted that a carer had taken the care and initiative to suggest and organise such a trip, tailored to my dad's interests. I'd be making sure that there was no awkwardness about full payment by sorting it out in advance.

Hi all
how much is a fair hourly price for looking after someone who’s had a stroke, but no personal care, PRIVATELY
solihull Area

Upwards of £20 per hour I would say. I personally don’t charge less because a client doesn’t need personal care

You are going to sell yourself short massively if you listen to some of this advice.

Whether relatives come or not you charge your fee. It’s your livelihood, don’t start messing about with discounts. End of story. Don’t doubt yourself or your fee.

Also £18 is cheap.

Currently paying £25/hour privately (not via an agency) for companionship (no personal care).