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A home carer is a professional who supports someone in their own home with everyday tasks, personal care and other aspects of daily life. Depending on the type of care provided, a home carer may visit for a few hours at a time or live in the person’s home.
Home carers support people with a wide range of needs, including older people, people living with disabilities or long-term health conditions and those who need additional support at home.
The role can involve practical care, companionship and helping someone maintain their independence and usual routines.
What does a home carer do?
The role of a home carer varies according to the person’s needs and the type of care they provide.
A home carer may help with:
- Washing, dressing and other personal care
- Preparing meals and supporting good nutrition
- Shopping and light household tasks
- Medication support, where this is included in the care plan
- Getting around the home safely
- Attending appointments and social activities
- Maintaining hobbies and interests
- Providing companionship
- Supporting established daily routines
- Helping family members feel reassured about their loved one’s wellbeing
Not every home carer will carry out all of these tasks. The responsibilities should be agreed as part of the person’s care plan and depend on their needs, the carer’s role and their training.
What is the difference between a home carer and an unpaid carer?
A professional home carer is paid to provide care and support as part of their job.
An unpaid carer is usually a family member, partner, friend or neighbour who provides regular support without being employed as a professional carer.
For example, an adult daughter who helps her mum with shopping, appointments and household tasks may be an unpaid carer. A care worker employed by a care provider to visit the mum and help with personal care is a professional home carer.
Both roles can be important, and professional care can provide additional support when family members cannot safely or realistically provide everything themselves.
Where does a home carer work?
Home carers work in the person’s own home rather than in a residential care setting.
There are different types of homecare, including:
Visiting care
A visiting carer travels to a person’s home for an agreed period, which could be once a day or several times a day depending on their needs.
Visiting care can provide support with personal care, meals, medication routines, household tasks and companionship while allowing the person to continue living independently at home.
You can read more about the role of a visiting carer.
Live-in care
A live-in carer lives in the person’s home and provides regular support throughout the day, with an overnight presence.
The role can involve personal care, mobility, meals, household tasks, companionship and support with established routines.
You can read more about the role of a live-in carer.
The type of homecare that is appropriate depends on the person’s individual needs and circumstances.
What is a typical day like for a home carer?
There is no single typical day for a home carer.
A visiting carer may start their day by travelling between clients’ homes and providing support at specific times. A live-in carer’s day will usually be based around the person’s established routine and care plan.
A day could include helping someone get washed and dressed, preparing breakfast, supporting them with medication, doing some light household tasks and accompanying them to an appointment or activity.
There may also be time for conversation, hobbies and companionship.
One of the attractions of working in homecare is that the work is centred around the individual. Their needs, preferences and routines help shape the support they receive.
What skills does a home carer need?
Professional care requires practical skills and appropriate training, but personal qualities are important too.
A good home carer should be:
- Compassionate and respectful
- Patient and understanding
- Reliable and responsible
- A good communicator
- Comfortable working independently
- Observant and able to notice changes
- Respectful of privacy and personal boundaries
- Adaptable when someone’s needs change
- Able to remain calm in challenging situations
The role can involve supporting people through difficult or sensitive moments, so empathy and emotional resilience are important.
Professional carers also need to understand the boundaries of their role and follow their employer’s policies, care plans and safeguarding procedures.
Do you need experience to become a home carer?
The requirements vary between care providers and roles.
Some employers recruit people who have no previous professional care experience and provide the training and support they need to develop their skills.
Previous experience of caring for a family member can also give you an understanding of what supporting another person involves, although unpaid caring and professional care are not the same.
If you are considering a career in care, it is worth checking the specific training, qualifications and experience required for the role you are interested in.
Our qualities of a carer guide explains more about the personal qualities that can help someone succeed in a care role.
Is being a home carer a rewarding career?
Working as a home carer can be rewarding because you can make a meaningful difference to someone’s everyday life.
You may help someone maintain their independence, continue living in their own home or take part in activities that are important to them.
The role can also be challenging. Care work can be physically and emotionally demanding, and carers need to be comfortable managing responsibilities, adapting to different situations and maintaining professional boundaries.
No two people have exactly the same needs, so homecare can offer variety as well as opportunities to build long-term relationships with the people you support.
What is the difference between a home carer and a care assistant?
The terms home carer, care worker and care assistant can sometimes be used to describe similar roles, but job titles vary between employers.
A home carer generally provides support in a person’s own home, while a care assistant may work in a care home, hospital or other care setting.
The responsibilities depend on the individual role rather than the job title alone, so it is important to read the job description when applying for a care position.
What is the difference between a home carer and a domiciliary carer?
A domiciliary carer is another term commonly used for a professional who provides care in a person’s own home.
Domiciliary care is usually provided through scheduled visits, while live-in care involves a carer living in the person’s home.
The exact terminology varies between care providers, but both forms of care are designed to support people in their own homes.
Could home care be the right career for you?
If you enjoy helping people, communicate well and want a career where your work can have a direct impact on someone’s quality of life, homecare could be worth considering.
You do not necessarily need years of previous care experience. The right qualities, willingness to learn and commitment to providing respectful, person-centred support are important foundations for a career in care.
It’s also worth thinking about which type of homecare would suit you. Visiting care and live-in care involve different working patterns and responsibilities.
Start your career in homecare with Trinity Homecare
Trinity Homecare provides professional care in people’s own homes, including live-in care and visiting care.
If you are considering becoming a professional carer, our Guide to Becoming a Carer provides further information about the role, the skills you may need and what to expect from a career in care.
You can also explore our care jobs to see current opportunities with Trinity Homecare.
Frequently asked questions about home carers
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A home carer is a professional who provides care and support in a person’s own home. Depending on the role, they may help with personal care, meals, mobility, household tasks, companionship and everyday routines.
A home carer supports a person’s individual needs, which may include personal care, preparing meals, medication support, mobility, household tasks and companionship. Their responsibilities depend on the care plan and the type of care they provide.
Yes. A live-in carer lives in the person’s home and provides regular support throughout the day, with an overnight presence. A visiting carer, by contrast, visits the home for agreed periods.
Requirements vary between employers and roles. Some care providers offer training to people who are new to professional care, while other positions may require previous experience or specific qualifications.
Domiciliary care is another term commonly used for care provided in a person’s own home, usually through scheduled visits. Live-in care is another form of homecare where the carer lives in the person’s home.
