Payroll, employment checks and responsibilities

Payroll companies

If you decide to hire a company to manage your payroll, the following organisations can do this for you:

There are also other providers that offer a payroll service. Wokingham Borough Council does not endorse any particular provider.

These companies also offer a payroll service to self-employed carers and personal assistants (PA).

Pension scheme

Employers also have a responsibility to contribute to a pension scheme. The pension regulator website gives details on what you would need to do and by when, as well as guidance on choose a pension scheme.

Home employment insurance

If you hire a carer or personal assistant to help you live independently in your own home, you'll need to obtain Employer’s Liability Insurance and Public Liability Insurance. The following organisations can provide quotes for these policies:

These insurance companies also have policies for self-employed carers and personal assistants (PA).

Employment checks and responsibilities

To carryout employment checks and to understand what your responsibilities are as an employer go to the UK Government website.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS): as an employer you can check someone's criminal record

Right to Work: checking an applicant’s right to work

National Minimum Wage: rate for the National Minimum Wage

Tax and national insurance: Tax and employing someone to work in your home

Statutory holiday pay: calculate holiday entitlement

Employment contract

When hiring a carer or personal assistant (PA) you will need to draw up a contract of employment. This is a legally binding agreement and outlines what you expect from your carer or PA and what they can expects from you.

The type of information that should go in a contract:

Your details
Employees details
Type of employment - full time, part time, permanent, fixed term
Employee's job title and start date
Duties of role
Location of work, including other work locations
Working days and hours
Salary or hourly wage
How often pay will be received, for example, every week, once per month, every two weeks
Annual leave entitlement including if bank and public holidays are included in the employee's paid annual leave.
Other leave entitlement such as maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
Sick pay and who employee should notify if they are off sick and by when
Lateness, who to phone
Pension scheme details
Insurances
Probation period
Notice period
Disciplinary and grievance procedure
Any other terms such as confidentiality

You and the carer/PA need to sign the contract. You should keep a signed copy for your records and give a copy to your carer/PA.

The following websites provide further information on employment contracts including example templates: