Home & companionship
Everyday support to live well at home.
Find a carer
Vetted carers & PAs · UK & Northern Ireland
The right carer, right by your side.
Alongside introduces you to vetted, independent carers and PAs near you. For companionship, everyday help, live-in support, or support through university. You choose who, you keep the same person, and you pay a fairer price.
★★★★★ Rated by families*
Every carer DBS checked
Matched in 48 hrsVetted carers near you
Your own carerThe same trusted face
Why people choose Alongside
Care that’s truly on your side
No agency sending whoever’s free. You choose your person, build a real relationship, and more of what you pay goes to them.
Vetted, every one
Built on Comfort Care’s ten years in care. Every carer and PA is checked and interviewed long before they reach you.
You choose who
You pick who comes into your home, and keep the same familiar face. The opposite of rota roulette.
A fairer price
No agency fee added to every hour. You usually pay less, and your carer keeps far more of it.
An hour, or full days
An hour a week, overnights, full live-in, or support at uni. As life changes, you don’t start over.
What we help with
The help you’re looking for
Whatever you need a hand with, there’s a vetted Alongside carer for it. And if things change, the same person can change with you.
Live-in & overnight
Reassurance at home, day and night.
Find a carerComplex & specialist
Experienced carers for higher needs.
Find a carerRespite & short stays
A helping hand when you need a break.
Find a carer
Everyday help & companionship
More than care, help with the whole of life
A friendly face for the parts of life that have got harder, or that you would simply rather not do alone. Mix and match whatever you need.
Company & conversation
A regular friendly face and a proper chat.
Getting out & about
Walks, visits and days out, at your pace.
Shopping & errands
The weekly shop, prescriptions and the post office.
Cooking & meals
Home cooking, made the way you like it.
Light housekeeping
Tidying, laundry and keeping on top of things.
Letters & admin
A hand with post, forms and correspondence.
Social outings & hobbies
Clubs, classes, church or the garden centre.
Lifts & appointments
A lift and a hand to the GP, hospital or hairdresser.
Someone nearby, wherever you are
Alongside covers the whole of the UK and Northern Ireland.
UK & NInationwide coverage
40%average saving vs agencies*
4.9★average family rating*
1,000sof vetted carers*
An honest comparison
How Alongside compares
A fairer model than a traditional agency, and we are happy to show you exactly how.
Traditional agency
Alongside
Choose your own carer
Usually assigned to you
You pick who
The same person each time
Not always guaranteed
Your regular face
What you pay
A fee on every hour
One clear fee, carer keeps more
Freedom to change your mind
Often tied to a contract
You stay in control
Carers fully vetted
Yes
Yes
Help across every age and need
Varies by provider
Companionship to live-in, plus students
How it works
How it works, in three steps
No call centres, no waiting lists. Tell us what you need, meet your matches, usually within days.
1
Tell us what you need
A few details about the help you’re after, and where you are. Two minutes, tops.
2
Meet your matches
See vetted carers near you, with their experience, rates and reviews. Pick who feels right.
3
Get going, your way
Agree the hours and rate with your carer directly, and begin. We stay in the background, ready whenever you need us.
Safety, sorted
Everyone’s checked before you meet
Finding a private carer shouldn’t mean running the background checks yourself. We do that bit, so you can choose with confidence.
- Enhanced DBS / Access NI check on every carer
- Identity and right to work verified
- References and experience confirmed
- A personal interview before they join
- Honest reviews from other families
For carers
Start earning with Alongside
Your clients. Your hours. Your rate.
Work with the people you choose, set your own rate, and keep the large majority of it. We handle the vetting, your profile and reliable weekly pay, so you can focus on the work you love.
Set your rateYou decide your fee
Your hoursWork when it suits
Low feesKeep the lion's share
Student support · funded by the DSA
Personal Assistants for disabled students
Heading to university with a disability, ongoing health condition, mental health condition or learning difference? Alongside matches you with a vetted Personal Assistant who fits the way you study and live.
- Choose your own PA, and keep the same person all year.
- Help with lectures, taking notes, getting around campus and daily life.
- Funded by the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), a government grant you don’t pay back.
- Available at universities right across the UK and Northern Ireland.
New to DSA? We’ll guide you through applying and arranging the right support. [Confirm DSA provider registration before launch.]
Alongside stories
People we’ve brought together
[Illustrative stories. Replace with genuine case studies before launch.]
In their words
Loved by families & carers
[Replace with genuine reviews before publishing.]
We found the most wonderful carer for Mum within a week. The same lovely face every visit, and far less than the agency quoted.
[Family name]Daughter · Cardiff★★★★★After years with agencies, Alongside lets me choose my own clients and set my rate. I finally feel valued, and I earn more.
The vetting gave us real confidence, and the team helped us find the right match. It feels personal, not like a call centre.
Advice & resources
Help making the right call
Understanding private care, funding and what to look for. [Link these to real articles later.]
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
A traditional agency employs carers and sends whoever's free, adding a markup to every hour. Alongside is an introductory platform: we vet independent carers and introduce them to you, then you choose who to work with and arrange care directly. More choice, more continuity, better value.
No. As an introductory service, Alongside does not provide, manage or direct the care itself, so it isn't regulated by the CQC (England), Care Inspectorate Wales, the Care Inspectorate (Scotland) or RQIA (Northern Ireland). Carers work for themselves, and you engage them directly. If you'd prefer a fully managed, regulated service, our parent company Comfort Care (CCRT) can help. Just ask.
Before a carer appears in your matches we verify identity and right to work, check an enhanced DBS (or Access NI in Northern Ireland), confirm references and experience, and carry out a personal interview. You can also read honest reviews from other families.
You pay your carer their hourly rate directly, and Alongside charges one transparent fee for the introduction, vetting and support. With no agency markup on every hour, families typically pay less while carers keep more. [Confirm exact fees before launch.]
You set your own hourly rate and keep the large majority of it. Alongside charges only a small commission per booking. You choose your clients, your hours and how much you take on. You'll register as a sole trader with HMRC, and we'll point you to the guidance.
Alongside operates nationwide, right across the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Wherever you are, enter your postcode and we'll show you vetted carers in your area.
Let’s find the person who’s right by your side.
Looking for a carer, or looking to build a career in care? Either way, Alongside keeps you in control. Let’s find your match.