Choosing care is one of the most important decisions a person or family can make. It can also be one of the most expensive.
We understand that.
My own perspective on care was shaped long before Buddies existed. I watched my grandmother care for my grandfather at home throughout his dementia for almost ten years before circumstances meant he needed residential care. That experience, together with almost two decades working across community services, dementia care and complex support, continues to influence how I think about quality, dignity and value.
Throughout my career I have seen exceptional care delivered by remarkable people. I have also seen how financial pressures can sometimes overshadow the individual receiving support.
Buddies was created to demonstrate that there is another way.
As an accredited social enterprise, we reinvest the majority of our profits back into developing our service, supporting our staff and improving the experience of the people we work alongside. Success, for us, is measured by the quality of the relationships we build and the difference those relationships make.
We believe in being open about costs from the outset. We will always explain what is included, discuss your individual circumstances honestly, and work with you to identify the most appropriate level of support.
Where we can, we also believe in the small things that make life better. Sometimes that might simply mean picking up a newspaper, stopping for a coffee, or helping someone access an activity they’ve been looking forward to. These gestures are not additional services—they are part of treating people as individuals rather than appointments in a diary.
Whether you are arranging support for yourself, a family member or someone you work with professionally, our commitment remains the same: honest conversations, fair pricing and care that puts people before processes.
Manager- RMN- Level 6 Leadership and Management
Type of Work | Typical Rate Range (Self-Employed) | Notes |
Private one-to-one care (clients at home) | £35–£60/hr | High-end due to personal responsibility and independence. |
Agency/Locum (via NHS bank or private) | £30–£50/hr | Depends on band, shift type, and location. Nights/weekends often higher. |
Private mental health assessments / case management | £45–£80/hr | For nurses doing community assessments, mental health reviews, or Section 117 work. |
Training / supervision / consultancy | £50–£120/hr | Specialist or corporate rates, depending on experience and accreditation. |
Live-in / intensive community packages | £300–£600/day | Often used for high-risk or complex mental health support in private care. |
EXAMPLE COST
Given:
RMN TIERED PRICING
Spectrum of Cost for RMN input – (knowledge, experience, and suitability to assignment impact rate).
| Service Type / Scenario | Suggested Minimum Charge | Typical / Mid-Range Charge | Premium / High Complexity / Specialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visiting care / companionship (light tasks, low complexity) | £19-£28 / hour | £30-£32 / hour | £35 / hour+ |
| Visiting personal care (washing, dressing, medication prompts, etc.) | £30-£32 / hour | £35-£38 / hour | £40+ / hour |
| Mental health support / wellbeing visits (non-clinical, not high risk) | £25-£28 / hour | £30‐£33 / hour | £35 / hour+ |
| Mental health support with risk / behavioural / crisis involvement | £32-£35 / hour | £38-£42 / hour | £45+ / hour |
| Overnight – sleeping in (carer asleep but available) | £100-£130 / night | £130-£160 / night | £160+ / night if frequent wakings or high supervision needed |
| Overnight – awake / waking shift | ~ £19-£30 / hour | £30-£35 / hour | £40+ / hour depending on intensity, number of hours awake and risk |
| Live-in care (24/7 presence, single carer) | £1,300-£1,500 per week | £1,500-£1,800 per week | £1,900+ / week for very high needs or double carers |
| Travel / mileage surcharge | Apply: £0.45-£0.60 per mile (or local rate) | If travel between clients >10 mins, add travel time at ~50% of hourly rate or more |
Travel Zones and distance based add-ons.
Our travel costs are fair and transparent, here’s our structure:
| Distance from base / typical travel time | Surcharge / Extra Charge Method |
|---|---|
| Within 5 miles / 5–10 minute travel | No surcharge, travel built into base rates |
| 5-10 miles / ~10-20 mins travel | Add £5-£10 per visit, or add travel time (e.g. extra 10-15 mins on top of service time) |
| Over 10 miles / rural or difficult access | Larger surcharge: £10-£20 depending on distance; or charge a “minimum call + travel” (e.g. minimum 1 hour plus travel time) |
Client: needs help with washing, dressing, medication prompts, 1 hour visits, 2x / day, weekdays.
Location: 6 miles from your base.
Suggested rate: £35/hr (personal care) + travel surcharge of £5 per visit.
So: 2 visits * 1 hour * £35 = £70 + 2 * £5 travel = £10 → £80/day on weekdays.
Client: high support needed, de-escalation, behaviour plan work, 3 hours per visit, includes evenings.
Rate: premium mental health rate £40/hr.
Travel: 10 mins, within base zone, included.
Charge: 3 * £40 = £120 per session.
Duties: carer sleeps but must be alert / attend to wakeups, medication checks.
Rate: typical sleeping-in: £150 / night.
If frequent wake ups or higher risk: increase to £180 / night.
Here are quick reference “go-to” rates for Buddies.
Light/companionship visits: £30/hr
Standard personal care: £35/hr
Mental health support (average risk): £33/hr
Mental health high risk / specialist: £55/hr (RMN) £40/hr (Support Worker)
Overnight sleeping: £140-£160 / night
Overnight waking: £30-£35/hr
Live-in 24/7: £1,600-£2.400 / week
