Childcare · Elderly care · Special-needs · Postnatal support
On-demand and scheduled childcare, elder care, and special-needs support from Checkr-verified caregivers. Book in minutes. Track, message, and pay in one place.
Background checks via uCheck (UK) and Checkr (US). Payments held in escrow until shifts complete.
From worried search to trusted carer at your door — in 45 seconds.
Whether you need an hour of help or ongoing support, we match you with caregivers vetted for your situation.
Companionship, mobility, medication reminders, dementia-friendly support, respite for family carers.
Learn more →Babysitters, after-school pickup, school holiday cover, overnight nannies, tutoring.
Learn more →Caregivers experienced with autism, ADHD, sensory processing, learning disabilities, and complex needs.
Learn more →Maternity nurses, night nannies, breastfeeding peer support, and newborn-trained caregivers.
Learn more →Clinical-grade caregivers for PEG/tracheostomy, ventilator, seizure protocols, and palliative care.
Learn more →Every type of care above can be delivered as a live-in placement or as scheduled visits. Many of our caregivers offer both.
A caregiver moves in for a placement of several days at a time — round-the-clock support without leaving home.
Paid as a weekly rateLearn more →Scheduled visits — from a single hour a week to several visits a day, on a recurring schedule or one-off.
Paid by the hourLearn more →Every caregiver below is identity-verified, fully background-checked, and ready to take bookings today.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Home Health Aide (HHA) with 6 years of hands-on experience supporting families across NYC. I cover overnight shifts, post-surgical recovery, and complex medical needs. I am a calm presence in difficult moments and pride myself on clear communication with families.
I am a fully qualified carer specialising in elderly care, dementia support, and post-operative recovery. I hold an enhanced DBS, NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care, and have completed dementia and end-of-life care training. I am known for being patient, reliable, and treating every client with the dignity they deserve. Outside of work I love gardening and walks with my Labrador.
Care Certificate, manual-handling, dementia-aware. Companionship to personal care. Discreet, reliable.
NYC-based newborn care specialist. Twin & multiples experience. Available overnight 10pm-7am.
Every caregiver is identity-verified, background-checked, and monitored throughout each shift.
From first search to shift complete in three steps.
Tell us the type of care, schedule, and any specific needs. Takes about a minute.
We surface caregivers who match your needs, schedule, and area — all background-checked.
Confirm your shift, follow live location during the booking, and pay only after it ends.
Stories from early users across the UK and US.
“Booking was the easy part — what really mattered was that the caregiver had been properly vetted. The DBS check evidence in their profile gave me peace of mind.”
“We needed school-holiday cover with about three days’ notice. Got matched the same evening with a brilliant childminder who’s now our go-to.”
“I’ve worked through agencies for ten years. SpecialCarer is the first platform where I keep most of what I earn — and I pick my own shifts.”
First names and details lightly edited for privacy. Stories collected with consent during early-access onboarding.
Honest side-by-side. No hidden subscriptions, no eye-watering agency markups.
| SpecialCarer | Traditional agency | Care.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription to message carers | None — free to browse and message | Usually free upfront, packaged into hourly markup | Premium required to message most carers ($38.99/mo) |
| Background checks | Enhanced DBS (uCheck, UK) or Checkr (US) — we pay | Included — cost baked into agency fee | CareCheck offered as paid add-on; basic check only |
| Platform fee on each booking | 30% flat — transparent at checkout | Often 50–100% markup over carer's take-home | You pay carers directly — no booking guardrails |
| Payments & dispute window | Held in escrow, released 24h after shift ends | Invoiced after; agency mediates | Off-platform, peer-to-peer — no escrow |
| Live shift tracking & SOS | Built in for every shift | Rare — phone the office during hours | Not provided |
| Cancel anytime | Yes — no contract | Often locked into minimum hours per week | Annual plans auto-renew; FTC settled with Care.com over cancellation practices in 2024 |
Care.com pricing as published on their Plans & Pricing page. FTC settlement reference: FTC Consumer Alert, August 2024. Agency markup ranges based on UK CQC and US senior-care industry averages; your local agency may differ.
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Subsidise on-demand childcare, elder care, and special-needs support for your employees. Reduce absenteeism, improve retention, and meet your wellbeing commitments.
Councils, NHS trusts, fostering agencies, residential homes, schools, and charities. Master Services Agreement and Data Processing Addendum in place. Strict verification of every buyer.
Live in cities across the UK and US, with new ones every month.
20 live across the UK and US, with 5 more on the waitlist. Hover any pin for details.
The most common questions from families and caregivers.
Every caregiver completes identity verification with a selfie match, plus full background checks — Enhanced DBS via uCheck for the UK and Checkr (national + county) for the US. We also verify right-to-work status. Profiles only go live once all checks have cleared.
When you book, we authorise the payment but don’t charge your card. Funds are held in escrow with Stripe until 24 hours after the shift ends. If anything goes wrong, you can dispute the booking before the hold is released.
There’s no subscription fee. Caregivers set their own hourly rate, and SpecialCarer takes a flat 30% platform fee — that covers payments, insurance support, dispute resolution, background checks, and live shift tracking. Caregivers keep 70%.
When the caregiver checks in, you get a real-time tracking link (powered by Mapbox) showing their location for the duration of the booking. There’s also an in-app messaging thread per booking for quick coordination, and an SOS button for emergencies.
Yes. Save caregivers you like to your favourites and rebook them in one click. Many of our families build long-term relationships with the same one or two caregivers.
Yes — both markets from day one. We’re actively live in major UK and US metros, with new cities going live every month. Background checks, payments, and tax handling are localised to each region.
Practical guides, policy updates, and stories from inside the care economy.
A short checklist of questions worth asking before you hand over the keys for the first time — and what good answers actually sound like.
Read more →A practical structure for thinking through your care arrangements before, during, and after the return-to-work transition.
Read more →A walk-through of every step in our caregiver verification process — what we check, how we check it, and what we don’t.
Read more →Caregivers keep 70% of every shift. We handle scheduling, payments, insurance support, and disputes — so you can focus on care.
Apply to caregiveFind a vetted caregiver near you in minutes. No subscription, no hidden fees — pay only for the shifts you book.
Special Carer connects you with trusted, verified caregivers who offer reliable and heartfelt support. We make care simple, safe, and deeply meaningful—built on trust and genuine connection.
Want to be among the first to try the app? Join the beta.
Special CarerTogether, we can create a world where
no one feels forgotten, and everyone
feels valued.
This is more than an app, it's a lifeline.
