Who are Elder? | Elder Help Center

Elder was founded by Pete and Tom in 2015 after they both had difficult experiences finding care homes for their grandparents. They thought there must be a better alternative, so they stared Elder.

At Elder, we don’t think growing old should mean moving into a care home. For many clients, opting for live-in care is an opportunity to avoid the disruption of packing up their life and feeling their freedom slipping away. Instead, Elder helps clients to get the support they need in the home they love, keeping years of treasured memories and maintaining a connection with their community.

Elder operates throughout the United Kingdom, with an aim to be the number one care marketplace in the UK. Since starting in 2015, we have been facilitating live-in care for hundreds of families from Cornwall all the way up to Inverness.

What type of agency is Elder?

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) defines companies like Elder as an introductory agency pursuant to the Health & Social Care Act 2008. This means that by signing up to use Elder services, you are acting as a self-employed carer in the homes of those you care for and are yourself responsible for the quality of care given.

What is an introductory agency and what does it mean?

In Great Britain there are three independent bodies that regulate certain health and social care activities:

Care Quality Commission (CQC) – England only
The Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)
The Care Inspectorate Scotland (CIS)

Elder operates as an introductory marketplace – matching self-employed carers to those seeking care. While we provide on-going support with our products, The ElderHub and our services (e.g carer matching) we don’t have an ongoing role in the direction or control of the care that’s provided in someone's home. This means we don’t interfere with how self-employed carers perform their duties.

The CQC, CIW, and CIS therefore recognise Elder as an introductory agency, and registering with these independent bodies isn’t required. Elder provides several services to facilitate the placement, including, access to placements, payroll services, and the relay of important information such as start dates/times and complaints from the client.

What an Introductory agency can do?	What an Introductory agency can't do?
Help you connect with a family looking for care Help source a replacement or substitute professional, as required Provide payroll services for you Provide support services for you to help you with your own care management (e.g. the Care Profile) Conduct regular check-ins to make sure you are happy with the introductory agency service	Directly provide training, implement mandatory training, or manage the performance of self-employed carers Create a care plan based on the needs of the care recipient Advise, direct or change how a self-employed carer provides care Act as an advocate for the care recipient, changing the care received or providing care advice Review or manage the care plan in consultation with the individual