How Besidely works

A step-by-step guide for families finding care, and care workers joining our platform.

For families

01

Search for a carer

Enter your postcode and use our filters to find carers in your area. Filter by care type (e.g. dementia care, personal care, companionship), hourly rate, availability, language, gender preference, and distance. All results show DBS-verified carers only.

02

Browse profiles and reviews

Every carer profile shows their experience, qualifications, hourly rate, and real reviews from verified families. You can watch an optional intro video, see their commendation tags (e.g. 'Punctual', 'Calming with dementia'), and save carers to your shortlist.

03

Message before you book

Use in-platform messaging to ask questions before committing. All messaging stays within Besidely. For safety reasons, phone numbers and email addresses are not permitted in messages. This ensures all communication is logged and protected.

04

Book and pay securely

Choose your session date and time, review the service agreement, and pay by card. Your payment is held securely and only released to the carer after you confirm the session went well. Besidely takes a 12% platform fee with no hidden charges.

05

Confirm completion and review

After the session, log in and confirm it went well. This releases payment to the carer. You'll then be invited to leave a star rating and written review to help other families make informed choices.

Cancellation policy

  • More than 24 hours before: Full refund
  • Between 2 and 24 hours before: 50% refund (carer receives 50%)
  • Less than 2 hours before: No refund (carer receives full amount)

For care professionals

01

Apply and complete onboarding

Register as a carer and complete our 5-step onboarding: your personal details and bio, document uploads (DBS, Right to Work, qualifications), two professional references, an optional intro video, and a final review. Our team reviews your application within 2–3 working days.

02

Get approved and go live

Once approved, your profile is live and searchable. Families can view your profile, read your bio, see your qualifications, and message you. You only receive booking requests from families who have paid, protecting your time.

03

Receive and accept booking requests

When a family books you, you'll receive a notification. Review the booking details (date, time, duration, care type, and family notes) then accept or decline. You're in control of your schedule.

04

Provide the session

Attend the session and deliver great care. You're self-employed and set your own rates. Besidely acts as an introductory agency. We connect you with families and handle the platform, but you run your own practice.

05

Get paid weekly

Once the family confirms the session went well, your earnings (total minus 12% platform fee) are transferred to your bank account via Stripe on a weekly basis. You can track all earnings, sessions, and reviews in your carer dashboard.

💰

Keep 88%

Transparent 12% fee covers platform costs and payment processing.

📋

We handle the paperwork

Service agreements, invoices, and payment receipts are all auto-generated.

🛡️

Independently insured

All carers are required to hold public liability insurance as a condition of joining.

About Besidely Friends

Besidely Friends is our companionship sub-product for people who don't need medical care, but would benefit from regular friendly company. Friends are vetted volunteers and part-time workers who provide social visits, light activities, and conversation.

Friends are not care workers and do not provide personal care. However, all Friends are DBS checked and trained, and all Friends are required to hold public liability insurance.