You've found an amazing carer through Like Family, you've built a genuine connection, and maybe you're thinking about continuing that relationship off-platform to save a bit on fees.
It may make sense on the surface, but before you make that move, let's talk about what you might be giving up.
This isn't about keeping you locked in. It's about making sure you understand what protection, support, and peace of mind actually look like when things don't go to plan.
The value of staying on-platform
We built Like Family to connect locals who care with people in need. We believe that finding great care shouldn't mean sacrificing safety, support, or your peace of mind. Here's what staying on-platform actually gives you:
Safety and trust you can count on
Every carer on Like Family goes through a thorough screening process, including NDIS Worker Screening Checks, reference checks, and ongoing quality monitoring.
Off-platform, you'd need to personally verify qualifications, conduct police checks, and check they are properly insured. You also need to keep all of this up to date yourself.
Community support when you need it
Being on-platform means you're never alone in this journey. You have access to our support team, resources for both carers and members, and a community of people who understand aged care and disability support. We're always just a message or phone call away.
Legal compliance without the headache
Whether it’s understanding NDIS regulations or insurance obligations, staying compliant as a social carer can be complicated. When you're on-platform, we handle all of this for you and your carer.
The reality of going off-platform
We know cost matters, especially when you're managing NDIS funding carefully. But by connecting with carers off the Like Family platform, you open yourself up to risks and challenges.
When things go wrong, there's no safety net
If your carer can't make it one day, gets sick, or needs to move on, you're suddenly scrambling to find replacement care on your own. By using the Like Family platform, we can help you find replacement care quickly should something happen with your regular carer.
There's no one to turn to if you have a problem
If you end up in a disagreement about hours, payment disputes, or concerns about care quality with a carer off-platform, these become personal conflicts with no neutral party to help resolve them. By remaining connected through Like Family, our team can step in to mediate and find solutions that work for everyone.
Insurance and liability sit squarely on your shoulders
Sometimes accidents happen, but if you aren’t working through Like Family when something occurs, you could be personally liable. That could be your carer getting injured in your home, or an incident during an outing, but either way, it’s a risk many people don't fully understand until it's too late.
What being NDIS-registered actually means
You might hear carers say they can work "independently" with NDIS clients. While this is technically possible, it's important to understand what this means.
NDIS-registered providers like Like Family have:
- Robust quality and safeguarding systems that are independently audited
- Group Personal Accident and Public Liability insurance that protects both you and your carer
- Incident reporting and management processes if something goes wrong
- Formal complaint resolution procedures that are fair and transparent
- Ongoing compliance monitoring to ensure standards don't slip
An individual carer, even with an NDIS Worker Screening Check, doesn't have these protections in place. They might be wonderful people providing excellent care, but without the infrastructure around them, you're taking on significantly more risk.
The potential risks of independent care arrangements
While private arrangements with independent carers can work in certain situations, it's important to understand there are risks.
Without clear contracts and invoicing systems, payment disputes can damage relationships and leave you without care. You may end up pressured to pay cash or struggle to get receipts for their NDIS claims, for example.
Great care relationships are warm and genuine, but they also need healthy boundaries. Off-platform, these boundaries can blur, leading to situations that feel uncomfortable but are hard to address directly. And when there's no one monitoring care quality or providing professional development, standards can drift.
Finally, sometimes life gets in the way. Carers get sick, move house, or need to change their availability. On-platform, we help you transition smoothly to backup or new carers. Off-platform, you're starting from scratch every time.
Making the choice that's right for you
Like Family has always been committed to offering simple, affordable rates below the NDIS Price Guide. Our platform's flat-rate fees enable social carers to earn competitive rates, while covering essential operating costs of our digital platform – including insurance and compliance.
We're committed to keeping our costs reasonable while maintaining the quality and safety you deserve.
Ultimately, this is your decision. We trust you to make the choice that works for your situation, your budget, and your needs.
But if you're considering going off-platform, we'd love to chat first. Sometimes there are solutions we can explore together, like finding different funding options within your NDIS package, or connecting you with financial counselling resources.
And if you've already moved off-platform and you're realising you miss the support? We're here. Come back anytime. There's no judgment – just a genuine desire to support you in the way you need.
Let's talk
Got questions about staying on-platform? Wondering about your specific situation? We're here to help you think it through.
Reach out to our support team anytime via hello@likefamily.com.au or call 1800 545 332. We're not here to give you a hard sell, just honest answers about what protection and support actually look like in practice.
Great care isn't just about the person providing it. It's about having the right systems, support, and safety nets around that relationship so it can flourish – for the long term.