HOW TO HIRE · CARE & SUPPORT

How to hire a meal preparation carer in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

Meal visits that also include washing, dressing or the toilet are regulated personal care. Here is how to tell, what to check and what to ask.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a meal preparation carer in five steps

  1. Ask what the visit includesCooking only, or personal care too.
  2. Check registration if personal care is includedCQC, CIW, the Care Inspectorate or RQIA.
  3. Share diet needsAllergies, swallowing problems, preferences.
  4. Agree who buys the foodAnd how money is handled.
  5. Ask how appetite is recordedPoor appetite is an early warning.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

CQC registration (England)

In England only personal care — washing, bathing, dressing, using the toilet — is a regulated activity. An agency whose meal preparation carer visits involve none of it does not have to be CQC-registered; if visits include any personal care, it must be. Many agencies offering this are registered anyway, which gives you an inspection report to read.

Search the agency on CQC's site, open the location that runs your care, check 'personal care' is listed and read the latest rating. cqc.org.uk →

Care Inspectorate Wales, Care Inspectorate or RQIA

Wales: a domiciliary support service must register with Care Inspectorate Wales under Wales's 2016 social care regulation Act, unless an exemption applies, such as care for four or fewer named people at a time. Scotland: a care at home service may not operate unless registered with the Care Inspectorate. Northern Ireland: the RQIA registers domiciliary care agencies under the Domiciliary Care Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.

Wales: CIW's service directory. Scotland: the Care Inspectorate's find-care directory, with grades. Northern Ireland: RQIA's register of domiciliary care agencies. careinspectorate.scot →

Criminal record check — DBS, PVG or AccessNI

Care work with adults can get the enhanced DBS check with the adults' barred list in England and Wales, or the AccessNI equivalent in Northern Ireland; in Scotland a meal preparation carer in a regulated role must be a PVG scheme member. You cannot apply for a DBS check on a self-employed carer yourself — they apply and show you the certificate, which has no official expiry date.

Ask to see the meal preparation carer's certificate or PVG proof and read when it was issued. gov.uk →

Introductory agency, or you as the employer

An agency that only introduces a meal preparation carer and has no ongoing control is outside CQC registration in England and CIW registration in Wales, so no regulator inspects the care. If you hire and pay a meal preparation carer directly — including with direct payments — gov.uk says you are usually their employer: a contract, payslips, at least the National Minimum Wage, employers' liability insurance and payroll.

Ask in writing whether the agency employs and supervises the carer or only introduces them, and who you pay. gov.uk →

VAT

Preparing meals is exempt from VAT only when a charity, a public body or a state-regulated care provider does it for an older, ill or disabled person who has been assessed as unable to manage it safely; otherwise it is standard-rated at 20%. A care business with VAT taxable turnover over £90,000 must be VAT-registered and must show VAT as its own line on any meal service outside that exemption.

Ask for the VAT number and whether your relative's assessment means the meal visits are exempt. gov.uk →

“Does the meal visit include any personal care, or cooking only?”

A good answer: A clear answer — it decides whether registration applies.

“Are your meal preparation carers trained in food hygiene?”

A good answer: Yes, with training named.

“How do meal preparation carers handle swallowing problems?”

A good answer: Following any speech and language therapist plan.

“Who buys the food, and how is money handled?”

A good answer: Receipts for every purchase.

“Does the meal preparation visit include checking dates in the fridge?”

A good answer: Yes, and remove out-of-date food.

“How will you tell us about poor appetite?”

A good answer: A note and a call.

“Which check do your carers hold?”

A good answer: DBS with adults' barred list, PVG or AccessNI.

Getting the quote right

  • Who actually attends to cook — employed or subcontracted care workers — and whether they have food hygiene training
  • Price per visit and length
  • Food cost not included — and how it is paid
  • Weekend rates
  • The VAT number, and whether VAT is added to the visit price or the visits are exempt
  • Cancellation terms
  • Tasks included

Walk away if

  • Unclear what the visit covers
  • No receipts for food bought
  • Ignores swallowing advice
  • Out-of-date food left
  • No record of what was eaten
  • Gives personal care without being registered
LOW
£18
TYPICAL
£27
HIGH
£32

What a meal preparation carer costs: £18–£32 per visit

Meal preparation is priced per visit, usually thirty to forty-five minutes; food is extra. Meal Preparation for Elderly price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Meal preparation carers near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. AssessmentDiet, allergies, preferences.
  2. PlanMeals and tasks agreed.
  3. VisitMeal cooked or reheated, served.
  4. Clearing upKitchen tidied, dates checked.
  5. NotesWhat was eaten, any concerns.

Personal care
Washing, bathing, dressing and the toilet — a regulated activity.
Modified diet
Food prepared for swallowing problems.
Food hygiene
Safe handling and storage.
Visit log
Notes after each visit.
Introductory agency
Matches you with a carer without managing care.
Direct payments
Money to arrange your own care.

AFTER

When the job is done

Check the fridge and recordsWhat was eaten.
Review the menuWith your relative.
Keep receiptsFor food money.
Write the reviewHonest detail about this meal preparation carer helps the next person choose. If it went badly, start with the make-it-right step so they can answer.

MONEY BACK

Grants that may apply

Help towards the cost of care, by nation. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment do not depend on having a carer; direct payments follow a care needs assessment.

DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS · GRANTVerified 16 Oct 2026

Attendance Allowance

£76.70 or £114.60 a weeklower rate for help by day or by night; higher rate for help by day and night

Who: people at State Pension age or older whose disability or health condition means they need someone to help look after them

  • you do not need to have a carer to claim
  • in Scotland, Pension Age Disability Payment is claimed instead
Official details on gov.uk →
DISABILITY AND CARERS SERVICE (NORTHERN IRELAND) · GRANTVerified 16 Oct 2026

Attendance Allowance

£76.70 or £114.60 a weektax-free; the higher rate applies straight away under the end-of-life rules

Who: people at State Pension age or over who have needed help with personal care for six months

  • habitually resident in Northern Ireland
  • lived in NI, Great Britain, the Isle of Man, Jersey or Guernsey for at least two of the last three years (not under the end-of-life rules)
Official details on nidirect.gov.uk →
SOCIAL SECURITY SCOTLAND · GRANTVerified 16 Oct 2026

Pension Age Disability Payment

£76.70 or £114.60 a weekreplaces Attendance Allowance in Scotland; not means-tested

Who: people at State Pension age with care needs from a disability or long-term condition

  • you cannot receive it and Attendance Allowance together
  • people already on Adult Disability Payment stay on it
Official details on mygov.scot →
LOCAL COUNCILS · GRANTVerified 16 Oct 2026

Direct payments

set by the council after a care needs assessmentpaid to you to arrange your own care instead of the council arranging it

Who: people aged 16 or over assessed as needing care and support, carers, disabled parents and older people needing community care

  • you must be assessed by social services first
  • if you pay someone to care for you, you may become an employer
Official details on gov.uk →
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TRUSTS (NORTHERN IRELAND) · GRANTVerified 16 Oct 2026

Direct payments

set by the Trust from your assessed support needspaid directly to you

Who: people assessed as needing social services help, including carers and parents of disabled children

  • used for the services or equipment in your care plan
  • you can employ a personal assistant, and as the employer you are responsible for checks and records
Official details on nidirect.gov.uk →

Schemes change. The amounts above were checked on the dates shown; the official page is the one that counts.

STEP 1Give the meal preparation carer the chance to fix itSend a dated message describing the fault and the fix. Section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 sets the standard — reasonable care and skill — for any meal preparation carer trading for money; falling short of it over the visits lets you claim a free repeat or a reduction under section 54.
STEP 2Try the make-it-right stepUnder four stars for a booked meal preparation carer, Locufy asks whether to pass it to them first; we follow it through before the review goes up.
STEP 3CQC, CIW, the Care Inspectorate or RQIAUse the agency's complaints process first. You can then tell the regulator about the care a meal preparation carer gave: CQC in England takes feedback on any service it registers, the Care Inspectorate in Scotland takes complaints, RQIA in Northern Ireland follows up concerns, and CIW registers services in Wales. If someone is at risk of harm, contact the council's adult social care team.
STEP 4Small claims as the last stepWhere the meal preparation carer still refuses, the small claims routes run to £10,000 in England and Wales, £5,000 in Scotland under simple procedure and £5,000 in Northern Ireland, with no solicitor needed.

Hiring a meal preparation carer: questions people ask

Cooking alone is not personal care. If carers also give personal care, such as washing or help with the toilet, the provider must be registered with the regulator for your nation.

Ask for DBS with the adults' barred list (England, Wales), AccessNI (Northern Ireland) or PVG (Scotland).

Attendance Allowance (PADP in Scotland) and direct payments after an assessment.

£18 to £32 a visit, typically around £27. Food is paid for separately. Read the meal preparation for elderly price guide for the factors, then search above to see meal preparation carers in your area.

Not by a registered welfare provider — VAT Notice 701/2.

Complain in writing; the provider owes reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in care & support

How to hire: Elderly CareHow to hire: Home Care AssistantHow to hire: Shopping AssistanceHow to hire: Welfare Check VisitsHow to hire: Medication SupportHow to hire: Companion CareHow to hire: Domiciliary CareHow to hire: Hospital Discharge SupportAll 701 hiring guides →

Meal preparation carers near you

Meal preparation carers in LondonMeal preparation carers in ManchesterMeal preparation carers in BirminghamMeal preparation carers in GlasgowMeal preparation carers in BelfastAll meal preparation carers on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. CQC — personal care (regulated activity)
  2. Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, schedule 1
  3. CQC — search home care agencies
  4. Care Inspectorate Wales — guide to registration under the 2016 Act
  5. mygov.scot — how care is regulated
  6. RQIA — registration guidance
  7. RQIA — register of services
  8. gov.uk — DBS checks: levels and who can request one
  9. mygov.scot — PVG for personal assistants, the self-employed and people working for an individual
  10. nidirect — AccessNI checks for the self-employed and personal employees
  11. gov.uk — employing someone to work in your home
  12. gov.uk — Welfare services and goods (VAT Notice 701/2)
  13. CQC — give feedback on care
  14. Care Inspectorate — how to complain
  15. RQIA — raise a concern
  16. gov.uk — Attendance Allowance
  17. nidirect — Attendance Allowance
  18. mygov.scot — Pension Age Disability Payment
  19. gov.uk — apply for direct payments
  20. nidirect — direct payments
  21. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 54 — consumer's rights for services
  22. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  23. Welfare services and goods (VAT Notice 701/2) — 2.1.2 When routine domestic tasks are exempt from VAT
  24. GOV.UK — VAT rates
  25. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register