Can I work for more than one care agency at the same time?

Yes. If you're self-employed or on a bank/zero-hours contract, there's no UK law stopping you working for more than one care agency at the same time. Most agencies actively welcome this because it helps them cover gaps — the main things to check are your contract terms, your employment status, and whether your DBS check and training are portable between employers.

When you're free to work for multiple agencies

If you're genuinely self-employed (you invoice for your time, control your own diary, and aren't told exactly how to do every task), you can take work from as many agencies or care homes as you like. Bank staff on zero-hours contracts are also usually free to work elsewhere unless their contract says otherwise. The grey area is exclusivity clauses — some employed or "preferred bank" contracts include a clause restricting you from working for a direct competitor. Always read your contract before assuming you're free to take a second agency's shifts; if you're unsure whether a clause is enforceable, ACAS or a union such as Unison can advise.

Self-employed carer rules worth knowing

If you're working as a genuinely self-employed freelance carer across multiple agencies:

• Register with HMRC as self-employed and file a Self Assessment tax return — you're responsible for your own tax and National Insurance, agencies won't deduct it for you.
• Keep your own records of hours, mileage and income from each agency.
• Check your employment status carefully. HMRC and employment tribunals look at the reality of the working relationship, not just what the contract calls you. If an agency controls your hours, uniform and methods closely, you may actually be a "worker" with different rights — this is a legal grey area worth checking with HMRC's Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool or an accountant if you're unsure.

DBS and right-to-work — the part that actually slows people down

The practical barrier to working across agencies isn't legal permission, it's paperwork duplication. Every agency is required to see a valid DBS check and verify your identity and right to work before you start. Without the DBS Update Service, each new agency may ask you to pay for and wait on a brand-new enhanced DBS check, even if you had one last month for someone else. Signing up to the Update Service (£16/year) lets employers check your existing certificate online instantly, which is the single biggest thing you can do to make working for multiple agencies painless.

Practical steps to work for two or more agencies

1. Confirm your contract status (self-employed, bank, or employed) and check for exclusivity clauses.
2. Get your enhanced DBS check on the Update Service so it's portable.
3. Register as self-employed with HMRC if you're not already.
4. Keep evidence of your right to work and any relevant care certificates ready to share quickly.
5. Be upfront with each agency about your availability so shifts don't clash.

Where carer sharing platforms fit in

This is exactly the gap that "carer sharing" is starting to close. Nanum is a UK platform where care agencies and care homes share vetted, verified carers with each other instead of everyone re-doing the same checks. The idea is that a freelance carer verifies once at the Nanum layer — DBS, identity, right to work — and that verification then travels with them across every participating agency, rather than starting from scratch each time. Shifts are matched by proximity so you're offered work near you, and every match still has to be accepted by a human on both sides — no agency is forced to take a carer they haven't approved, and no carer is auto-booked into a shift they haven't agreed to. This part of Nanum is new and still rolling out, so treat it as the direction the sector is heading rather than something to rely on for every agency today.

FAQ

Do I need a new DBS check for every agency I work for? Not necessarily. If your enhanced DBS certificate is registered with the Update Service, agencies can check it online instantly instead of requiring a fresh application, saving you time and money each time you take on a new agency.

Can an agency stop me working for a competitor? Only if your contract includes a clear exclusivity clause, and even then such clauses can be legally questionable, especially for genuinely self-employed or zero-hours workers. If you're unsure, check with ACAS or a care sector union before assuming you're bound by it.

How do I know if I'm self-employed or a 'worker' for tax purposes? It depends on how much control the agency has over your hours, methods and equipment, not just what your contract says. HMRC's CEST tool or a quick check with an accountant can clarify your status and avoid tax problems later.