Choosing care
Questions to ask a caregiver
Take this to the first meeting. The questions are grouped so you can work through them in a natural order, and most can be asked of an individual worker or an agency.
Written and reviewed by the My Caregiver editorial team · Last reviewed September 2026 · Editorial policy
Listen for specifics
Experience and approach
- How long have you worked in care, and in what settings?
- What experience do you have with the specific support we need?
- Tell me about a shift that did not go to plan and what you did.
- How do you approach a task the person does not want to do that day?
- What does a good shift look like to you?
- What kind of work do you prefer not to take on?
Availability and reliability
- Which days and times can you commit to, ongoing?
- Do you cover our exact suburb, and does that change on weekends?
- What is your minimum shift length?
- How much notice do you need to change a shift?
- How often do you take leave, and how is it covered?
- Who attends if you are unwell, and how will we be told?
Safety, checks and scope
- What police check and worker screening do you hold, and may I see them?
- Do you hold current first aid and CPR certification?
- What qualifications or training have you completed?
- What insurance is in place, and who holds it?
- Can you assist with medication, and to what extent?
- Are you trained in manual handling and any equipment we use?
- How do you record what happened in a shift?
Money and paperwork
- What are your rates for weekdays, evenings, weekends and public holidays?
- Do you charge travel time or kilometres, and how is it calculated?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- How and when do you invoice, and what payment methods do you accept?
- Will you provide a written service agreement?
- When were your rates last updated, and how much notice do you give of changes?
Communication and fit
- How do you prefer to communicate with family — notes, messages, a weekly call?
- How would you raise a concern about our arrangement?
- How should we raise something with you?
- Are you comfortable with our household — pets, other family, visitors, language?
- Would you be happy to start with a short trial period and review it together?
Extra questions for an agency or provider
- Will we see the same worker each visit, and how often does that change in practice?
- How are your workers supervised and supported?
- What is your process for matching a worker to a client?
- Who writes the care plan, how often is it reviewed, and do we get a copy?
- What are your management or administration fees, shown separately?
- How do we make a complaint, who handles it, and what is the timeframe?
- How much notice is required to end the arrangement?
After the interview
Write your impressions down the same day while they are fresh, call the references, and confirm the checks. Then run a short trial before committing to an ongoing roster — see how to choose a caregiver for the full process.
Common questions
How long should the interview take?
Around 30 to 45 minutes is usually enough for a first conversation, followed by a short paid trial shift. A rushed ten-minute chat rarely surfaces the things that matter.
Should the person receiving care be part of it?
Yes, wherever possible, and they should lead as much of it as they can. How a candidate speaks with them is the most useful signal available in the room.
Is it rude to ask about checks and insurance?
No. Professional caregivers and providers expect these questions and answer them easily. Hesitation or vagueness is itself informative.
Last reviewed September 2026. General information only — not medical, legal or financial advice.