Answers, in plain English.

Three ways. Browse caregivers on /find-a-sitter, message the one you like on WhatsApp via their profile, and confirm the booking — we send the contract and payment link. Or skip the browsing and message us directly on WhatsApp at +1 (876) 386-2385 and we will match a verified caregiver to your parish, hours, and budget. Or post a one-off job on /post-a-job and let caregivers apply.

Every CareLink caregiver must produce a current JCF Police Certificate, which we verify against government-issued ID. They also pass a structured interview with our team and provide at least two reference checks from prior employers, schools, or families. The gold verified badge on profile cards only appears when these checks are all complete. We never use stock photos or fabricated profiles — see /safety for the full disclosure.

Standard hourly rates run J$600–J$1,000 per hour across most parishes. Premium rates (J$900–J$1,500/hr) apply in Kingston Metro and for experienced caregivers. Weekly nannies are typically J$35,000–J$80,000 for full-time live-out and J$80,000–J$200,000 per month plus room and board for live-in. See the full grid on /pricing.

WiPay (card), bank transfer, Lynk, or cash on the day. Diaspora parents pay in USD via card or PayPal. Cash, bank transfer, and Lynk bookings have no platform fee — what you pay is what your caregiver gets. Card and PayPal carry a 10% (12% for PayPal) platform fee that covers our processor cost.

If you book in Kingston Metro and your confirmed caregiver cancels, we rematch you within 60 minutes during business hours at no extra charge. If we cannot, your next booking is on us. We are extending the guarantee parish by parish. In parishes outside Kingston Metro we respond to every urgent request within 60 minutes and dispatch as quickly as coverage allows. See /guarantee for the written promise.

For long-term live-in or live-out placements we run a managed service. Two fees: a refundable J$25,000 (≈ US$160) matching fee paid at the discovery call, plus a success fee equal to 50% of one month's gross salary, paid on the caregiver's first day. The matching fee is credited against the success fee. 90-day replacement guarantee included. See /placements.

Our diaspora flow handles this. We bill in USD by card or PayPal and pay your caregiver in JMD. Discovery call by WhatsApp video, weekly written summaries with photos shared by mutual agreement. We work with families in New York, Toronto, London, Miami, and further. See /diaspora.

Yes. Once a booking is marked completed, both parent and caregiver can leave a 1–5 star review with comments. Reviews refresh the caregiver's AI-generated profile summary, which is what other families read.

Our replacement support kicks in immediately. In Kingston Metro we rematch you within 60 minutes during business hours. Outside Kingston Metro we respond within 60 minutes and dispatch as quickly as coverage allows. If we cannot place a replacement, your next booking is on us.

Browsing and messaging are free, forever. CareLink only earns a 10% platform fee on card (WiPay) and 12% on PayPal bookings. Bank transfer, Lynk, and cash bookings carry zero platform fee.

Apply at /become-a-sitter. You will fill out a profile, upload a current JCF Police Certificate, provide at least two work references, and complete a structured first interview with our team. Once we verify everything, your profile goes live to parents in your parish. The whole process typically takes 5–10 business days.

Yes. Every CareLink caregiver must produce a current JCF Police Certificate (the document must not be expired). CareLink reimburses the J$3,000 cost of the certificate on your first completed booking. See /blog/jcf-police-record-guide-jamaica for the full step-by-step guide.

Caregivers set their own hourly rates. Most CareLink caregivers list between J$600 and J$1,500 per hour depending on parish, experience, and the kind of care (newborn vs school-age, single child vs multiple, daytime vs overnight). For full-time placements, weekly rates typically range J$35,000–J$80,000 for live-out and monthly J$80,000–J$200,000 for live-in. See /sitter-earnings for the calculator.

No. Caregivers keep 100% of their stated hourly rate. The platform fee (10% on card / 12% on PayPal) is paid by the parent on top — never deducted from your earnings. Cash, bank transfer, and Lynk bookings have no platform fee at all.

Bank transfer (NCB, Scotia, JN, JMMB), Lynk, or cash on the day. For card and PayPal bookings, CareLink releases funds to your bank or Lynk within 24 hours of the booking ending. Set up your payout details on the sitter dashboard.

Message the parent and CareLink concierge as soon as possible. We will help find a replacement and you will be marked as cancelled for that booking. Caregivers who cancel more than twice in 90 days are reviewed. Reliability is a verification standard, the same as the Police Certificate.

Yes. You are never obligated to accept a booking. Use the in-app decline option with a reason — common reasons (rate too low, distance, hours, child age outside your comfort zone) help us match you better next time.

When three or more real Jamaican parents, neighbours, church members, or former employers vouch for you on your profile, you earn the Community Trusted badge. It is the strongest trust signal on the platform after the verified badge and unlocks priority placement in matching.

Reach out to us via WhatsApp at +1 (876) 386-2385 with the booking ID. We review every disputed review against the booking timeline and the messages on the platform. Reviews that violate our community standards (false claims, personal attacks, discrimination) are removed.

We are rolling out short paid training modules in 2026 — CPR refreshers, newborn care basics, behaviour-management essentials. CareLink-trained caregivers will carry a special badge and get priority placement. Join the caregiver WhatsApp group via the dashboard for early access.