Refined Staff
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Answers before you start.

Find answers about hiring, applying, fees and privacy. If you need more help, call Adam on 07791 655 774.

For households

Hiring private staff

Pricing, shortlist timing, checks, replacements, public visibility and what happens before a candidate profile is shared.

  • One £2,500 VAT-inclusive placement fee
  • Software-led matching with limited recruiter oversight
  • Anonymised opportunity handling
Household questions Start a hiring brief
For candidates

Applying to Refined Staff

Role selection, documents, profile privacy, whether candidates pay, and when a household sees your details.

  • Apply for more than one genuine role type
  • Documents requested only when needed
  • No household sees private files before an accepted intro
Candidate questions Register for work
No answer matches. Call Adam on 07791 655 774 and he'll answer directly.
For households and principals

Hiring private staff through Refined Staff

These answers are for principals, family offices, PAs and household managers briefing a role or comparing Refined Staff with a traditional agency.

Pricing & fees 3 answers

Flat fees. No percentage. Charged only on confirmed hires.

How much does a placement cost?
£2,500 total per successful placement, including VAT, whatever the salary. No percentage fee. See full pricing →
When do households pay?
The placement fee is charged only on a confirmed hire. There is no charge to brief a role, see a shortlist or run an intro call. Any third-party check cost outside the agreed placement scope is approved with the household before an order is placed.
What if a placement does not work out?
A paid placement includes one replacement search if the engagement ends within 90 days, subject to the conditions in the terms.

Vetting & compliance 3 answers

The provider route and check scope are agreed for the placement before anything is ordered. Results that require judgement are escalated.

What checks are included for households?
The check scope and provider route are confirmed for the placement before an order is made. Results that require judgement are escalated before placement sign-off. Any third-party cost outside the agreed placement scope is approved with the household first.
How does Refined Staff support compliance without slowing down?
Where the candidate has opted into both brands and reuse is permitted, Refined Staff can check whether Irving Scott already holds a current, role-appropriate verification. Expired, missing or role-specific checks are refreshed through the appropriate provider. Edge cases, including DBS disclosures, go to supervised human review. Software never makes the safeguarding call.
How does identity verification work?
Identity and Right-to-Work checks are completed or refreshed only when appropriate for the placement. The candidate follows the provider route agreed for that placement; Refined Staff receives status and review information rather than storing raw identity evidence in the household dashboard.

The process 6 answers

A software-led route from brief to introduction, with recruiter oversight only where judgement is required.

How fast is the household process?
Timing depends on the role, location and current candidate responses. The platform handles routine progress; recruiter contact is reserved for cases that need it.
Do recruiters review candidates?
Routine matching and administration are software-led. Paloma or Adam steps in for exceptions, safeguarding concerns and placement decisions; they do not review every shortlist.
What must happen before an intro meeting?
The household and candidate each separately accept two required items: the managed-intro rules and the text-transcription notice. Until both accept, Refined Staff does not release the private Daily room or final calendar invitations. A named consultant admits participants and starts transcription; video recording is not enabled. If either participant declines, the meeting does not proceed. Read the meeting terms →
Will my household role be public?
No. The public role-interest page contains general candidate categories, not your live brief. Your household name, precise address, family details and private requirements stay inside the Refined Staff workflow.
Where does Refined Staff support roles?
Refined Staff accepts briefs for London, the home counties and other UK locations. The brief can also capture travel and secondary-property requirements. Permanently overseas roles need a recruiter review before Refined Staff confirms whether it can support the role.
Do you place temporary or short-term staff?
The focus is permanent household placements. Defined fixed-term engagements are placed where the brief is clear: maternity nurses are part of the core Nanny & Maternity pool, and maternity cover or a season at a second home are handled case-by-case. Rolling day-to-day temp cover isn't offered. If timing is the question, talk to Refined Staff before briefing to confirm the right route and fee basis.
For candidates

Applying to the Refined Staff network

These answers are for candidates applying for private household work or updating what Refined Staff can match them to.

Applying 4 answers

Refined Staff does not charge candidates for introductions, matching or work-finding.

How do I apply as a candidate?
Pick every role you would genuinely take on, share where you are based, your work setup, availability, contact details, languages, experience background and readiness information. A CV and photo are optional at first. Apply here →
Can I choose more than one role?
Yes. Many good private staff fit more than one household role. Choose every role family you would genuinely accept — for example housekeeper and lady's maid, chef and nutrition, butler and PA, or estate and house management.
What information does Refined Staff ask for?
Refined Staff asks for role focus, location, live-in/live-out or rota preference, availability, contact details, phone numbers, languages, years of experience, background context, strengths, specialist training and what documents or checks you already have ready.
Do candidates pay Refined Staff?
No. Candidates are never charged for introductions, matching or work-finding. Optional portable checks — such as the DBS Update Service — are paid directly to the relevant provider if you choose to maintain them.

Documents & privacy 4 answers

Documents stay private until there is a real reason to request or share evidence.

Do I need to upload documents immediately?
No. Refined Staff asks what you already have ready — CV, Right to Work evidence, DBS, driving licence, references or certificates — but evidence is requested securely only when a real role needs it.
Who sees my documents?
Documents stay private to Refined Staff and the relevant provider portal. They are never shared with a household before you accept an intro call; results that need judgement are escalated before placement.
When does a household see my profile?
After an introduction is proposed and you accept the relevant intro terms. The household receives a Refined Staff-branded profile for the meeting, not raw private documents or unchecked personal files.
Are intro meetings transcribed?
Yes. For a Refined Staff managed intro, text transcription is required. You receive a separate link explaining the purpose, access and normal 12-month retention before any room link is released. You must also accept the no-private-contact and no-off-platform-negotiation rules. If you decline either item, the meeting does not proceed. A named consultant hosts the private Daily room; video recording is not enabled. Read the privacy details →
Still wondering

The fastest answer is a phone call.

The platform handles routine activity. Paloma Irving or Adam Irving responds when a recruiter decision, safeguarding review or exceptional brief needs human input. The direct line is monitored between 9 and 6, Monday to Friday; response time is not guaranteed.

Call 07791 655 774 Brief a role instead