On-Call Care Process – Household Hive

Household Hive

On-Call Care

Flexible childcare for the moments your family needs extra support.

What Is On-Call Care?

Household Hive On-Call Care gives families access to occasional, short-term childcare support from trusted household professionals. This service is designed for families who need care for date nights, school closures, backup coverage, parent appointments, weekend plans, short-term schedule gaps, or the moments when life needs an extra set of capable hands.

On-call care is flexible, but it is still handled with clear expectations, fair pay, and a professional booking process. Instead of hiring one ongoing nanny, families submit individual care requests for specific dates and times.

Household Hive reviews each request, reaches out to available providers, and responds within 12 hours. A response is guaranteed within 12 hours, but provider availability is not guaranteed.

Helpful For...

On-call care may be a good fit when your family needs:

Date night care
Weekend care
School closure coverage
Backup care
Short-term schedule gaps
Occasional evening support
Parent appointments or events
Temporary extra coverage
Care during busy work seasons
Near-term help when available

How It Works

Become an On-Call Member

Families join Household Hive On-Call Care through an annual membership. Membership gives families access to submit on-call care requests through our provider network. Membership provides access to request care, but does not guarantee provider availability for every request.

Submit a Care Request

When care is needed, families submit a request form with the date, time, location, number and ages of children, duties, driving needs, pets, routines, and any important notes. The more complete the request, the easier it is for us to determine whether the booking may be a good fit for an available provider.

We Check Availability

Household Hive reviews the request and contacts providers who may be a good fit. Families receive a response within 12 hours letting them know whether we can move forward with the request, need additional details, or are unable to confirm a provider.

Confirm the Booking

If a provider is available, Household Hive confirms the booking details with the family and provider before care is finalized. The Household Hive booking fee is due before the booking is confirmed. Families pay the provider directly for all hours worked.

Care Takes Place

The provider arrives at the confirmed time and supports the family according to the agreed booking details. If the booking extends beyond the confirmed end time, the family is responsible for paying the provider directly for the additional time and paying Household Hive the applicable booking fee for the added hours.

Pricing Structure

Household Hive On-Call Care is a membership-based service.

Annual Membership

$395

/year

Membership gives families access to submit on-call care requests through Household Hive’s on-call provider network.

Per Booking Costs

Provider Rate

Families pay providers directly. Rates vary based on experience, duties, number of children, and location.

$30–$40+

/hr

Household Hive Booking Fee

This fee is paid to Household Hive for each confirmed booking.

$10

/hr

Booking Minimum

All on-call care bookings have a minimum to ensure providers are fairly compensated for their time.

4-hours

Cancellation Policy

On-call bookings require time, coordination, and provider availability. To respect everyone’s time, Household Hive uses the following cancellation policy. This policy is designed to protect provider time while still giving families reasonable flexibility when plans change.

Families receive a full refund or credit of the Household Hive booking fee.

Families are responsible for 50% of the 4-hour minimum to both the provider and the agency.

Families are responsible for the full 4-hour minimum to both the provider and the agency.

On-Call Care vs. Temp Nanny Placement

On-call care and temp nanny placement are similar, but they are not the same.

On-call care is intended for occasional, flexible, or short-notice childcare needs. Families submit individual requests for specific dates and times.

Temp nanny placement is better for families who need care for a more defined short-term schedule, such as several weeks, a seasonal gap, a transition period, or temporary ongoing support.

If your family needs repeated care on a regular schedule, Household Hive may recommend a temp nanny placement or long-term nanny search instead.
For ongoing childcare, visit our Long-Term Nanny Placement page.

Important Booking Guidelines

To keep the service fair and clear for both families and providers, all on-call care must be arranged through Household Hive.

Families may not directly book, schedule, or extend care with Household Hive-introduced providers outside of the Household Hive booking process.

If a family wishes to hire an on-call provider for recurring, ongoing, or long-term care, the arrangement may be considered a placement, and Household Hive’s standard placement fee may apply.

Family Responsibilities

Families always pay providers directly for all hours worked. Household Hive helps coordinate introductions and booking details, but the family directly engages the provider for each booking. Families are responsible for:

Household Hive is not the employer, payroll provider, tax advisor, or legal advisor.

Is On-Call Care Right for Your Family?

On-call care works best for families who need occasional childcare and can provide clear details about the booking in advance. It is a great option for families who want access to trusted providers without starting a full, long-term nanny search.

This service may not be the best fit if your family needs the same provider every week, a consistent schedule, or long-term childcare. In those cases, a temporary or long-term nanny placement may be a better option.