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Temporary staffing agency start up

Start a care staffing agency in the UK

A care staffing agency supplies care workers, healthcare assistants and nurses to care homes, supported living services and hospitals that need cover. To start one you form a company, register with HMRC, insure, follow the Conduct Regulations 2003 and build a pool of fully checked workers before you pitch. If you only supply staff to another provider, you do not need CQC registration.

Start up packages from £500 to £8,500 + VAT, fixed before we start.

Book a consultation0333 577 0877Package brochure (PDF)
An agency care worker settling an older woman with a blanket at home

Where an hour at £19.50 goes

Try your rates
Worker's pay
£13.00
On-costs
£3.59
Your margin
£2.91

On-costs are holiday pay, employer NI and pension. You pay the worker weekly, even when the client pays 30 to 60 days later.

What a care staffing agency is and how it works

In law a temporary staffing agency is an employment business: you engage the worker, pay them and supply them to a client who directs their work. You invoice the client an hourly charge rate and pay the worker a lower pay rate. An employment agency, by contrast, introduces people for permanent jobs and charges a fee. Many care agencies do both.

You might supply care workers, senior carers, healthcare assistants, support workers and registered nurses.

An agency care worker supporting a resident in a care home lounge

6.2%

Adult social care vacancy rate, Skills for Care 2025/26

9%

Share of the care workforce on bank, pool or agency terms, 2024/25

Who books agency staff

  • Care homes and nursing homesCover for sickness, holidays and vacancies, often at short notice. The main market for most new agencies.Best first market
  • Supported living servicesSupport workers for planned and emergency hours, sometimes with specialist training for learning disability or autism.Steady hours
  • Home care agenciesOverflow staff for registered home care providers who direct the care themselves.Overflow cover
  • Private hospitals and clinicsNurses and healthcare assistants, with tighter compliance audits and higher insurance limits.Nurse led
  • NHS trustsOnly through approved frameworks, and NHS England is cutting agency use year on year.Framework only

Does a care staffing agency need CQC registration?

It depends on who directs the care, not on the word agency. Choose who you will supply to see where you stand.

I will supply staff...

Outside CQC scope

No CQC registration for supplying staff

The regulations exclude the supply of carers to a service provider by an employment business, and CQC says supplying registered nurses is not a regulated activity where you do not direct or supervise them. Your client's own registration covers the care.

You still trade under the Conduct Regulations 2003, and your clients will audit your worker files against the standards CQC inspects them on.

  • England

    CQC, as above. Supply only agencies are outside scope.

  • Scotland

    Nurse agencies register with the Care Inspectorate: £1,399 to register, £699 a year.

  • Wales

    Nurses agencies are not a regulated service under RISCA 2016. Managing care in homes is CIW registered.

  • Northern Ireland

    RQIA registers nursing agencies and domiciliary care agencies.

Sources: Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, Schedule 1; CQC scope of registration guidance on personal care and nursing care; Care Inspectorate, CIW and RQIA registration guidance. Checked October 2026.

How to start a care staffing agency in 8 steps

Most agencies are ready to supply in about two months. The bars show when each step happens in our set up project.

  1. 1

    Choose your market and model

    Decide who you will supply (care workers, support workers or nurses), which clients you will target, and whether you will ever manage care in people's homes, which would need CQC registration.

    Week 1

  2. 2

    Form your company

    Register a limited company with Companies House (£100 online) using SIC code 78200, temporary employment agency activities, and open a business bank account.

    Week 1

  3. 3

    Register with HMRC and the ICO

    Set up PAYE as an employer and Corporation Tax, ask your accountant about VAT, and pay the ICO data protection fee (£52 a year for most start ups).

    Weeks 1 to 2

  4. 4

    Buy the right insurance

    Employers' liability (at least £5 million, compulsory), public liability and professional indemnity, plus medical malpractice cover if you supply nurses.

    Week 2

  5. 5

    Write your terms and policies

    Worker terms and a Key Information Document, client terms of business with a transfer fee, and policies for safeguarding, safer recruitment, data protection and agency worker rights.

    Weeks 2 to 5

  6. 6

    Set up payroll, timesheets and funding

    Choose booking, timesheet and payroll software, arrange invoice finance if you need it, and check any umbrella company you use, because agencies can now be liable for its PAYE.

    Weeks 3 to 6

  7. 7

    Recruit and check your first pool

    Build a pool of workers with complete files (right to work, enhanced DBS, references, training) before you promise cover, because care requests are urgent.

    Weeks 4 to 8

  8. 8

    Win your first clients

    Approach care home managers and group head offices, supported living and home care providers, and get onto their preferred supplier lists.

    Weeks 6 to 8

The law a staffing agency trades under

You do not need a licence to run a care staffing agency. You do have to follow the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and the Conduct Regulations 2003, enforced by the Fair Work Agency since 7 April 2026.

Section 6, 1973 Act
No fees to workersYou cannot charge care workers or nurses to find them work, apart from narrow exceptions.
Reg 12
Pay workers on timeYou must pay workers for the hours they work even if the client has not paid you.
Reg 13A
Key Information DocumentGive every new worker a KID about pay, deductions and who employs them before you agree terms.
Regs 14 and 15
Written terms with workersAgree terms in writing before you offer any work, including how and when they are paid.
Regs 17 and 18
Terms and details from clientsAgree terms with each client and get the role, hours, risks and required qualifications before supplying.
Reg 19
Check every workerConfirm identity, experience, training, qualifications and any registration the role needs.
Reg 22
Vulnerable peopleGet two written references and copies of qualifications, and offer them to the client.
Reg 29
Keep recordsKeep records for at least a year after you last supply a worker or a client.

Agency Workers Regulations 2010

The 12 week rule

From day one, workers can use the client's facilities and hear about vacancies. After 12 weeks in the same role with the same client they get equal basic pay and conditions. A gap of more than six weeks resets the clock, so price it in.

Overseas recruitment

You cannot sponsor carers to supply them

  • Home Office rules do not let a sponsor fill a role with a third party, and supplying sponsored workers to clients can lose you the licence.
  • New overseas visas for care workers closed on 22 July 2025.
Home Office sponsor guidance

What changed for staffing agencies in 2026

Most start up guides were written before these changes. Your business plan, contracts and payroll need to reflect them from day one.

  1. January 2026

    NHS

    NHS stops agency HCAs

    NHS England's deadline for ending agency use for band 2 and 3 healthcare support workers.

  2. 1 April 2026

    Pay

    National Living Wage £12.71

    Up from £12.21 for workers aged 21 and over. Your pay rates and charge rates must keep pace.

  3. 6 April 2026

    Tax

    Umbrella company PAYE

    HMRC can recover unpaid PAYE from the agency when workers are paid through an umbrella company.

  4. 6 April 2026

    Pay

    Sick pay from day one

    Statutory Sick Pay is now paid from the first day of sickness, with no lower earnings limit.

  5. 7 April 2026

    Enforcement

    Fair Work Agency launches

    It took over the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate and the gangmaster licensing body.

  6. 2026/27

    NHS

    NHS agency use cut by 30%

    The NHS planning framework targets a further 30% cut this year and zero agency spend by the end of the decade.

  7. 5 October 2026

    Costs

    DBS fees fall

    Enhanced checks drop from £49.50 to £41, standard checks to £20 and the Update Service to £15 a year.

  8. October 2026

    Law

    Harassment duty widens

    Employers must take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their workers.

  9. 2027

    Coming

    Guaranteed hours for agency workers

    Planned rights to guaranteed hours offers, shift notice and pay for late cancellations, split between agency and client.

  10. May 2027

    Coming

    NHS framework changes

    RM6281 ends on 4 May 2027. Its successor, RM6397, is being procured now and is the way in for the next four years.

Charge rate calculator: what you keep from each hour

Your charge rate has to cover holiday pay, employer National Insurance and pension before it pays for anything else. Move the sliders to test your own numbers.

£

National Living Wage is £12.71 from April 2026

£

What the client pays you before VAT

days

Each hour you charge

Pay rate
£13.00
Holiday pay
£1.57
Employer NI
£1.71
Pension
£0.32
True cost per hour
£16.59

Margin per hour

£2.91

14.9% of the charge rate

Margin each week

£873

before overheads, across 10 workers

Cash to fund before the first payment

£29,865

About 6 weeks of payroll at £4,977 a week on 30 day terms.

Not included

Insurance, DBS checks, software, recruitment, office costs, invoice finance fees and VAT. The £10,500 Employment Allowance may reduce your NI bill if you qualify.

An estimate using 2026/27 rates, not financial advice. Holiday pay at 12.07% for irregular hours workers; employer National Insurance at 15% above £96 a week; pension at 3% of earnings above £120 a week. Charge rates are agreed with each client and vary by role, shift and area.

How much does it cost to start a care staffing agency?

Expect £3,000 to £15,000 to set up, before working capital. The fixed fees are small. The cash you need to pay workers while you wait for clients to pay is usually the biggest number.

The payroll gap on 30 day terms

Ten workers on 30 hours at £13.00 cost about £5,000 a week with on-costs. You pay weekly; the first invoice is paid in week 6.

You fund payrollClient payments arrive

Roughly £25,000 to £30,000 to fund before the money comes in.

Typical start up costs

  • Form a limited company£100Companies House, online
  • ICO data protection fee£52 a yearTier 1, most start ups
  • Enhanced DBS check£41 eachFrom 5 October 2026
  • DBS Update Service£15 a yearPaid by the worker or you
  • Insurance£500 to £2,000+ a yearMore once you supply nurses
  • Booking, timesheet and payroll softwareMonthly feePriced per user or worker
  • Recruitment advertisingVariesJob boards and social media
  • Our start up package£500 to £8,500 + VATPlan, terms, policies, brand, website

Figures checked October 2026. There is no CQC fee for a supply only staffing agency, because it does not register.

The compliance file for every worker

Care homes and hospitals audit agency files because CQC inspects them on the staff they use. A complete file for every worker, before their first shift, is what wins and keeps clients.

A recruiter completing a worker compliance checklist on a clipboard
Enhanced DBS check from 5 October 2026£49.50£41

Worker file checklist

Complete before the first shift

  1. 1. Identity and right to work

    Original documents or a digital check, a copy on file, and follow ups for time limited permission.

    Reg 19

  2. 2. Enhanced DBS with barred list check

    Adults, children or both, matched to the role. Check the Update Service before each placement if they are registered.

    Safer recruitment

  3. 3. Professional registration

    An active NMC PIN and any conditions for every nurse, checked at the start and on renewal.

    Reg 19

  4. 4. Two written references

    For work with vulnerable people, ideally from the last care roles, verified with the referee.

    Reg 22

  5. 5. Qualifications and training

    The Care Certificate standards, moving and handling, safeguarding, infection control, basic life support and fire safety.

    Regs 19 and 22

  6. 6. Health declaration

    Fitness for the role and any reasonable adjustments, stored separately and securely.

    UK GDPR

  7. 7. Interview and competency check

    A recorded interview, a skills check and an explanation of any gaps in employment.

    Safer recruitment

  8. 8. Key Information Document and signed terms

    Given and agreed before any work is offered.

    Regs 13A and 15

Where your first clients come from

New owners often have carers ready but no bookings, because care homes send them to head office or to a vendor that already has enough agencies. Plan your route in before you recruit.

  1. 1

    Care homes and nursing homes

    Start with home managers near your workers, then the group's head office. Many groups book through a preferred supplier list or a neutral vendor, so ask how to get onto it and what they audit.

  2. 2

    Supported living and home care providers

    Offer trained support workers for planned hours and emergency cover. Providers who direct the care themselves can use you without you registering with CQC.

  3. 3

    Private hospitals and clinics

    Nurses and healthcare assistants with complete files, higher insurance limits and fast response times.

  4. 4

    NHS trusts

    Only through approved frameworks. RM6281 runs to 4 May 2027 and its successor RM6397 is being procured now. Agency healthcare support workers at bands 2 and 3 are no longer used.

An agency owner meeting a care home manager to agree terms

What a client checks before the first booking

  • A sample of worker files, checked against your own policy
  • Insurance certificates and limits
  • Your terms of business, rates and transfer fee
  • How fast you confirm shifts, day and night
  • Incident, complaint and safeguarding processes
Tender writing for staffing frameworksRM6397 framework

Case study

Hallowed Care: a staffing agency built from a blank page

Hallowed Care came to us with a clear vision for supplying care and nursing staff, and nothing else in place. We built the business plan, the brand, the policies and the recruitment systems.

Hallowed Care logo

Hallowed Care

Full case study
Founded
2023
Services
Temporary staffing, home care and supported living
Starting point
A clear idea and nothing else in place

The brief

Hallowed Care wanted to supply reliable care and nursing staff to healthcare settings that badly need them. They needed help with everything: a business plan, a brand, compliant systems, and a way to attract workers and clients in a crowded market.

What we delivered

  • Business plan and cash flow model
  • Brand identity: logo, colours and typography
  • Policies and procedures for compliance
  • SEO structured website with online applications
  • Automated recruitment and document management
  • Digital marketing plan, brochures, uniforms and staff ID badges
“Partnering with Care Sync Experts was a game changer for us. From setting up our business operations to developing our online presence, their team was there every step of the way. The entire process was seamless, and their expertise in healthcare has been invaluable.”
Chukwudimma Sixtus Ugochukwu, Director, Hallowed Care Ltd
Hallowed Care's website shown on a desktop, laptop, tablet and phone
Website with online applications
Hallowed Care recruitment leaflets for healthcare workers
Recruitment leaflets
Hallowed Care roll up banner saying Hallowed Care is hiring
Recruitment banner
Start yoursMore client stories

What our care staffing agency start up package includes

Everything to open your doors in about two months. Take the full package or only the parts you need.

Plan

  • Business plan and cash flow

    Three year forecasts built on your real pay and charge rates, on-costs, payment terms and funding.

  • Operations set up

    Help choosing booking, payroll and CRM software, business email and phone, and introductions to invoice finance.

Documents

  • Terms and contracts

    Worker terms and Key Information Document, client terms of business with a transfer fee, and a service level agreement.

  • Policies for staffing

    Safeguarding, safer recruitment, right to work, UK GDPR, agency worker rights, complaints, whistleblowing, lone working and infection control, in your brand.

  • Compliance file and recruitment kit

    Application form, interview and reference templates, a file checklist and a training matrix.

Brand

  • Brand and website

    Logo, brand colours and a website with online applications, job posts, timesheet downloads and an admin panel.

  • Printed materials

    Business cards, brochures, client and staff leaflets, timesheets, compliment slips and posters.

After launch

  • Tenders and 12 months support

    Tender writing for staffing frameworks when you are ready, and a year of advice on rules, clients and growth.

A recruitment poster we designed for Earnest Support Care: We are hiring domiciliary care workers
Recruitment poster designed for a client, Earnest Support Care

Above: a recruitment poster we designed for Earnest Support Care

Fixed price

£500 to £8,500

+ VAT, agreed before we start

Project length
About 2 months
Support after launch
12 months
Book a consultationAdding home care too? See the combined package

Watch, read and download

Our team on start up costs and staff files, and the brochure has the whole package in one PDF.

How much do I need to start a care agency in the UK?

What a care business really costs to start, and why working capital matters as much as set up fees.

The staff file mistake that triggers CQC enforcement

What a complete, inspection ready staff file looks like, the same standard care homes check in agency files.

Package brochure

Temporary staffing agency set up package

PDF, 2.5 MB

  • Business planning and set up
  • Policies and procedures
  • Recruitment and training
  • Brand, website and printed materials
Download the brochure

Some of the providers we have worked with

Client reviews

What care providers say about working with us

Care providers describe working with us, in their own words, on Trustpilot and Google.

Trustpilot

Read our reviews on Trustpilot
Read all our Trustpilot reviews
Google reviewsSee what clients say on GoogleRead our Google reviews

Moving slowly. Hover, tap or press Pause to read.

  • First of all i want to give Millicent…

    First of all i want to give Millicent her flowers. I recently became a registered manager ( OLIVE BRANCH CARE & SUPPORT LTD) because of her. She knows her stuff, she takes you through the whole process, the Q&A with encouragement and guidance. I am usually a nerve wreck, but I made it. I couldn't not have wished for a better person than her. THANK YOU MILLICENT. YOU ARE THE BEST.

    Audrey Eastwood

    3 October 2026

    Read full review by Audrey Eastwood on Trustpilot

  • Excellent Support Throughout Our CQC Registration Journey

    Care Sync Experts provided excellent support throughout our CQC registration journey for Tailored Healthcare 4 You Limited. The team was professional, knowledgeable and very supportive throughout the process. They provided valuable guidance with our application, policies, supporting documents and preparation for the CQC registration process. What I particularly appreciated was their willingness to answer questions, explain requirements clearly and provide support whenever we needed clarification. Their guidance helped us navigate what can be a detailed and demanding registration process with greater confidence. We are very grateful for their contribution towards the successful CQC registration of our company and would happily recommend Care Sync Experts to other care providers looking for professional CQC registration support. Thank you to the entire team for your continued support.

    Philip

    3 September 2026

    Read full review by Philip on Trustpilot

  • Thanks to Care Sync Experts

    Care Sync Experts supported with well tailored documentations for the CQC application, good prep/training for the CQC interview and prompt communication throughout the CQC registration stages which led to the success of Novaedge application I had an excellent experience working with Care Sync Experts on my CQC registration application. From the very beginning, their team demonstrated exceptional professionalism, knowledge, and commitment to ensuring my application met the required CQC standards. They provided clear guidance throughout the entire process, helped me prepare all the necessary documentation, and ensured I was fully ready for every stage of the application. Their attention to detail, prompt communication, and willingness to answer every question gave me confidence and made what could have been a stressful process much smoother. I truly appreciated their personalised support and expertise. Thanks to their dedication, I felt well-prepared throughout my CQC registration journey. I would confidently recommend Care Sync Experts to anyone seeking reliable and professional support with CQC registration and healthcare compliance.

    Novaedge Services Limited

    25 July 2026

    Read full review by Novaedge Services Limited on Trustpilot

  • The Experience that I have had with…care sync was a 5 star experience

    The Experience that I have had with Care Sync experts is so excellent and effortless. Care sync experts assisted me with the CQC registration of my company. It was a 5 star experience. Coming from a healthcare background myself, I worked with a group of dedicated experts who knows what there are doing. I will like to thank Colin who handled my registration process with the Care sync expert team in such a way that the process looked so simple.

    E. Lustre

    21 July 2026

    Read full review by E. Lustre on Trustpilot

  • Care Sync Experts are reliable

    Care Sync Experts are reliable, honest and operate with integrity. All the staff are knowledgeable and supportive whenever you need guidance. I recommend them for all those loking for CQC support services.

    customer

    12 June 2026

    Read full review by customer on Trustpilot

  • I am genuinely grateful that I chose Care Sync

    I am genuinely grateful that I chose Care Sync Experts to support me in establishing my domiciliary care company, Precious Care. From my very first conversation with them, it was clear that they truly understood my needs. Their knowledge, expertise, and professionalism were evident from the start—they really do live up to their name. The support provided to me and my wider team was exceptional and truly limitless. No matter how small the question, they were always available, approachable, and ready to help. From day one, Millicent and Collins made us feel valued and important. Speaking with them felt like talking to people I had known for years—warm, reassuring, and always willing to go the extra mile. Every phone call ended with clarity and confidence. Millicent’s guidance, training, and ongoing support were outstanding and made the entire process smooth and stress‑free. Without hesitation, I would recommend Care Sync Experts as the go‑to professionals for anyone seeking EXPERT support in this field.

    PN

    27 March 2026

    Read full review by PN on Trustpilot

  • CQC interview confidence building

    I found the material I was given very informative. This helped build my confidence during my CQC interview preparation. The staff responded to my inquiries timeously

    Lilian Muzorewa

    23 February 2026

    Read full review by Lilian Muzorewa on Trustpilot

  • 100% Support: How Care Sync Experts Made Our CQC Certification A Reality

    I couldn’t be more grateful for Care Sync experts exceptional support during our CQC interview presentations. From the very beginning, Millicent and Collins were not only professional but also incredibly approachable and dedicated. Every time we needed assistance, they were right there ready to help with guidance, expert advice, and all the information required to ensure our success. When our interview dates kept changing, Care Sync flexibility truly set them apart. They rescheduled sessions without hesitation and even provided extra sessions, going far beyond what we had paid for. Their unwavering commitment was a crucial factor in us achieving our CQC certification. Thanks to their 100% support, Victory Growth Care Services is now proudly registered with CQC. I wholeheartedly recommend Care Sync expats for anyone looking for top-notch, dependable support in navigating the complexities of CQC interviews. Their team truly makes a difference!

    Shaz K

    12 February 2025

    Read full review by Shaz K on Trustpilot

  • Outstanding Tender Writing Services

    I recently used Care Sync Experts for the first time to complete a tender, and I am thrilled to say that they won it for me! Their team is absolutely brilliant. They took care of everything with professionalism and expertise, making the whole process smooth and successful. I would 100% recommend Care Sync Experts to any provider looking for someone to write their tender. Their work is of a high standard, and I couldn’t be happier with the results.

    Vivian Owusu

    22 August 2024

    Read full review by Vivian Owusu on Trustpilot

  • Outstanding Service and Exceptional Results!

    I had the pleasure of working with Care Sync Experts for various projects, including website development, tender submissions, and branding materials such as brochures and leaflets. From start to finish, their professionalism and attention to detail have been nothing short of remarkable. They designed and developed my website with a keen understanding of my needs, creating a sleek, user-friendly platform that perfectly represents my brand. But they didn't stop there, their expertise in handling tenders is unparalleled. Of the six tenders they managed for me, they won five. This impressive success rate speaks volumes about their strategic approach and deep industry knowledge. I highly recommend Care Sync Experts to anyone looking for top notch services in web development, tender management, and branding. They have truly elevated my business, and I look forward to continuing our partnership!

    Living Plus Care

    12 August 2024

    Read full review by Living Plus Care on Trustpilot

1,200+ care providers supported

Ready to start your care staffing agency?

Tell us who you want to supply and where. We will map out your set up, your first year numbers and your route to clients, at a fixed price.

  • Your model checked against CQC scope before you spend
  • Charge rates and cash flow modelled on 2026/27 costs
  • Terms, policies and files ready for your first client audit
Book a consultation0333 577 0877
A support worker sharing a warm moment with the woman she supports

Care staffing agency FAQs

Last reviewed

Choose who you will supply and where, form a limited company (SIC code 78200, temporary employment agency activities), register as an employer with HMRC, pay the ICO data protection fee and buy employers' liability and public liability insurance. Then write your terms with workers and clients, set up payroll and funding, recruit and fully check a first pool of care workers or nurses, and pitch to care homes and supported living providers. You trade under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and the Conduct Regulations 2003.
No. There is no general licence for an employment agency or employment business in the UK. You must follow the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003, which the Fair Work Agency has enforced in England, Scotland and Wales since 7 April 2026. Gangmaster licences only cover agriculture, horticulture and shellfish work, not care. Scotland and Northern Ireland register nurse agencies separately.
Not if you only supply care workers or nurses to another provider, such as a care home, that directs their work. The regulations exclude the supply of carers by an employment business, and CQC says supplying registered nurses is not a regulated activity where the agency does not direct or supervise them. You do need to register if your business provides personal care itself, for example by sending carers into people's homes and managing that care. That is a domiciliary care service.
Set up usually costs £3,000 to £15,000 before working capital. Fixed costs are small: £100 to form the company online, £52 a year for the ICO fee and £41 for each enhanced DBS check (from 5 October 2026). Insurance, payroll and booking software, recruitment advertising and your website make up most of the rest. Our packages are £500 to £8,500 + VAT. The bigger number is the cash you need to pay workers before clients pay you.
Work it out from your weekly payroll. Ten care workers on 30 hours at £13.00 an hour cost about £5,000 a week once holiday pay, employer National Insurance and pension are added. If clients pay 30 days after a weekly invoice, you pay out for five or six weeks before the first payment arrives, so roughly £25,000 to £30,000. Longer terms need more. Many agencies use invoice finance, and the law says you must pay workers even if a client pays late.
Our set up project runs over about two months: company and tax registration, business plan, policies, terms, branding, website and your first recruitment campaign. You can start supplying once your documents, insurance and first fully checked workers are in place. If you also register a domiciliary care service with CQC, plan for four to six months.
Before supply you must confirm identity, right to work, experience, training and qualifications, and any registration the role needs, such as an NMC PIN for nurses. For work with vulnerable people the Conduct Regulations require two written references and copies of qualifications, which you offer to the client. Care roles also need an enhanced DBS check with the relevant barred list check, a health declaration and mandatory training. Every worker must get a Key Information Document before you agree terms.
Employers' liability insurance is compulsory once you employ staff, with cover of at least £5 million. Clients will also expect public liability and professional indemnity insurance, and medical malpractice cover if you supply nurses. Care homes, supported living providers and NHS frameworks each set their own minimum levels, so check them before you buy.
You charge the client an hourly charge rate and pay the worker a lower pay rate. The difference has to cover holiday pay (12.07% for irregular hours), employer National Insurance (15% above £5,000 a year), pension (3% minimum), insurance, software, compliance checks and funding costs before any profit. Pay must be at least the National Living Wage, £12.71 an hour from April 2026. Use the calculator on this page to test your own rates.
Only through an approved framework. NHS trusts must buy agency staff through frameworks such as RM6281, which runs to May 2027, and its successor RM6397, which is being procured now. NHS England also ended agency use for band 2 and 3 healthcare support workers by January 2026 and wants a further 30% cut in agency use in 2026/27. Most new agencies build their first clients with care homes, nursing homes, supported living and private providers.
Not to supply them to clients. Home Office sponsor guidance does not allow you to sponsor a worker to fill a role with a third party, and supplying sponsored workers to other organisations can lead to your licence being revoked. New overseas visas for care workers also closed on 22 July 2025. Workers already in the UK with the right to work can join your agency in the usual way.
Under the Agency Workers Regulations 2010, after 12 calendar weeks in the same role with the same client, an agency worker is entitled to the same basic pay and conditions as a directly employed worker. From day one they can use the client's shared facilities and must be told about vacancies. A break of more than six weeks resets the count. Build this into your charge rates.
The Fair Work Agency took over agency enforcement on 7 April 2026. From 6 April 2026 agencies can be liable for unpaid PAYE where workers are paid through an umbrella company. Statutory Sick Pay became payable from the first day of sickness, the National Living Wage rose to £12.71, and DBS fees fell on 5 October 2026. Guaranteed hours rights for agency workers are planned for 2027.
It can be, but the margin is thinner than many plans assume. Profit depends on your charge rates after on-costs, how many hours you fill each week, how quickly clients pay and your funding costs. Agencies that win steady contracts with a few care homes or supported living providers do better than those relying on last minute shifts. We model this in your business plan before you spend.
Yes. A staffing agency does not need premises. You need a business address, secure storage for worker records under UK GDPR, a phone line that is answered when clients need cover, and systems for timesheets and payroll. You must keep records for at least a year after you last provide services to a worker or client.
Yes. Many owners run a temporary staffing arm and a CQC registered domiciliary care service in the same company. The staffing side supplies care homes, while the home care side needs its own CQC registration and registered manager. We set up both in our combined care agency package.
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