Honest answers to the questions care providers are already asking...
...but rarely get answers to.
Care providers operate in one of the most highly regulated sectors in the country.
Agency staffing, however, sits outside that framework.
Until formal regulation or a national quality mark exists, clarity, transparency, and informed due diligence matter more than ever.
Healthcare staffing is built on trust.
But trust only works when there is transparency.
Clear Guidance. Practical Clarity.
This Knowledge Hub brings together straightforward, practical guidance to help care providers understand the realities of using agency staff in an unregulated market. It is designed to provide clarity around accountability and risk, so you can make informed, confident decisions that support safer care.
This hub explains:
What the lack of agency regulation really means
Where the risks sit for care providers
How to make safer, more informed decisions
The Regulatory Blind Spot
In England, nursing and care staffing agencies are not regulated by the CQC or any statutory body.
Agencies can:
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Recruit workers
-
Supply staff into care settings
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Operate nationally
In regulatory terms, they are treated as part of your workforce.
That means:
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Safeguarding failures fall to you
-
Right to Work breaches fall to you
-
Quality failures fall to you
The agency does not carry that liability.
Why Cheaper Agencies Can Be Riskier
Lower costs are often achieved by:
• Cutting compliance corners
• Rushing checks
• Weak oversight of disclosures
• Minimal governance
These shortcuts are rarely visible - until an accident forces scrutiny.
The real cost of poor practice is often:
• Reputational damage
• Contract loss
• Regulatory action
• Harm to people receiving care
The Problem With 'Assumed Compliance'
Seeing a DBS number is not the same as knowing that proper safeguarding decisions have been made. Compliance is not a tick box, it is a safeguarding process that requires judgment, clear policy and accountability.
What often remains unclear is:
How disclosures were assessed
Whether risks were document
Whether decisions were reviewed
Why This Affects Everyone
Unregulated practice:
• Puts people receiving care at risk
• Exposes providers to unfair liability
• Damages trust in ethical agencies
• Leaves agency workers unprotected
A healthy system must protect:
-
The people receiving care
-
The providers delivering
-
The workforce supplying it
What Good Practice Looks Like
While agencies are unregulated, strong practice usually includes:
Clear compliance frameworks
Independent audit or scrutiny
Transparent disclosure handling
Willingness to evidence decisions
These are not “extras”.
They are the minimum standards required for safe partnership.
Want a bit more detail?
Some providers want to explore the background and implications in more depth before taking action.
We’ve published a detailed article that looks more closely at:
The regulatory gap in agency staffing
Accountability and due diligence
Why these risks often remain hidden
Practical Tools for Providers
We believe knowledge should be shared, not guarded. That’s why we offer practical tools and clear guidance to help care providers navigate agency risk with confidence.
If you’re looking for a simple way to sense-check your current agency arrangements, you can download our practical checklist which will help you:
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Ask clearer questions
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Recognise when answers aren’t clear or complete
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Gather evidence when required
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Identify gaps before they become risks
Alongside the checklist, we also provide:
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Plain-English guidance on agency risk
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Honest discussion about safeguarding and accountability
You don’t need to audit everything, but you should be confident that the right checks are in place.
If you would value a structured way to review your agency arrangements, you can download the checklist below.
Free Resource. No obligation.
Our Commitment to Transparency
We beleive:
Saying what others won't say matters
Showing what others won’t show builds trust
Being human beats being polished
Together, we can make care safer
This Knowledge Hub will continue to grow with:
• Articles
• Practical guides
• Real-world insight
All designed to help providers make safer decisions.
Speak to our Customer Care Team
Barnstaple Office
Design SpaceUpcott Avenue
Pottington Business Park
Barnstaple
EX31 1HN
Plymouth Office
The Business Centre2 Cattedown Road
Plymouth
PL4 0EG
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