To set up and run a nursing agency in the UK you do not need to be a nurse or come from a medical background. The three main criteria for success are; your desire to be your own boss; having a compassion for patients; and having a clear understanding of the services you will be providing. And there is an undoubted need for this service because of the demand for nursing-care agency staff to residential nursing homes and NHS hospitals.
Why is there such demand for nursing staff?
In the UK, we have an ageing population, which has resulted in inadequate staffing levels for many hospitals and care homes. Most of us are living longer, yet often with long-term medical conditions and disabilities, resulting in an ever-greater need for care homes. As the NHS struggles to meet the increased demand on its services, often with less money than it has had in the past, this has resulted in shortened lengths of stay and bed capacity, which in turn is leading to more and more people being looked after in care homes, often leading to residents entering care homes with more complex needs than ever before.
It is therefore ever more important for care providers to provide the highest quality of care. To succeed in their businesses, providers need to meet the needs of the home, and ensure that residents are well cared for. Thus, a nursing agency really is becoming an essential service in its own right. There will be an increasing need to provide staff for hospitals, residential homes, nursing homes and other health organizations in order to fill the various temporary or permanent healthcare support, care assistance and nursing roles. This makes starting a nursing agency quite a lucrative business opportunity.
Licensing a nursing agency
As far as placing staff in nursing and residential homes or hospitals in England is concerned, you do not need a license in the UK to operate your nursing agency. But if you intend to provide domiciliary care in individual homes you will need to apply for registration with the Care Quality Commission.
Training
Care staff will need to be trained or have relevant training. For example, the Care Certificate provides a framework for good practice; for induction of staff across health and in social care settings. The Care Certificate underwent an independent review in February 2013. Known as The Cavendish Review, it was proposed that all health care assistants and social care support staff undergo the same basic training that already exists in the system, based on latest best practice.
Health Education England (HEE), Skills for Care (SFC) and Skills for Health (SFH) have developed the Care Certificate which contains fifteen separate standards and outlines for health and social care workers – including assistants within hospitals, care homes and people’s own homes. The all need to know about and be able to deliver those standards of care in their daily jobs.
Nursing revalidation
Nursing Care Management (NMC) revalidation will be the way in which nurses and midwives demonstrate to the NMC that they continue to practice safely and effectively, and can remain on the register. In order to revalidate, nurses will have to declare to the NMC that they are meeting the standards of the revised NMC code, receive confirmation that it is true, and be able to offer evidence which shows how this has been achieved.
Two Types of Agency Business?
There are two types of agency business to consider;
An employment agency that introduces work-seekers to a customer for employment by the customer
An employment business that hires work-seekers for supervision by the customer, but not actual employment
When people talk about ‘agency workers’ or ‘temps’, they are typically talking about work-seekers who are hired from an employment business.
Earning Potential Starting a Nursing Agency
Your nursing agency start-up will be providing staff to health care organizations;
Clients pay you a percentage of annual salary of the staff members you have placed within the organization. For example: 20% of commission of the annual salary of £30,000, you commission would be £6,000. So, imagine placing four a month plus your commission would be £24,000 a month.
Temporary Staffing
This is placing staff into residential homes, nursing homes or other health organizations on an ad hoc basis, as and when required, in order to fill a short-term staff shortage to cover staff sickness, holidays, etc… So just imagine you have ten agency workers available from your data week, in a week, then they work thirty hours a week. This is based on them working daily. This would provide with a regular monthly income of say £5,000+ a week profit, depending on staff being placed and percentages.
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