Info re setting up a nursing agency in the UK?

allnurses Guide · Jul 13, 2008

I am sure there is something somthing similar in England, we have the Welsh Development agency that helps bew businesses starting out.

I am not sure about registration processes as I assume that you will have to be registered with someone and prove that you do CRB checks that kind of stuff. I imagine there is some sort of legislation that regulates nursing agencies

LiverpoolJane · Jul 13, 2008

You should look at the Healthcare commission website, pasted below, as I'm sure you would have to be regulated by them. I know when I worked in the private sector there seemed to be more strict criteria than in the NHS - although that is rapidly changing now.

I used to employ a doctor who was self employed and registered himself as an agency, his idea was to expand and recuit other doctors over time, although I'm not sure this ever happened.

You may want to put yor own portfolio together - qualifications, & mandatory upates, enhanced CRB, referrences, occ health report, Liability Insurance etc as all this is what you will have to produce when inspected. You will also be responsible for ensuring all mandatory training is up-to-date, for staff already employed it will probably be ok. You can often buy into the training provided by a local NHS trust or a private group as it is income for them.

Get yourself known and used by one or two different places - if you are reliable they will continue to use you, you will soon know when to introduce more staff to your "agency" - I would suggest you are selective and only recruit people you know won't let you down.

It is not easy and will mean laying out some money in the first place but I know it can be done and be successful - just keep it small and know your staff and clients.

http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/homepage.cfm