NHS Staffing Agency Reforms and the Opportunity to Register With CQC
The UK’s healthcare sector faces a significant shake-up. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting recently announced new measures aimed at reducing the NHS’s reliance on agency staffing, which cost the health service £3 billion last year. The proposed changes, which include banning trusts from using agencies for entry-level roles and preventing NHS workers from leaving permanent posts only to return as higher-paid agency staff, are poised to transform the agency landscape.
For staffing agencies serving the NHS, these reforms signal potential financial challenges as demand for agency staff in certain roles declines. However, this shift could also open the door to new opportunities for agencies willing to pivot their services. Many agencies may now consider expanding into the delivery of regulated activities, such as domiciliary care, nursing, or specialist clinical services, enabling them to continue providing high-demand care services while adapting to a changing market.
Navigating the Transition to Regulated Care Services
For agencies with a strong foundation in healthcare recruitment, delivering regulated care services may be a natural next step. However, the transition requires careful planning, robust governance,
and, in many cases, Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration. Here’s how agencies can make the most of this evolving landscape:
• Understanding CQC Requirements
Shifting to regulated activities brings with it a range of compliance and quality standards that agencies may not have encountered in traditional staffing. Achieving and maintaining CQC registration requires agencies to demonstrate effective policies, governance frameworks, and quality management to ensure safe and consistent care delivery.
• Investing in Governance and Training
Unlike standard recruitment, regulated services require agencies to be accountable for the quality of care provided by their staff. This necessitates investment in training, risk management, and ongoing governance processes to ensure teams are equipped to provide safe, compassionate, and responsive care.
• Building Sustainable Relationships with Providers
With NHS trusts focusing on cost-saving and efficiency, agencies that can establish partnerships based on delivering high-quality, regulated services will stand out in the market. Expanding into these areas could provide agencies with a more stable, long-term revenue source, especially as the NHS increases investment in community-based services.
Why Now Is the Time to Act
With NHS trusts increasingly unable to rely on agency staffing for key roles, agencies that diversify their offerings will be well-positioned to fill the gap in community and home-based care. The recent budget investment aims to enhance healthcare infrastructure, bringing much-needed improvements in both physical and digital capacities. This focus on modernising NHS facilities and shifting care delivery from hospitals to communities aligns well with regulated homecare and domiciliary services.
At HLTH Group, our team of former CQC inspectors and regulatory experts are here to support staffing agencies looking to diversify. We provide expert guidance on the CQC registration process, ensuring agencies can navigate the complexities of compliance and regulatory expectations with confidence. Expanding into regulated activities could provide a path forward for agencies looking to secure their place in the healthcare ecosystem while contributing to high-quality, sustainable care for patients across the UK.