The tough questions to ask a healthcare recruitment agency

The tough questions to ask a healthcare recruitment agency

With April 2025 rate reviews upon us, many healthcare providers are using this time as an opportunity to review their PSL.

To make sure you’re using the best care staff company for your setting, what questions should you be asking?

Here are our recommended top five areas to discuss.

1. How do you treat your workers? What benefits do you give them?

Looked after staff = happy, motivated team.

What pay, benefits, training, flexibility and support do they offer?

Do they accrue holiday, provide Blue Light Cards etc.?

Do they use umbrella companies to pay their workers? Following the recent issues that came to light with tax avoidance employed by some umbrella companies and the onus to pay the shortfall falling on the worker, the agency must ensure that they meet statutory employment costs and deductions.

If they don’t have an in-house payroll team and use umbrella companies, how well-vetted are they?

2. How much do you charge? Can you give me a breakdown of your costs?

Going for lower-cost agencies can prove more expensive in the long run as they WILL be cutting corners, either with compliance or staff treatment. Avoid legal issues and ask about a breakdown of fees upfront.

A good agency will be honest about this!

3. Who takes your out-of-hours calls?

When you need staff urgently at any time of the day or night, it helps to speak with someone who you know and who knows your business and the type of staff you need.

Do they outsource their out-of-hours calls, or are they managed by someone in the branch?

4. Tell me about your staff training.

It’s important to trust that the staff you employ through an agency are fully trained for your complete peace of mind. In addition, requirements can rapidly change depending on the service user, and it’s imperative that any new training can be provided quickly. Ask if they have an internal trainer who can train staff quickly with the skills to deliver the care you need.

5. Tell me about your auditing and compliance.

With complex employment regulations always evolving, it is important to know and trust that your recruitment agency follows their compliance to a T and that they can give you expert and informed advice on any areas you need help with.

Do they have an in-house Compliance Manager and Safeguarding Lead?

What do they cover?

At Safehands, we can confidently answer all of these questions – read our answers here. If you are recruiting for care staff and would like a no-obligation conversation, contact your local branch manager today:

Bristol – Oli Yuille 01179 175777

Cardiff and South Wales – Katie Wright 02921 681 950

Cheltenham – Alicia Loughlin 01242 505415

Cheshire – Leanne Biegus 01782 491551

Hereford – Chantal Ferguson-Giles 01432 560030

North Wales – Faye Brain 01952 263990

Staffordshire – Leanne Biegus 01782 491551

Telford – Faye Brain 01952 263990

Worcester & the West Midlands – Sarah Felton 01905 880200