In-house vs. Agency Recruitment:
A Comprehensive Guide to Identifying the Optimal Staffing Solution for Your Care Business
March 2024
As a care home manager, you face a demanding role filled with numerous responsibilities. The challenges of staff shortages only add to the complexity of your position. The increasing needs of an ageing population and extended life expectancy have heightened the demand for adult social care services. Unfortunately, careers in this sector often lack widespread appeal. Although the government is taking steps to mitigate the staffing crisis, the demand for care continues to escalate, resulting in a growing disparity between the number of qualified caregivers and those requiring assistance.
Given the vacancy rate of 9.9% and an attrition rate of 28.3% reported in 2022/2023, it is understandable that staffing concerns are a significant source of stress. Consequently, finding an effective staffing solution is likely a priority for you. This discussion will examine several strategies to help you navigate the staffing challenges you are currently facing.
In-house Recruitment As the manager of a small to medium-sized care home, your foremost obligation is to ensure the well-being and quality of life of your residents. To fulfil this duty, it is essential that your facility operates efficiently and safely. Your role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including overall management, staff supervision, care planning and coordination, quality assurance and compliance, health and safety oversight, financial management, resident advocacy, communication and collaboration, continuous improvement, as well as training and development. On top of these duties, you must also handle recruitment.
Recruitment can be a time-intensive process. It begins with advertising the position on platforms such as Indeed or other job boards. Following this, you must undertake the laborious task of reviewing resumes, cover letters, and emails. The next step involves reaching out to potential candidates and conducting interviews. Once a suitable candidate is identified, you will need to navigate the administrative procedures necessary for onboarding and training them in the specific practices of your care home.
The Agency Alternative
Indeed, you have a considerable array of responsibilities. Fortunately, it is feasible to alleviate at least one of the most labour-intensive tasks from your agenda. Specialist care recruitment agencies can relieve you of the recruitment burden.
By partnering with a recruitment agency, your sole responsibility in the hiring process will be to onboard your new team member.
Selecting the Appropriate Staffing Agency
A recent investigation by the BBC revealed alarming instances of unethical agency practices, staff exploitation, and patient neglect.
Given the presence of several unscrupulous entities in the care recruitment sector, how can you select the right staffing agency?
Agency Evaluation
To avoid aligning with a disreputable agency, it is essential to consider several key factors before engaging with a specialist care recruitment provider.
Quality care does not necessarily mean low-cost care. If the recruitment agency you are evaluating offers significantly reduced rates, it is crucial to scrutinize their operational and profitability strategies. Such agencies may not provide fair wages to their staff and could lack adequate training and qualifications.
Examine their profit margins.
Low profit margins may indicate unsustainable operations, while excessively high margins could suggest that they are overcharging clients and undercompensating workers. If they are exempt from VAT, it is advisable to request an explanation.
Here are some practical inquiries to consider:
Do they have established governance, quality assurance, and incident reporting protocols? How do they verify and uphold staff training standards? What is their cancellation policy? Are there any penalties for late cancellations? Can they furnish a copy of their insurance policy? Do they impose any additional fees? If so, what are these fees, and what is their rationale?
DIY Recruitment or Specialist Recruiter?
In the realm of recruitment, it does not have to be an either-or situation. While it is true that staff retention is generally highest within well-established teams, if you find yourself dedicating excessive time to recruitment at the expense of retention efforts, it may be time to reassess your approach. This strategy entails collaborating with a specialized recruitment agency to effectively manage your immediate staffing requirements, such as covering holidays, addressing sickness, and handling absences, in addition to filling specialized positions. This partnership will alleviate your administrative workload and significantly contribute to preventing employee burnout while ensuring that compliant staff ratios are upheld.
TSM CARE LTD – A Trusted Partner
While numerous transient staffing agencies exist, there are also committed specialist care agencies that excel in their services.
You can be assured that TSM Care stands out as a reputable choice; our satisfied clients can vouch for our quality. We are a highly experienced specialist care agency that provides a dependable alternative to in-house teams. Many of our clients find our caregivers to be more dependable than their own staff members.
Whether you wish to completely outsource your recruitment process or simply require assistance in filling short-term or specialized vacancies, we offer a comprehensive solution that encompasses attracting potential candidates, conducting screenings and interviews, and ensuring compliance and training. Your primary focus will be on integrating your new team member seamlessly.
Determining the Right Solution for Your Needs
Regardless of the recruitment strategy you opt for, it is essential to assess the cost-effectiveness of each approach. However, if you are currently encountering staffing difficulties at your care facility, we firmly believe that collaborating with a responsible specialist recruitment agency like TSM Care is your optimal choice.
At TSM Care, we provide an efficient solution that saves both time and costs. We will streamline the majority of the recruitment process by sourcing reliable, trained staff who are ideally suited for your care home. Our caregivers are available for both long-term and short-term assignments and are dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of those they serve. Additionally, our caregivers can be trained to fulfil your specific care requirements.
Reach out to us today to discover how we can assist you in alleviating at least one item from your ever-growing to-do list.