HOW TO START A HEALTHCARE STAFFING AGENCY

If you have a background in recruitment or healthcare and are considering starting your own business, then healthcare recruitment could be a great option. Your company would play an integral role in supplying the industry with qualified workers to ensure the best standards of care for every individual.

 

Why healthcare recruitment? 

 

Not only is there a growing demand for private healthcare business services requiring a skilled workforce, but there is also an ongoing shortage of workers in the public healthcare sector. 

 

A shortage of staff can mean cancellation of service provision, inability to comply with regulations and failure to meet expectations and standards. That’s why reliable staffing agencies are vital to the industry – service providers need access to the right people at the right times. 

 Healthcare recruitment business is a lucrative business – there’s a constant demand that needs to be filled. If you implement robust systems and processes, attract quality workers and satisfy the requirement of clients, you will have a very successful and profitable business.

 

How to identify your business model

 

It’s tempting to try and cover all the bases from day one, but this will divide your attention and make it harder to build your business. 

 

Instead, consider specialising in one or two specific areas. For example, you could focus on the provision of:

 

 

These are just some of the areas you can specialise in, but there are many others. If you are unsure which is the best option for you, do some research. The easiest place to start is to look at the healthcare services within your region. What challenges can you help with? 

 

If you identify your business model in the early stages of setting up your business, you can develop a more precise business plan and a more effective marketing strategy. 

 

Staying compliant

 

The healthcare business industry is regulated, and so you will need to put systems in place to protect yourself and the service providers you serve. 

 

When starting your business, you will need to ensure that you have all the correct insurances – professional indemnity, employer’s liability and public liability. You will also need to register with all the necessary organisations, such as HMRC, Companies House and the NMC (if employing nurses). 

 

When placing employees, you will need systems to ensure DBS registration and right to work checks are properly completed. If you are recruiting international workers, you will need to check references, qualifications, right to work in the UK, ID and other documentation. 

 

Because you will be dealing with personal data, you must ensure GDPR compliance. Data protection and security should be a priority. 

 

Marketing your business

 

Once you have registered your business and taken care of the logistics, you’ll need to market your services. 

 There are various ways you can do this, including setting up a website, attending networking events, using social media, email and direct mail and registering with relevant directories or portals.

 

In recruitment, you need to market yourself to two audiences – those looking for work and those looking for staff. Your marketing strategy should include both. 

 

Securing contracts

Securing contracts and getting on approved supplier lists will help you create a regular stream of work.  

There are several UK frameworks run by different organisations. These include:

Alternatively, you can supply as a sub-contractor from suppliers who are currently on the master vendor.

 

Getting started with expert support

 

Although getting started might sound complicated, the whole process will be made much easier with the right support. At Healthcare Business School, we can offer that support. 

 

Our Start Your Own International Nursing Recruitment Agency course is just £99 and talks you through everything you need to know before you get started. 

 Alternatively, our 1-2-1 coaching allows you to work with a mentor who will guide you through every stage of the process, providing practical advice and sharing their expertise.

 

If you’d like more information on starting a healthcare staffing agency or any of our support services, get in touch with one of our friendly consultants.