Carer agency for care homes, home care and supported living
Team Carer supplies vetted care assistants, senior carers, support workers and nurses to care homes, home care services and supported living providers across the UK. One call fills a night shift tonight. A short brief fills a permanent post next month.
Need someone on shift?
Tell us the role, the date and the postcode. We do the rest.
- Temporary, temp to perm and permanent care staff
- Day, night, weekend and bank holiday shifts
- Live-in carers and complex care packages
- Nottingham and London teams, UK-wide reach
Looking for care work? See open jobs
Care staff you can rely on, without chasing three agencies at 6am
Most care managers we speak to are not short of agencies. They are short of agency carers who arrive on time, know the job and come back next week. That is the gap we work in.
Team Carer is a care recruitment agency set up by people who have sat on the other side of the phone. We know what it feels like when two carers ring in sick on a Sunday and the home is already running on goodwill. We know the questions an inspector asks about agency staff, and we know a cheap hourly rate means nothing if the carer leaves halfway through a shift.
So we keep it simple. We check every worker properly before they ever see your front door. We send the same faces back to the same homes wherever we can. And we pick up the phone at any hour, because care does not stop at five o'clock.
We work as a care staffing agency for residential homes, nursing homes, domiciliary care branches, supported living services, hospitals and private families. You can book a single shift, block book a month, or ask us to find a permanent care home manager. Same team, same standards.
Want the background? Read who we are and how we started, browse all our care staffing services, or go straight to posting a job.
Why care providers struggle to staff shifts, and what we do about it
These are the problems care home managers, registered managers and HR leads bring to us most often. If one of them sounds like your week, we can help.
Last-minute sickness and no-shows
A carer cancels at 5am and the floor is one short before breakfast. Overtime offers go unanswered.
Nights, weekends and bank holidays
Weekday days fill easily. Saturday nights and Boxing Day do not, and your permanent team is tired.
Compliance gaps that worry inspectors
Agency profiles arrive late or with missing training. You cannot prove who was on shift and what they were trained in.
High staff turnover
You train someone up, they leave within six months, and the cycle starts again. Recruitment eats the manager's week.
Agency bills that keep creeping up
Surprise booking fees, cancellation charges and rates that change from one invoice to the next.
Fewer overseas recruits
Changes to visa rules mean many providers can no longer lean on international recruitment to fill care worker posts.
Home care runs with no drivers
Domiciliary care needs carers who drive, know the area and can keep to call times across rural postcodes.
Complex care skills are hard to find
PEG feeding, tracheostomy care, epilepsy rescue meds, ventilation. A general carer is not enough.
Senior and manager roles stay open
A registered manager or deputy post can sit empty for months, and the whole home feels it.
Care staffing services for every kind of care setting
Whether you run a 20-bed residential home or a home care branch covering half a county, here is how we can help.
Temporary care staff
Care assistants, senior carers and night carers for single shifts or block bookings. Ideal for sickness, holiday and sudden admissions.
Fill critical shifts fast →Elderly care staffing
Carers experienced in dementia, end of life care, moving and handling and personal care for older people.
Temporary and permanent elderly care →Live-in carer recruitment
Live-in carers for private clients and care companies, matched on personality as much as skills.
Live-in carer recruitment →Mental health support workers
Support workers for supported living, learning disability and mental health services, including 1:1 and 2:1 packages.
Support workers in Bristol →Nurses and specialist nursing
RGNs and RMNs for nursing homes, plus specialist nurses for hospital and community work.
Specialist nurse example: Bath →Paediatric complex care
Children's nurses and carers trained for complex health needs at home, in school and in respite settings.
Hire paediatric complex care nurses →Residential care and support
Residential support workers for adult and young people's services, on rota or permanent contracts.
Residential support roles in Chelmsford →Care admin and reception
Medical receptionists, GP practice administrators and care office staff to keep the paperwork moving.
GP receptionists in London →Support staff for care homes
Care home cooks, kitchen assistants, caretakers and estate staff, because residents need more than personal care.
Kitchen staff in Sunderland →Care roles we fill and how providers usually book them
A quick guide for managers working out what kind of cover they need.
| Role | Typical setting | Most common booking | Key checks we complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care assistant / care worker | Residential and nursing homes | Temp shifts Temp to perm | Enhanced DBS, Care Certificate, moving and handling |
| Senior care assistant | Care homes, extra care housing | Block booking | Medication training, NVQ or RQF Level 3 |
| Domiciliary carer | Home care, reablement | Rota cover Permanent | Driving licence, insurance, lone working |
| Support worker | Supported living, learning disability, mental health | 1:1 packages | PBS, de-escalation training, autism awareness |
| Live-in carer | Private homes | Weekly placements | Experience check, client match call |
| Complex care assistant | Home, children's services, specialist units | Long-term packages | Signed-off clinical competencies |
| Registered nurse (RGN / RMN) | Nursing homes, hospitals | Temp shifts Permanent | NMC PIN check, revalidation date |
| Care home manager / deputy | Care homes | Permanent search Interim | Leadership history, CQC record of homes managed |
How to hire care staff through Team Carer
Five steps from first call to a carer on your floor.
Tell us what you need
Call 0333 188 0008 or post a job with the role, shift times and postcode.
We shortlist locally
We look first at carers who have already worked for you, then at vetted staff near your service.
You get the profile
Name, photo, DBS date, training record and recent references land in your inbox before the shift.
The carer arrives
On time, in uniform, with ID. We call to check they arrived and settled in.
You tell us how it went
Quick feedback after each shift. Great carers get booked again. Anyone who falls short does not return.
Care workforce statistics every provider should know in 2026
The national picture behind your rota. Use these figures in board papers, tenders and funding bids, with credit to the original source.
| Measure (adult social care, England) | Figure | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacancy rate | 6.2%, lowest since 2015/16 | 2025/26 | Skills for Care |
| Vacant posts on any given day | around 96,000 | 2025/26 | Skills for Care |
| Total posts (filled and vacant) | 1.69 million | 2025/26 | Skills for Care |
| Filled posts | 1.59 million | 2025/26 | Skills for Care |
| Vacancy rate compared with the wider economy | about 3 times higher | 2025/26 | Skills for Care |
| Extra posts needed by 2040 | 410,000 | Projection | Skills for Care |
| Staff turnover, independent sector | 24.7% (down from 25.8%) | 2024/25 | Skills for Care |
| Homecare vacancy rate | just over 10%, more than double care homes | March 2025 | CQC State of Care |
| Median care worker hourly pay | £12.00 | March 2025 | Skills for Care |
Sources: Skills for Care, Size and structure of the adult social care sector and workforce in England (2025 and 2026 editions) and State of the adult social care sector and workforce in England 2025; CQC, State of Care 2024/25.
What this means for your service
Vacancies are falling, which is good news. But one in sixteen posts still sits empty on a typical day, and homecare has it worst. A quarter of staff in independent providers leave each year, so most managers are always recruiting.
A good care employment agency does not replace your own hiring. It gives you breathing space while you do it properly.
Agency cover vs overtime vs leaving it short
| Option | Upside | Hidden cost |
|---|---|---|
| Overtime | Known faces | Burnout, more sickness later |
| Running short | No extra spend | Safety risk, complaints, CQC concerns |
| Agency carer | Fast, flexible | Varies by agency, so check the vetting |
The agency carer checklist: 10 things to confirm before any shift
Print it, pin it in the office, or share it with your deputy. Whichever care staff agency you use, ask for these before a worker starts.
We built this list from the questions inspectors and local authority quality teams ask most. It works just as well for checking us as it does for checking anyone else.
- Enhanced DBS certificate with the date issued, or Update Service status
- Proof of right to work in the UK
- Two references, at least one from a care employer
- Full employment history with gaps explained
- Care Certificate or equivalent qualification
- In-date moving and handling, safeguarding and infection control training
- Medication training for any role that gives medicines
- Photo ID that matches the worker on the day
- NMC PIN check for nurses
- A named agency contact you can reach out of hours
Care jobs in Nottingham this week
A snapshot of shifts and posts our Nottingham team is filling right now. Rates shown are hourly unless stated and sit above the 2026 National Living Wage.
| Job title | Area | Type | Pay | Start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Care Assistant (days) | Nottingham City Centre, NG1 | Temporary | £13.25 – £14.50 | ASAP | Apply |
| Night Care Assistant | Arnold, NG5 | Temporary | £14.25 – £15.50 | This week | Apply |
| Senior Care Assistant | West Bridgford, NG2 | Temp to perm | £14.75 – £15.80 | ASAP | Apply |
| Domiciliary Carer (driver) | Beeston, NG9 | Permanent | £13.75 + mileage | Within 2 weeks | Apply |
| Support Worker, learning disability | Bilborough, NG8 | Temporary | £13.50 – £14.75 | ASAP | Apply |
| Registered Nurse (RGN) | Mapperley, NG3 | Temporary | £24.00 – £28.00 | This week | Apply |
| Complex Care Assistant | Hucknall, NG15 | Long-term package | £15.00 – £17.50 | Within 2 weeks | Apply |
| Live-in Carer | Nottinghamshire | Weekly placement | £850 – £1,050 per week | Mid November | Apply |
| Care Home Cook | Lenton, NG7 | Permanent | £13.20 – £14.00 | ASAP | Apply |
Jobs change daily. The full, live list is on our all jobs page. Employers: add your vacancy here.
A UK carer agency with local teams in Nottingham and London
Two offices, one phone line, and carers placed in towns and cities right across the country.
Nottingham office
Queen St, The Park, Nottingham, NG1 2BL
Phone: 0115 647 4652
Email: [email protected]
Covering Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby, Loughborough, Newark, Chesterfield, Leicester and Market Harborough.
London office
344–348 High Road, Ilford, IG1 1QP
24/7 line: +44 (0) 333 188 0008
Email: [email protected]
Covering Greater London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and the Home Counties. See our London care agency page.
Queen St, The Park, Nottingham, NG1 2BL
Open in Google Maps for directions
Care staffing by city
Other towns we regularly send agency care staff to
What makes a good care recruitment agency
Nothing fancy. Just the basics, done every single time.
Same faces
We send carers back to homes they know, so residents see familiar people and your team spends less time on inductions.
Real people answer
No call centre menus. At 3am you speak to someone who can book a carer, not take a message.
Checks done first
Nobody goes on shift until their file is complete. You get the profile before they arrive, not after.
Straight pricing
One rate card, agreed up front. No booking fees and no surprise lines on the invoice.
Comparing suppliers? Our guide to top staffing companies for scalable hiring in 2026 sets out what to look for.
Looking for care work? Pick shifts that fit your life
Whether you are an experienced carer, a newly qualified nurse or moving into care from another job, we can find you work near home. You choose your hours. We handle the paperwork.
- Weekly pay, every week
- Day, night and weekend shifts
- Free mandatory training
- Temp, temp to perm and permanent jobs
- Live-in and complex care roles
- A named consultant who knows you
Team Carer: practical guides for care employers
Short, useful reads from our consultants. New guides added through the year.
Filling critical shifts fast
What to do in the first hour after a sickness call, and how hospital and care home temp cover works.
Read the guide →Checking agency workers properly
How references and professional background checks should be done, and what to ask for.
Read the guide →Scalable hiring in 2026
How care groups use staff augmentation to cope with seasonal peaks without overhiring.
Read the guide →Also useful: estate caretakers for care sites and nursery nurses in Camden.
Care staffing terms, explained in plain English
New to using a care staff agency, or writing a tender? These are the terms you will see most.
Bookmark this page or link to it from your staff handbook. We keep it up to date.
- Temporary care staff
- Carers booked for single shifts or short blocks to cover sickness, holiday or extra demand.
- Temp to perm
- A carer starts on agency terms and moves onto your payroll once you are both happy.
- Block booking
- Booking the same carer for a run of shifts, often weeks at a time, for continuity.
- Domiciliary care
- Care given in a person's own home, usually through scheduled visits.
- Live-in care
- A carer who lives with the client and gives support through the day.
- Complex care
- Care for people with high clinical needs, needing signed-off competencies.
- Enhanced DBS check
- A criminal record check that includes the barred lists for working with adults or children.
- Care Certificate
- The agreed set of standards new care workers in England are expected to meet.
Carer agency FAQs
What does a carer agency do?
A carer agency supplies trained, checked care workers to care homes, home care companies, supported living services, hospitals and private families. We find the staff, complete the checks, pay them, and send them where they are needed, for one shift or for good.
How quickly can you send a carer?
For urgent shifts we start calling local carers the moment you ring. Same-day cover is often possible, especially if you have used us before and our carers already know your service. The earlier you call, the better the match.
What checks do your care staff go through?
Every carer has an enhanced DBS check, right to work check, at least two references, a full work history and in-date mandatory training. Nurses have their NMC PIN checked. You receive the profile before the shift starts.
Do you supply permanent care staff as well as temps?
Yes. We fill temporary shifts, temp to perm roles and permanent posts, from care assistants right up to care home managers.
Which areas do you cover?
Our offices are in Nottingham and Ilford, London, and we place carers across England, Scotland and Wales, including Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Bristol, Coventry and many smaller towns.
How much does agency care staff cost?
It depends on the role, the shift time and the location. Nights, weekends and bank holidays cost more than weekday days. We agree a clear rate card with you before the first booking, with no hidden fees.
Can we book the same carer every time?
Yes, and we encourage it. Continuity is better for residents and saves your team time. Tell us who you like and we will prioritise them for your shifts.
Do you provide carers for complex care and children?
Yes. We supply complex care assistants and paediatric complex care nurses with signed-off competencies for things like PEG feeding, tracheostomy and epilepsy care.
How do I register as a carer with your agency?
Browse our open jobs or contact us. We will book a short call, check your documents and training, and start offering you shifts once your file is complete. There is no fee to join.
What happens if a carer is not right for our service?
Tell us straight away. We will look into it, replace the carer if needed and make sure they are not sent to you again.
Short of carers this week? Let's sort it.
Call the 24/7 line, post your job online, or email us your rota gaps. Someone will come back to you quickly, day or night.
Nottingham: 0115 647 4652 | [email protected] | carer.agency