firstforsupport

Safer Recruitment in Children’s Residential Care: What It Really Means

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:53:54 GMT

Recruiting for a children’s residential service goes far beyond filling vacancies. For providers, every hire directly impacts the safety, stability and wellbeing of the children and young people they support.

This is where safer recruitment becomes essential.

Rather than being just a compliance requirement, safer recruitment is a safeguarding approach that helps services make confident, responsible staffing decisions. It protects vulnerable individuals, supports Ofsted inspection readiness, and strengthens the overall quality of care.

Whether you operate a children’s home in Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire or Manchester, understanding what safer recruitment really means can shape the strength and safety of your entire service.

1. Safeguarding Starts with Recruitment

In children’s residential care, safeguarding does not begin on a worker’s first shift. It begins at the very first stage of recruitment.

Every individual entering your service should be carefully assessed not only for their experience, but for their suitability to work with children and young people. This includes enhanced DBS checks, verified references, full employment history, and right-to-work checks - but it also goes further.

Safer recruitment means taking the time to understand a candidate’s values, behaviour and motivation.

Why do they want to work in children’s care?
How do they respond under pressure?
Do they demonstrate the empathy and boundaries required in this environment?

These are the questions that sit at the heart of safeguarding.

2. It Is About Culture as Well as Compliance

Meeting Ofsted standards is essential, but compliance alone does not create a safe and supportive home.

Children in residential care often need consistency, patience and emotionally aware support. The people around them shape how safe they feel day to day.

This is why safer recruitment also focuses on cultural fit.

The right professionals will not only meet regulatory requirements, but will also:

understand trauma-informed care
build appropriate, trusting relationships
remain calm in challenging situations
balance empathy with clear professional boundaries

When services recruit with both compliance and culture in mind, they create environments where young people can genuinely feel secure and supported.

3. Demand Is Growing – and So Is Responsibility

The children’s residential care sector is growing, and so is the responsibility placed on providers to recruit safely.

Ofsted reported that children’s homes in England were registered for 15,700 places as at 31 March 2025 , representing a 9% increase in capacity compared with the previous year. At the same time, the Department for Education reported 36,200 full-time equivalent child and family social workers in post at 30 September 2025 , with 38,300 by headcount . The same release also recorded 5,400 agency social workers , with the agency worker rate falling to 13% .

These figures highlight a sector under real pressure to balance rising demand with safe, stable staffing.

When services need to recruit quickly, safer recruitment becomes even more important. A structured, consistent process helps ensure that urgency never comes at the expense of quality, safeguarding or suitability.

4. Safer Recruitment Does Not Stop at Placement

It is easy to think of recruitment as something that ends once a worker is placed. In reality, safer recruitment is ongoing.

Maintaining safe services requires continuous oversight, regular communication, and a willingness to act quickly if concerns arise.

A strong recruitment partner will support this by keeping compliance records up to date, checking in on performance, and ensuring that training remains current. This ongoing approach helps services stay inspection-ready while maintaining high safeguarding standards across every shift.

It also provides reassurance - not just for managers, but for the wider team.

5. Training and Preparation Build Confidence

Children’s residential environments can be complex and, at times, unpredictable. Staff need to feel confident in how they respond.

That confidence comes from preparation.

Well-trained workers are better equipped to manage challenging behaviour, support mental health needs, and maintain accurate records. They understand safeguarding responsibilities and know how to act when concerns arise.

Over time, this creates calmer, more stable environments where both staff and young people feel more secure. Training is not just about knowledge, it is about consistency, confidence and safety in practice.

6. Consistency and Continuity Matter

For children and young people, consistency is incredibly important.

Frequent changes in staff can disrupt routines, impact trust, and create uncertainty. In contrast, familiar faces help build relationships, provide reassurance, and support emotional stability.

Safer recruitment should therefore focus not just on filling immediate gaps, but on building longer-term consistency within services.

This might mean working with a recruitment partner who understands your setting, provides staff who return regularly, and takes the time to match individuals carefully to your environment.

Over time, that consistency becomes part of the foundation of your service.

Real-World Impact: Supporting Continuity in Practice

The importance of safer recruitment and continuity is not just theoretical - it plays out in real situations every day.

In one recent example, we supported a children’s residential service during a sensitive placement transition. Maintaining consistency was critical to ensuring the young person felt safe and supported during a period of change.

By providing familiar, fully vetted staff who understood the service and the individual’s needs, we were able to help create stability at a time where disruption could have had a significant impact.

This approach reflects what safer recruitment should achieve in practice - not just filling shifts, but protecting relationships, routines and outcomes.

You can read more about this here .

7. Transparency Builds Stronger Partnerships

Strong recruitment partnerships are built on trust, and trust comes from transparency.

Providers should feel confident asking how safer recruitment processes work, what checks are completed, and how compliance is maintained. Clear answers should always be available.

When recruitment is handled properly, there is no uncertainty. You know who is being placed into your service, how they have been vetted, and what support is in place.

This clarity allows recruitment to become a genuine partnership - one that supports safeguarding, rather than adding pressure.

Supporting Children’s Residential Services with Safer Recruitment

At First for Support, safer recruitment is at the core of everything we do.

We work in partnership with children’s residential services to provide fully vetted, experienced professionals who are prepared to work in Ofsted-regulated environments. Every placement is handled with care, with a focus on both compliance and long-term fit.

Our approach combines thorough vetting, ongoing compliance monitoring, and a commitment to consistency - whether you require temporary staffing, emergency shift cover, or permanent recruitment.

Because in children’s residential care, recruitment is never just about filling roles. It is about protecting young people, supporting services, and helping create environments where children feel safe every day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is safer recruitment in children’s residential care?

Safer recruitment is a structured process that ensures anyone working with children is properly vetted, suitable and safe. It includes DBS checks, references, employment history checks and safeguarding assessments.

Why is safer recruitment important? 

It protects vulnerable children, supports Ofsted compliance, and helps services maintain safe, stable and reliable staffing.

What checks are included in safer recruitment?

This typically includes enhanced DBS checks, verified references, full employment history, identity and right-to-work checks, along with safeguarding training.

How can a recruitment agency support safer recruitment?

A specialist agency manages vetting, ensures compliance, provides trained staff and supports ongoing monitoring, helping services remain safe and fully staffed.

Do you supply staff for children’s residential services in Hampshire and Dorset?

Yes. First for Support provides fully vetted, experienced staff across Hampshire and Dorset, with expanding coverage into Devon, Wiltshire and Manchester.

Temporary Social Care Staff vs Permanent Recruitment – What Works Best?

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:02:09 GMT

In social care, people are at the heart of everything. The individuals receiving support, the dedicated staff delivering that care, and the providers working every day to ensure services run safely and smoothly.

Because of this, building the right team is incredibly important.

One question many providers face is whether temporary social care staff or permanent recruitment is the better option. In reality, there isn’t always a simple answer. Both approaches play an important role in the sector, and each can support services in different ways depending on their needs.

By understanding how temporary and permanent staffing work, organisations can make thoughtful decisions that support both their teams and the people who rely on their services.

The Role of Temporary Social Care Staff

Temporary staff play an important role in keeping social care services running smoothly. In reality, care environments can be unpredictable. Staff illness, annual leave, or unexpected changes in someone’s support needs can quickly create gaps in the rota.

When this happens, temporary staff help services stay safe, stable and well supported.

Many providers rely on temporary staff for a number of reasons:

Quick cover when a member of staff is unavailable
Extra help during busy periods or service expansion
Support while permanent roles are being filled
Access to experienced workers who can step into different settings

For managers, knowing there is reliable support available when needed can bring real peace of mind. It means less time worrying about filling shifts, and more time focusing on what truly matters - supporting people well.

When temporary staff are provided by a trusted recruitment partner, they arrive prepared, experienced, and ready to work alongside the existing team in a positive and supportive way.

Why Permanent Staff Still Matter So Much

While temporary staffing offers flexibility, permanent recruitment brings something equally valuable - stability and continuity.

Permanent staff often become the heart of a service. Over time they build meaningful relationships with the people they support, learning routines, preferences, and the small details that make someone feel safe and understood.

These relationships can have a huge impact on a person’s wellbeing.

Permanent team members also help shape the culture of a service. A consistent team creates familiarity, trust, and a supportive environment where both staff and service users feel comfortable.

Because permanent employees stay within the organisation long term, providers can also invest in their development. Training, career progression, and specialist skills all help strengthen the service over time.

For many organisations, a strong and committed permanent team provides the foundation that allows high-quality care to remain consistent every day.

Situations Where Temporary Staffing Works Best

There are times when services need to respond quickly to changing circumstances. Temporary staffing provides the flexibility to do this without placing additional pressure on the existing team.

Temporary staff can be particularly valuable when:

Staff members are off sick or on annual leave
Services are experiencing a sudden increase in demand
A new service is opening and additional support is needed
Recruitment for permanent roles is still in progress

In these moments, temporary workers provide much-needed support. They help maintain safe staffing levels and ensure that the quality of care remains consistent for the people who depend on it.

For many service managers, simply knowing there is a trusted pool of staff available when needed makes a huge difference.

When Permanent Recruitment Is the Better Option

Permanent recruitment is often the best approach when providers are looking to build or strengthen their core team.

A stable workforce helps services develop routines, strengthen relationships within the team, and create a familiar environment for the people receiving support. In residential care and supported living settings especially, this consistency can be incredibly important.

Permanent recruitment is often the right choice when organisations want to:

Build a reliable long-term team
Recruit senior support workers or leadership roles
Develop staff with specialist training
Strengthen the culture and values within the service

Although permanent recruitment can take time, the long-term benefits of a stable and committed team can make a real difference to both staff and service users.

Why Many Providers Use Both

In reality, many social care organisations find that the most effective approach is a balance of both temporary and permanent staff.

Permanent team members provide consistency, familiarity, and leadership within the service. Temporary staff bring flexibility and help services respond when unexpected challenges arise.

When used together, this approach helps services stay stable while still being able to adapt when needed. It also helps prevent existing staff from becoming overwhelmed when rotas become difficult to manage.

Ultimately, this balance allows managers and teams to focus on what matters most - providing safe, compassionate and person-centred care.

Supporting Services with the Right Staff

At First for Support, we understand that staffing in social care is never just about filling shifts. Behind every role is a person who depends on thoughtful, reliable support.

That’s why we take a people-first approach to recruitment.

We work closely with care providers to supply experienced temporary staff when extra support is needed, while also helping organisations recruit permanent team members who can grow with their services.

All of our recruitment follows Safer Recruitment practices, including thorough vetting, compliance checks, and safeguarding standards to ensure every worker placed in a service is properly prepared and trusted to support vulnerable individuals.

By building strong relationships with both our clients and our candidates, we’re able to connect services with professionals who genuinely care about the work they do.

Because when the right people are in the right roles, everyone benefits - the team, the service, and most importantly, the individuals receiving care.

If you’re looking for reliable temporary staff or support with permanent social care recruitment, our team is always here to help. Get in touch with First for Support to discuss how we can support your service.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should care providers use temporary social care staff?

Temporary staff can be incredibly helpful when services need additional support quickly. This might be due to staff sickness, annual leave, increased demand, or while permanent roles are being filled.

Having access to experienced temporary workers helps services maintain safe staffing levels and ensures the people receiving care continue to receive consistent, high-quality support.

Are agency staff experienced in social care settings?

Yes. Reputable social care recruitment agencies carefully vet and prepare their workers before placing them into services. This usually includes DBS checks, safeguarding training, and experience working in environments such as residential care, supported living, and complex care settings.

At First for Support, we focus on placing workers who are not only qualified but also compassionate and committed to providing person-centred support.

Is it better to hire temporary or permanent social care staff?

Both temporary and permanent staff play an important role in social care services.

Permanent staff provide stability, consistency, and long-term relationships with the people they support. Temporary workers offer flexibility, helping services respond quickly when staffing needs change.

Many care providers find that a combination of both offers the best balance.

How can a recruitment agency support social care providers?

A specialist recruitment agency can help providers find experienced, compliant staff when they need them most. This may include temporary cover for shifts, support during busy periods, or assistance recruiting permanent team members.

Working with a recruitment partner also saves time for managers and helps ensure services remain safely staffed.

Do you supply temporary social care staff in Hampshire and Dorset?

Yes. First for Support works with social care providers across Hampshire and Dorset , and we are continuing to expand into areas including Devon, Wiltshire, and Manchester .

We support services by providing reliable temporary staff as well as helping organisations recruit permanent team members who share their values and commitment to care.

Are agency staff experienced in social care settings?

Professional agencies also follow Safer Recruitment policies , ensuring that thorough background checks, identity verification, and employment history reviews are completed before workers are placed into care settings. These processes help protect vulnerable individuals and ensure services remain compliant with sector standards.

At First for Support, we follow strict Safer Recruitment practices to ensure that every worker we place is not only qualified, but also compassionate, reliable, and committed to providing person-centred support.

First for Support wins a Southern Enterprise Award!

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:59:52 GMT

First for Support wins a Southern Enterprise Award!

We are delighted, honoured and incredibly proud to be a winner of this year’s Southern Enterprise Awards.

In their words…

“The Southern Enterprise Awards recognise multi-sized enterprises and businesspeople with much to teach the rest of the world. Taking everything in their stride, and doing all they can to deliver innovative products and services, these entities do more than keep up with trends in order to deliver the best of the best for their customers.

In fact, our winners are staying ahead of the curve with their forward-thinking dedication, zest for spotless service, and their fingers firmly placed on the pulse of their own industries.

Now in its sixth year, the Southern Enterprise Awards 2023 offers insight into a wide range of sectors. From canine confidence coaches to creative consultancies, online wellbeing platforms to in-person learning environments, and much more, this year we see yet another glimmering selection of award-winning enterprises and entrepreneurs.

Our Awards Coordinator, Jack Ford, commented on the splendid success of our 2023 winners: “Hosting this year’s Southern Enterprise Awards has been a pleasure. We have seen so much dedication from our winners, and they truly put so much heart into what they do.

The South of the UK is flourishing, and so are their success stories. I wish them all the best for the years to come.”

To find out more about these prestigious awards, and the magnificent enterprises that have been selected for them, please visit https://www.sme-news.co.uk/awards/uk-southern-business-awards/ where you can view our winners supplement and full winners list.

Apply Here

How to Choose a Compliant Social Care Recruitment Agency

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:13:02 GMT

How to Choose a Compliant Social Care Recruitment Agency

When you are responsible for a regulated care or housing service, recruitment carries real weight. Every new worker represents your standards, your culture and, most importantly, the safety of the people you support.

Whether you manage a children’s home in Hampshire, a supported living service in Dorset, a residential setting in Devon or a housing organisation in Manchester, your recruitment partner should strengthen your compliance position, not create additional pressure.

If you are reviewing your current staffing provider or considering a new social care recruitment agency across the South East or South West, here is what good, compliant recruitment should look like.

1. Compliance Must Come First

In social care and social housing, compliance is not an add-on. It is the foundation that protects your service.

Adult services are regulated by the Care Quality Commission and children’s services are inspected by Ofsted . Any recruitment agency operating within social care must understand these frameworks and the expectations placed on providers.

A compliant social care recruitment agency should ensure that every worker supplied is:

DBS checked, with annual updates
References obtained and verified prior to placement
Trained for their role
Experienced in working within Ofsted and CQC regulated environments
Reviewed for suitability and conduct before placement
Subject to ongoing compliance monitoring

This should never feel like a vague promise. You should feel confident that your agency can clearly explain how their safer recruitment process aligns with regulatory requirements and how documentation can be made available if requested.

If you would like to understand how a transparent safer recruitment process is structured in practice, you can review our full compliance standards here .

2. Safer Recruitment Should Be Open and Transparent

Strong recruitment partnerships are built on trust, and trust is built on transparency.

A professional recruitment agency will operate under clear safer recruitment policies and maintain up-to-date compliance records for every placement. They should welcome questions about right-to-work checks, training verification and reference processes because they understand that transparency protects everyone involved.

If an agency avoids detailed conversations about compliance, that is often a sign that their processes are not as robust as they should be.

When recruitment is handled properly, you should feel reassured, not uncertain.

3. Training and Experience Matter

Compliance is more than documentation. It is about capability.

Workers placed within residential care, supported living, secure environments and housing services should complete mandatory training relevant to their role. This commonly includes first aid, safeguarding, health and safety, GDPR, medication administration, mental capacity legislation, equality and diversity, fire safety and accurate recording and reporting.

Beyond initial training, ongoing CPD and refresher learning are equally important. Regulations evolve, services adapt and service user needs change. A recruitment partner that supports continuous development helps you maintain safe, confident and competent staffing across every shift.

Experience also matters. Workers who have previously operated within Ofsted and CQC regulated environments understand expectations around safeguarding, documentation and professional conduct. That familiarity reduces risk and strengthens continuity within your service.

4. Continuity and Relationships Over Quick Fixes

Temporary recruitment plays a critical role across the South East, South West and Manchester, particularly in children’s services and supported housing. However, continuity of care should never be overlooked.

Frequent changes in staff can disrupt routines and stability, particularly in children’s services and supported living environments. A thoughtful recruitment agency focuses on building a consistent pool of workers who become familiar with your service, your expectations and the people you support.

When considering a recruitment partner, ask yourself:

Do you provide dedicated account management?
How do you ensure continuity across ongoing placements?
What does your retention look like?

An agency that prioritises relationships over transactions will invest time in understanding your service and matching workers carefully rather than simply filling gaps.

5. Professional Standards and Accreditation

Reputable agencies demonstrate their commitment to ethical recruitment through recognised professional membership.

For example, membership of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation confirms adherence to industry legislation and ethical standards. You may also wish to confirm whether consultants hold recognised recruitment qualifications and understand Ofsted and CQC compliance frameworks.

Professional standards are not marketing tools. They are indicators of accountability.

6. Responsiveness Without Compromising Quality

Social care and social housing operate around the clock. Staffing challenges rarely occur conveniently between office hours.

A recruitment partner should offer responsive support seven days a week, including out of hours cover for urgent shifts. However, speed should never come at the expense of compliance.

The right agency balances urgency with diligence. They respond quickly, but never cut corners.

7. Evidence of Impact and Reliability

Finally, look for signs of consistency and trust.

High referral rates from candidates suggest positive experiences and strong internal culture. Long term staff retention reflects stability. A maintained pool of fully vetted professionals indicates ongoing investment in compliance. Demonstrable hours delivered show operational reliability.

These measures offer reassurance that the agency can support your service not just today, but sustainably over time.

Choosing the Right Recruitment Partner in Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire and Manchester

Across the South East, South West and Manchester, care providers and housing organisations face increasing pressure to maintain standards while managing workforce demands.

The right social care recruitment agency will do more than supply staff. They will protect your compliance position, support your inspection readiness and strengthen your team culture.

Before committing to any staffing partner, ask yourself:

Do I feel confident in their compliance processes?
Are they transparent about safer recruitment?
Do they understand the realities of working within regulated environments?
Do they feel like a partner, not just a supplier?

If the answer to any of these questions is unclear, it is worth continuing your search.

Looking for a Compliant Social Care or Social Housing Recruitment Partner?

We provide:

Temporary recruitment and emergency shift cover
Permanent recruitment for long-term team stability
Executive search for leadership and management roles

Every placement is handled with care. Every worker is vetted and reviewed. Every partnership is built on transparency and trust.

If you would like to discuss your staffing needs or submit a vacancy, get in touch with First for Support today. We are here to support your service with recruitment that is responsive, compliant and genuinely people focused.

Rapid Interim Leadership Support in Social Housing

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:08:09 GMT

Client Overview

Our client is a social housing provider, delivering supported housing and residential services across West Sussex.

They approached First for Support during a period of operational pressure, requiring experienced interim leadership to support service improvement across their housing and hostel services.

The Challenge

The client needed to recruit a senior change-focused role to oversee improvements within their residential and hostel services.

Initially scoped as a short-term contract of 3–4 months, the requirement came with:

A need for quick turnaround
A senior-level professional with sector-specific experience
Limited internal capacity to source, screen, and onboard candidates quickly

Time was critical, as service improvement work needed to begin immediately.

Our Approach

We acted quickly to identify and source a high-calibre interim professional with:

Proven experience in social housing and supported accommodation
Strong leadership and operational change expertise
The ability to build rapport quickly with senior stakeholders

The candidate met with the Director of Operations promptly, was offered the role shortly after interview, and started quickly, allowing the client to maintain momentum on key projects.

The Outcome

✔ Senior interim role filled at short notice
✔ Contract extended beyond the original term due to strong performance
✔ High-quality service improvement support delivered
✔ Reduced pressure on senior leadership team
✔ Strong working relationship established

Although the role was initially intended as a short-term solution, the quality of work delivered led to the contract being extended to around six months, demonstrating the value and impact of the placement.

Why This Worked

This case study highlights the importance of:

Rapid response recruitment
Access to experienced interim professionals
Understanding senior-level requirements in social housing
Delivering quality over speed alone

By combining sector knowledge with a responsive, consultative approach, we helped the client secure the right expertise exactly when they needed it.

Continuity for a Child’s Placement Transition

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:04:05 GMT

Client Overview

This project involved close collaboration with a local council and a residential children’s home that was already an established client of First for Support.

The focus was on supporting a young boy transitioning from emergency council care into a residential children’s home, ensuring his move was as stable and reassuring as possible.

The Challenge

The young person had been placed in emergency care and required 1:1 staffing support to keep him safe while adjustments were made for his permanent placement.

The transition involved:

Coordinating between the local council and the receiving children’s home
Ensuring staff availability during a time-critical transition
Minimising disruption and anxiety for the young person
Supporting the wider residential setting to avoid unnecessary change for other children

Continuity was essential - both for safeguarding and emotional wellbeing.

Our Approach

Our priority was to maintain trusted relationships. We arranged for the same support workers who had been covering shifts with the council to continue supporting the young person as he transitioned into his new home.

Key elements of our approach included:

Careful staff selection based on rapport and trust already established
Ensuring the staff member he travelled with was the one he felt most comfortable with
Coordinating closely with both the council and the residential provider
Selecting staff who already knew the other young people in the home, reducing disruption for everyone involved

This ensured stability not just for the child in transition, but for the wider household.

The Outcome

✔ Smooth and well-managed transition into residential care
✔ Reduced anxiety for the young person
✔ Faster settling-in period
✔ Continued trust through familiar support workers
✔ Gradual, positive integration with the home’s core staff team

The young person settled quickly into his new environment, supported by staff he already trusted. Over time, these agency workers gradually stepped back as he built relationships with the permanent team, allowing for a natural and supportive transition.

Why This Worked

This case study highlights the importance of:

Relationship-led staffing decisions
Trauma-informed, child-centered recruitment
Clear communication between all parties
Prioritising emotional wellbeing alongside operational needs

By placing consistency and trust at the center of our approach, we helped create a stable foundation for a young person during a major life change.

Bridging Gaps Through Responsive Agency Support

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 11:58:48 GMT

Client Overview

Our client is an assisted living residence provider, delivering supported living services for young people aged 16+, alongside education-based support services.

Due to new placements becoming available, the client required immediate staffing support to ensure they could safely accept and manage these placements.

The Challenge

Following an increase in new placements, the client faced a high and immediate demand for staff, with very short lead times. Without sufficient permanent staff in place, there was a real risk that placements could not be accepted- impacting both the organisation and the young people relying on their services.

Key challenges included:

Tight turnaround times for staffing
High-volume shift requirements at short notice
Complex rotas requiring hands-on support
The need for staff able to adapt quickly to challenging environments

Our Approach

We met with the client early to fully understand their service model, staffing pressures, and expectations. From there, we mobilised experienced agency workers who were:

Skilled in supported living and education settings
Confident working with young people with complex needs
Able to adapt quickly and reliably

In addition to supplying staff, we worked closely with the client to support rota planning, easing pressure on their internal teams and ensuring shifts were covered consistently.

The Outcome

✔ New placements accepted without delay
✔ Consistent, reliable support for young people
✔ Reduced pressure on internal management teams
✔ Effective short-term staffing solution without permanent staff in place
✔ Development of a trusted agency partnership

Despite the absence of permanent staffing at the time, the client was able to maintain safe, consistent, and high-quality support, while building a strong working relationship with First for Support.

Why This Worked

This project highlights the value of:

Rapid response recruitment
Flexible, experienced agency staff
Hands-on support beyond just filling shifts
Strong communication and partnership working

By acting quickly and collaboratively, we helped the client bridge critical staffing gaps and continue delivering essential care.

Excellent service you can trust

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:18:52 GMT

Excellent service you can trust

Apply Here

It’s straightforward to switch to First for Support

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:16:54 GMT

It’s straightforward to switch to First for Support

Apply Here

It’s straightforward to switch to First for Suppor t

First for Support specialises in providing care for children, teenagers and adults in a variety of placements across Hampshire and Dorset. We are proud of the excellent support we give to all our service users, and we can’t give that excellent support without you! Hiring the right people is key and that’s why we care so much about getting the process right.

Here, we walk you through every step of our recruitment process, from when you first get in contact with us to when you start your first placement as a Support Worker or Care Assistant. We also give you interview tips and talk about the kind of placements we offer.

We will value you, care about you and your career, and will be there to support you whenever you need us.

How to Contact First for Support

You can get in touch with us via this brief form on our website which will send us a message with your contact details. Or, you can apply for a job directly through the job vacancy page on our website. You are also welcome to email us or give us a call (scroll down to the end of this article for all our contact details).

The process

Initial contact

Once you’ve got in touch with us, we will give you a call. This is just to have a quick chat and ask you a couple of questions to make sure that you’ve got the experience to provide the right support to our service users, and to get a feel for whether you will be a good fit for working with our company. Then, we’ll book an interview in with you and ask for your CV.

Sending over your CV

Before we have an informal interview with you, we need you to send over your CV. Don’t be put off by this, it doesn’t have to be anything long and fancy. We just need to see your full work history, your skills and education, and learn a little bit about yourself.

Face to face interview

This is when we get to meet each other! After our initial phone chat, and when we have read through the CV you sent in, we sit down together and get to know each other a bit better, talking about your experiences and the skills you’ve picked up. We love to hear your stories as this tells us a lot about who you are and how you handle situations.

Documentation

If, after this interview, we both decide that working with First for Support will be right for you, we will need you to provide us with all your documentation. This will include your proof of ID, proof of address, any right to work documents that you have and your DBS. if you’ve got a DBS Certificate registered on the UK government’s Update Service, we can check it for you. You should also send over any relevant and in-date training certificates that you have, along with your other documentation.

References

When we’re happy with all your documentation, we’ll move on to checking your references. You’ll have given us the contact details for your references on your application form, and we’ll contact them directly. We’ll need references that cover your last five years of employment. Some of the residential homes that we work with are Ofsted registered so they require full referencing. This process varies in how long it all takes but we’ll keep you updated along the way.

Placement

We’ve met, checked that all your documentation is in order, received your references and you’ve completed any First for Support online training that’s needed. Now, we discuss your availability for shifts and your preferences for the kind of placements you would like and will be a good fit for, and you hopefully get to start work quite quickly.

How long the whole process takes, from the first time you contact us to when you get your first placement, varies depending on how long it takes to check your documentation and get your references back. Having your DBS on the Update Service speeds things up.

Interview preparation

Be positive

Having an enthusiastic attitude and a sunny nature is really important. There’s nothing to be nervous about. We’re on your side and won’t be trying to catch you out and we won’t grill you too much! It’s just a chat about your experience and for us to get a feel of who you are as a person – what kind of fit that you will have within the sector we work in. We want this to be right for you as well as for us.

Promote your skills

When you have your interview with us, remember to think about what skills you put on your CV and try and relate back to that as much as you can. Your CV should be a true reflection of you and we’ll be looking for consistency between what you’ve put down on paper and how you are in person. For example, if you wrote that you have good communication skills, think about how you can bring this up in the interview to demonstrate your good communication skills.

Detail your work experience

Your CV needs to cover the whole time period from when you left school until the present day, with every job that you’ve had. If you have had any breaks in your work experience, for example for studying or for childcare, it’s important to include these details to explain those gaps. During your interview with us, we will go through your CV and make sure that all the dates match up. We will also talk through your experiences.

Share your stories

It’s often really enlightening for us when you bring to life any challenges that you’ve been through or ways that you’ve dealt with different situations. It gives us a good feel for what kind of person you are and the ways that you approach your work. It also shows us how you follow procedures and rules in different circumstances. It often highlights skills that you’ve demonstrated in certain situations that you may not even realise you had.

Research the company

If you are joining First for Support as an agency worker, at your interview we will explain all you need to know about how we work as a company, our processes and how everything gets done. If you are going for a permanent position, we will send you the job description for that company. If you’re confirmed for an interview, we would strongly suggest that you take the time to do a bit of research and find out about the company you’re going for an interview with. The company will appreciate your efforts and it could make you stand out from the other candidates.

Talk to us

If you are going for an interview, we can help you to find out information about them. We can also advise you on what they are looking for and what you might want to make sure you mention in your interview. We will have read through the job description as well, so we can make sure that you’re the right fit, and we will hopefully be able to give you some useful tips to help you be the best you can be in your interview.

Throughout the interview process, we can help you to feel confident and prepared, and make sure that the process goes as smoothly as possible.

Different types of placement

Residential Children’s Homes

Residential Children’s Homes house several children of a variety of ages. The children may have a traumatic background and/or emotional behavioural difficulties. They may also have learning difficulties.

What type of work will I be doing in a Residential Children’s Home?

You would be expected to help with general housework, encouraging the children’s independence by motivating them to keep their room tidy, help them with their homework or anything else they’ve got going on in their lives. You would also take them out on trips and generally keep them active and entertained.

Schools

We have placements in schools for children with extra learning difficulties who may need extra support. We also support children with autism and challenging behaviour.

What type of work can I expect to do in schools?

You would be expected to support the child whilst they do their schoolwork, help to control their behaviour and manage their behaviour if they start to have an incident. You may possibly need to help them to go to the toilet if that’s something that they need support with. You are there to help with the day to day running of the school but your focus will mainly be to support the child you are there for.

Post-16

Post-16 placements are for care leavers who are in the transitional period between a residential care home and living independently. They may also have extra learning difficulties or autism, but they are generally young adults who have a traumatic background, with emotional and behavioural difficulties as well.

What work will I be doing with post-16s?

In post-16 placements, your main job is to promote independence so that the service users have an idea of what to expect when they leave the system. Your job is to help them to become a well-rounded and functioning adult, knowing how to keep their home clean, pay their bills, go out and find work and so on.

One to One

Some of our placements are on a one to one, assisted living basis. In these placements, people are living pretty independently, they just need that extra bit of support at home.

What type of work is involved with one to one support?

In a one to one placement, you would be expected to give a helping hand wherever it’s needed. Your client will be mostly independent, they just need a bit of encouragement and support. It’s about giving them that little extra push to do things for themselves, rather than taking over and doing everything for them. You’re there to assist them if they go shopping, or do other activities that they can’t fully take on by themselves.

How First for Support can help

We would be guided by your relevant work experience and your preferences, to choose the best placements for you. If you have previously worked with children, we would place you with children. If you have worked with young adults or adults, we would place you with a similar group. If you are willing to work with either, or would like to try a placement with children for the first time, or with adults for the first time, we will support you in broadening your experience. We could place you in a less demanding environment to help you get used to a new situation. Whatever the circumstances, we always have your best interests at heart. We check your skills and your experience, listen to what you would like, and find the best fit for you.

How you can contact First for Support

We really care about our candidates and look after our staff, supporting you every step of the way from day one.

Bea, our Director, or our Recruitment Consultants, Ellie and Natalie, would all be happy to help you:

ellie@firstforsupport.co.uk or 07572 704595

natalie@firstforsupport.co.uk or 07496 824425

bea@firstforsupport.co.uk or 07305 808857

We live by our values

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:10:51 GMT

We live by our values

Apply Here

First for Support

What our values mean to us, how they influence the way we do business and how they benefit our candidates, our customers and our clients.

Our three core values – People Focused, Responsive and Empowering – are always front of mind and they impact everything we do:

People focused

Social Care is obviously a people-driven business. We feel strongly that ‘care’ means ‘caring’ and that a recruitment business matching the right people to the right care-giving roles can’t be about the money, it has to be about the people. Our candidates are supporting clients who have various disabilities and a wide range of challenges, which is our priority. That’s what makes First for Support stand out – we put people at the heart of everything that we do.

Responsive

We support the needs of our clients whenever they need us, whether it’s 10 o’clock at night or 6 o’clock in the morning. We communicate quickly, clearly and efficiently with our customers and our candidates. We are always ready to deal with any problem that crops up, for example if one of our Support Workers needs help finding a care home they haven’t been to before. We’re quick to be responsive and resolve any issue. Fast.

Empowering

We respect and champion every individual’s right to be empowered to live as independently as they can, no matter what their circumstances are. We do this by providing well-trained and well-qualified Support Workers to specifically suit each and every one of our clients.

Questions that candidates interested in working for First for Support often ask us…

How much is the pay?

The pay varies, depending on the particular client you are looking after. Every client has different needs. Our customers will offer a higher rate if a client has more difficult or challenging needs, or if they need night shifts and weekend shifts.

What are the assignments?

We provide Support Workers for a variety of placements and assignments across a range of different places – residential SEN schools, care homes for young adults with learning difficulties or autism, adult residential, secure, educational, post-16 supported and independent living environments.

Ideally, we try to provide continuity of care so, if you are happy with a particular placement, we will do our best to make sure you keep working there, where you feel confident and deliver the best service.

What is the recruitment process?

Candidates usually apply through the recruitment website, Indeed, or they often apply through a referral from someone who already works with us. First, you send your CV over and, if it looks promising, we will get in touch and have a ‘pre-select call’. We use this call to assess whether we feel you are the right fit. If so, we then invite you for a face to face interview, having asked you to bring along certain documents we require, in line with Ofsted and CQC, depending on if you are applying to work with adults or children.

Then, we will apply for your DBS check and, if you haven’t lived in the UK for at least five years, we ask you to supply an Overseas Police Check. After these checks have been done, we will ask for references. Only when we have received and verified those references, received your DBS approval and you have completed all your required training, do we send you out on a placement.

What qualifications do I need?

It varies depending on the role and it often helps if you have prior training for some roles. For example, if you were to apply for a senior role, you would need to have a Health and Social Care NVQ Level 2 or Level 3. Sometimes, our customer gives us specific requirements that they are looking for, but mostly we’re just looking for people with experience and a willingness to complete their qualifications.

Why choose to work for First for Support?

I would say that, as cliched as it sounds, we’re like a big family. We are small enough to keep that personal touch. Our candidates and Support Workers aren’t just numbers to us, swallowed up in a big corporate environment. We know all our candidates and Support Workers by name, we understand them and where they are best suited. We know their preferences for placements and shift patterns and we don’t place them where we think they won’t be happy – that wouldn’t be good for them or for our clients. Bea, the founder and director of First for Support, knows the Support Worker’s role inside and out and she makes everyone in her team feel valued and supported.

What sort of shift patterns could I work?

We want you to be happy in your work, so we try our best to be as flexible as possible and work around you. We have a wide range of shifts available, in terms of daytime shifts, night shifts and sleep-ins. We take into account how many hours per week and the number of shifts you would like to work, and when, so that we can do our best to accommodate you.

Will I be working with adults or children?

We provide Support Workers for adults, children and teenagers. We will place you with whatever age group you are comfortable working with. And, if you would like to try working with another age group, as long as our customer is happy working with you being less experienced, we are happy to support that as we want to encourage people broadening their experience. If you are happy and the client is happy, that is all that matters.

Questions that customers interested in hiring First for Support often ask us…

What is your recruitment procedure?

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do, so it is essential that our recruitment processes mirror the same rigorous practices. We recruit our candidates in line with CQC requirements and Ofsted requirements. So, that entails meeting face to face and making sure they’ve got the right eligibility to work in the UK. We check that our candidates have got the right training and qualifications. Most importantly, we check that they’ve got the right skills to work in this sector.

How do you ensure compliance?

We make sure that all the documents we gather from our candidates meet the industry standards and we keep copies of these documents, their references and their DBS records on our internal system, stored safely and securely.

Each and every candidate we work with goes through exactly the same thorough process, to ensure that we are consistently providing all our clients with high quality staff.

What information will I get on the candidates?

Once the candidate has completed our recruitment process, we compile a profile that includes their photo, full work history, education, training, references, their DBS info and any information that is provided with the DBS check.

How many hours can you cover?

We cover about 1,000 hours per week across Hampshire and Dorset in a variety of services, across children’s services and adult services with varying levels of needs.

Will I get a dedicated account manager?

All our customers have one point of contact who will really get to know you and support your individual requirements. Ellie looks after our Dorset customers, and Natalie looks after our Hampshire customers. Bea oversees the general running of the whole business on a day-to-day basis.

What areas do you cover?

We cover the counties of Hampshire and Dorset and most of our clients are based around the key towns in those two counties – Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth.

Why should customers choose to hire First for Support?

We are a very responsive business because we understand how much our clients need our support. This conscientiousness is very helpful for our customers as it means that they can get hold of us out of hours, during weekends and bank holidays.

Also, as we care about our Support Workers’ welfare, and pay them quite well too, they want to work for us which gives us a happy and motivated workforce. A lot of people who work for us have heard about us through referrals, when people they know who already work for us have kindly given us glowing recommendations. We are delighted and humbled to be able to say that our customers say wonderful things about us, too. We strive to be the best in what we do and we offer a top quality service to our clients. Nothing makes us more proud.

Meet the team who passionately deliver the values of First for Support every day

Bea’s story

I’m the founder and director of First for Support. I started my career as a Resource and Compliance Officer in a construction company, before moving on to the corporate recruitment world, working at Hays for nine years. My years of experience in the social care recruitment sector sparked my vision about how social care should be run, so I started First for Support in February 2019 to give me the opportunity to provide care, and back Support Workers, with the values I feel passionately about.

I feel that the work our staff do is incredibly underrated and unappreciated and I just love to show people that it shouldn’t be that way and you can treat Support Workers well and make them feel valued and appreciated. I feel a special affinity for working with children, which is a niche market for us. We support customers who are working with challenging children in residential settings, in schools, in secure settings and in the community, across Hampshire and Dorset.

I am incredibly proud to nurture a fantastic environment for people to work in, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future brings!

Natalie’s story

I had always wanted to work with children and planned to go to university and become a paediatric nurse, but life went in a different direction and I couldn’t finish my university course. I’ve always loved caring for people so I gravitated towards the care sector. After working in a nursing home, I moved on to a residential home for young adults with learning difficulties, which was a very rewarding experience.

Wanting to further my career, I found the opportunity for an apprenticeship, which happened to be with First for Support. It turned out to be the best thing that could have happened! Bea and I hit it off from the start.

I believe that every person should be treated equally and I believe that everyone should get the best chance in life, especially children. Much of the work that support workers do goes unnoticed but we appreciate them and know how to support them.

Bea, Ellie and I share the same values and we live those values every day. They’re not just words!

Ellie’s story

I have worked in the care sector for seven years, mostly the elderly with dementia. I met Natalie when we worked together in a nursing home and it’s really special to be in a team with her now, at First for Support, sharing our passion for truly caring about the care we deliver and our Support Workers who are delivering it. And, because we’ve been Support Workers ourselves, before moving into the recruitment side of the care industry, we know the sector really well and can genuinely support our candidates.

First for Support feels like one big family and I really respect how Bea runs the company. The compassionate way that she looks after our candidates and our clients is very inspiring, and the way we have all brought our experience, passion and shared values to the care sector feels very special. I feel lucky to work here.

How can I contact First for Support?

Whether you are looking for a placement in the care sector, or you need Support Workers to look after your clients, we would love to help you. You can call us on 07305 808857 or email us at bea@firstforsupport.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you!

Candidate FAQs Part 1

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:02:30 GMT

Candidate FAQs Part 1

Are you looking for a friendly, expert and experienced agency who can find you the right employment in the specialist care sector? You’ve come to the right place.

At First for Support, we have specialised in providing care for children, teenagers and adults in a variety of placements for over 10 years, across the Hampshire and Dorset area.

We believe that you should choose First for Support because we are incredibly supportive and caring towards our care workers and we understand the sector really well.

Our recruitment consultants, Ellie and Natalie, have both worked in care and support work. Our director, Bea, has covered recruitment within the sector for 15 years. So, we know what we’re doing and we have the skills to place you in the best roles for you.

We are proud of the excellent support we give to all our service users, which we can only provide if we have the right people working with us. If you are reading this, hopefully you are the kind of caring and efficient person we are looking for.

Some of our candidates say that First for Support feels different to other agencies because they feel like part of our family. They feel genuinely cared for and that we have their best interests at heart.

We make sure we get to know you and your circumstances, so that the placements we offer you work well with your lifestyle, your availability and your preferences for the kind of work you would like to do.

When you first get in touch with First for Support, you will speak to Ellie or Natalie, who will then be your assigned consultant throughout your relationship with First for Support. As we are a small company, we are accessible and easy to get hold of however suits you best – by phone, WhatsApp, text or email.

It says a lot that some of our candidates have been with us for years, finding their First for Support agency work placements the perfect employment to fit around their other commitments and family life. Others use us as a stopgap whilst they’re at university or studying elsewhere, or to supplement other part-time income. We are flexible and happy to work with you for as short or as long a time period that suits you.

Apply Here

Pay and shift patterns

The basic pay rate is £10.50 per hour, plus holiday pay. This is the lowest rate, and it’s often higher than that if you are working nights or weekends, and it can also be higher depending on the type of placement you are going to.

Regarding the shifts, they vary in length. It depends on the client and where you’ll be working. Some shifts are long day or night shifts, some are just an afternoon and some may have a sleep-in.

Can you choose your shifts? Absolutely. It’s completely up to you what shifts you want to do. Whatever your availability is, whatever hours and days of the week suit you best, just tell us and we will let you know what shifts we have available at those times.

Can you choose your assignments? After a while, yes. At first, we place you somewhere we think you’ll be best suited to, based on your preferences and your previous experience. If you’re happy with the placement and they’re happy with you, then you’ll usually get the chance to choose to stay there, as continuity of care is a positive experience for the service user.

Different types of assignments

You could be working in residential children’s settings or in supported living properties for young adults. The children and young adults generally have learning difficulties or autism. Some may have challenging behaviours, which is part of the territory in residential childcare, but mostly you’re there to support and encourage them. The majority of our young adult service users are pretty independent, they just need a bit of extra support.

Residential childcare placements are normally in residential homes, or can sometimes be in the child’s own home. The child (they could be as young as 7 years of age, or up to age 16) may have past trauma, behavioural and emotional difficulties and/or learning difficulties. There could be a wide range of needs and issues that you may have to deal with.

We also provide placements in the ‘Post 16’ services, for young people leaving the care system or young adults who need a little bit of extra support than living completely independently. Your job is to encourage independence – helping them to fend for themselves, run a household and manage their finances, and to motivate them to learn these things, too.

First for Support also provides care workers to support a variety of other placements, for example emergency placements within a foster care home or a family foster home. We also manage adult placements for service users who have additional needs or require some personal care, and we provide care worker support in some schools where pupils need a little bit extra support.

Let’s get started

The process for joining First for Support is simple and straightforward – just get in touch with us using the contact details at the bottom of this article.

When we receive your emailed CV, we’ll call you for a quick chat about your experience then get all your paperwork in order so that we can start arranging placements for you and booking you for shifts.

The documentation we will need from you will include your proof of ID, proof of address, any right to work documents that you have, your National Insurance number and your DBS.

You should also send over any relevant and in-date training certificates that you have.

There’s no specific time period for the process, from the date you get in touch with us to the date you start work, as it depends on how long it takes to get references back and so on. Tip: If your DBS Certificate is registered on the UK government’s Update Service, this really speeds the process up.

You may already be registered with another agency but that’s okay. People move agencies for all kinds of reasons, including not having a great relationship with that agency, not getting enough work or the right shift times, or wanting to get placements in a different area to what they’re being offered.

How can First for Support help?

We can help you to write your CV, collate all your paperwork and help you to prepare for any job interviews you may need to attend. Most importantly, we can place you in the right job for you, whether that is starting with a temporary placement so you can see what you like before taking on a permanent role, or you may be ready to go straight into a permanent role.

How can I contact First for Support?

We would love to find the perfect placement for you. We mainly cover Portsmouth, Southampton and Bournemouth, and we have some placements in the New Forest, Salisbury and Dorchester areas as well.

You are welcome to email or call our Recruitment Consultants, Ellie and Natalie:

ellie@firstforsupport.co.uk or 07572 704595

natalie@firstforsupport.co.uk or 07496 824425

Or, you can get in touch with us via this brief form on our website which will send us a message with your contact details.

Abraham’s experience of working with First for Support

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:47:09 GMT

Abraham’s experience of working with First for Support

I have worked as a specialist support worker at First for Support for over 10 years. Sometimes we’re known as Healthcare Assistants, because of the amount of experience we have and because of how much we can do to help the clients we work with.

What is it like working with First for Support in the healthcare sector?

I have worked with Bea, the founder and director at First for Support, for many years. It’s been brilliant for me because I am really passionate and enthusiastic about the health and social care industry and Bea feels exactly the same.

I love meeting new people and going to different places, so this job is ideal for me. I wouldn’t want to be in a 9-5 office job!

For me, and for Bea, this job is all about having an impact in people’s lives and really helping them. We’re in the caring profession and that means a lot to us.

One of the many things I like about First for Support is how much they treat each of us as individuals. We’re like family. They get to know us really well, and make sure that we get placements that suit us and that we’re happy where we’re working.

They also care about our development and our training, and how we can achieve our goals to do our best work in the social and health care sector.

I also respect the way they only take on care workers who have a good standard of spoken and written English, as it’s important that we can communicate well and make clear notes.

What is it like when you go to a new placement?

Because Bea and the team at First for Support put a lot of thought into the right people for the right roles, and they give you the right training and make sure you’re prepared, it feels fine starting at a new place.

You are given some background on the person you will be looking after, and their care plan, which is helpful. You’ll know the do’s and don’ts and the general procedures. We follow all the right regulations, GDPR and codes of practice for our industry, as well as any specific guidelines that the companies we’re working with have.

After that, it’s a case of getting to know the managers and the team. It’s really important to have good relationships with everyone and be a flexible team player.

Most importantly, it’s about getting to know the person you are looking after, so that they feel comfortable with you and you can help them and inspire them as much as possible. When you start in a new role, you need to be relaxed and patient and be aware that some people take time to welcome new people into their lives. Just be yourself. Do the best job you can do, and be kind and friendly and respectful and everything will be fine.

What do you think about working in the healthcare sector?

I think it’s one of the most important jobs you can do. You’re dealing with human lives and it’s about so much more than the money. You always need to remember that you’re looking after someone’s son, daughter, mother, father. We’re all part of the same human community and you should never forget that as it gives you empathy for others.

It makes me sad when I see people not care as much as they should. It doesn’t seem like they take pride in their work and they take short cuts.

That is not good for the person you are looking after and it isn’t good for you. Because Bea, Ellie, Natalie and Rhiarna really care, they only hire people that care too. In everyone who works for First for Support, you can see their enthusiasm and how seriously they take their work, at the same time as making it fun.

Also, we are confident in recommending improvements to the way things are being done in our placements, as we have the knowledge and training from working with First for Support.

What kind of placements do you get from First for Support?

In the health and social care sector, there are all kinds of assignments. I have worked with young people with a range of conditions, including Down’s syndrome, autism, ADHD, advanced hyper sensitivity, epilepsy and mental health issues.

But it’s never overwhelming because of the training and the preparation we get.

What has working in the care sector done for you?

I’m a family man and that’s helped me a lot because I’m working with people’s families. I take my personal values into my work and I get great satisfaction from helping people who are struggling with challenges in their lives.

Encouraging them and teaching them, and seeing the change you make in their lives, is really rewarding and it has really developed me as a person. It’s also humbling, as you realise you don’t know everything and it’s okay to open up and to ask for help.

Doing this job reminds you that there’s a bigger world out there than just your own experience, and working in this role has helped me to appreciate that and to be the best person I can be, as well as inspiring others as well.

What is it like working for First for Support and would you recommend them as an employer?

I am so happy to be working with First for Support and I would recommend them to anyone. If you really care about what you do, and you want to make a difference, this is the best company to work for. Since I studied for my degree, I’ve worked in the care sector for 20 years and I worked for other agencies before I started working with First for Support so I have something to compare them to. They really make us feel appreciated. I feel like Bea and her team care about me as a person, not just as an employee. If you work hard you get financially rewarded, and at First for Support you also get development if you want it. First for Support share my values and, like me, everything they do comes from the heart, and I can’t imagine working with anyone else.

How can I contact First for Support?

We would love to find the perfect placement for you. We mainly cover Portsmouth, Southampton and Bournemouth, and we have some placements in the New Forest, Salisbury and Dorchester areas as well. You are welcome to email us at info@firstforsupport.co.uk or call our office on 02382 515806. Or, you can get in touch with us via this brief form on our website which will send us a message with your contact details.

Apply Here

Jonathan’s experience of working with First for Support

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:45:13 GMT

Jonathan’s experience of working with First for Support

What is it like working with First for Support in the healthcare sector?

I love meeting new people and going to different places, so this job is ideal for me. I wouldn’t want to be in a 9-5 office job!

For me, and for Bea, this job is all about having an impact in people’s lives and really helping them. We’re in the caring profession and that means a lot to us.

They also care about our development and our training, and how we can achieve our goals to do our best work in the social and health care sector.

I also respect the way they only take on care workers who have a good standard of spoken and written English, as it’s important that we can communicate well and make clear notes.

What is it like when you go to a new placement?

After that, it’s a case of getting to know the managers and the team. It’s really important to have good relationships with everyone and be a flexible team player.

What do you think about working in the healthcare sector?

It makes me sad when I see people not care as much as they should. It doesn’t seem like they take pride in their work and they take short cuts.

Also, we are confident in recommending improvements to the way things are being done in our placements, as we have the knowledge and training from working with First for Support.

What kind of placements do you get from First for Support?

But it’s never overwhelming because of the training and the preparation we get.

What has working in the care sector done for you?

What is it like working for First for Support and would you recommend them as an

employer?

I am so happy to be working with First for Support and I would recommend them to anyone. If you really care about what you do, and you want to make a difference, this is the best company to work for.

Since I studied for my degree, I’ve worked in the care sector for 20 years and I worked for other agencies before I started working with First for Support so I have something to compare them to. They really make us feel appreciated. I feel like Bea and her team care about me as a person, not just as an employee. If you work hard you get financially rewarded, and at First for Support you also get development if you want it. First for Support share my values and, like me, everything they do comes from the heart, and I can’t imagine working with anyone else.

How can I contact First for Support?

We would love to find the perfect placement for you. We mainly cover Portsmouth, Southampton and Bournemouth, and we have some placements in the New Forest, Salisbury and Dorchester areas as well.

You are welcome to email us at info@firstforsupport.co.uk or call our office on 02382 515806. Or, you can get in touch with us via this brief form on our website which will send us a message with your contact details.

Apply Here

Types of work available

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:42:41 GMT

Types of work available

We’ve got a variety of assignments across adult and children services.

We predominantly work in the niche market of children’s services, so I would say that 80% of our shifts are specifically working with children and young people, but we do also have clients who support adults with learning difficulties and adults with mental health issues.

Day shifts, night shifts, weekends and overnights, we cover it all.

In children’s services, the assignments may involve a mentor role, and other assignments could be more about providing support.

With young adults, especially, Care and Support Workers are helping clients to live an independent life, whereas with children it’s more about leading them into independent life, teaching them life skills and showing them how they can live independently.

Top tips for a strong Care Sector CV

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:38:04 GMT

Top tips for a strong Care Sector CV

I’m Bea, Founder and Director at First for Support. Let’s get you a job!

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:34:11 GMT

I’m Bea, Founder and Director at First for Support. Let’s get you a job!

If you have a calling for the caring profession, and feel passionately about providing our clients with empathetic, sensitive and efficient care, we invite you to apply to First for Support. We will find the right placement for you, value and appreciate you, be respectful to your availability for shifts and remunerate you well for your hard work.

Here, we answer questions that candidates most commonly ask us.

Apply Here

All you need to know about working in the care sector

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:16:04 GMT

All you need to know about working in the care sector

One of the reasons we love what we do at First for Support is working with amazing people, like you, who have an interest in the care sector and a passion for helping others.

We are an agency that specialises in placing care workers in shift work roles, so they can provide excellent care for children, teenagers and adults in a variety of placements across the Hampshire and Dorset area.

Having run this agency for several years now, and with many years of experience working in the care sector ourselves, we know what support you need from us and we make sure that you know that you are genuinely cared for and that we have your best interests at heart.

Some of our candidates say that First for Support feels different to other agencies because they feel like part of our family.

When people come to us looking for work, certain questions come up a lot, so we thought you might like to hear the answers too!

Apply Here

Why choose First for Support?

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:03:42 GMT

Why choose First for Support?

At First for Support, we have specialised in providing care for children, teenagers and adults in a variety of placements for several years now, across the Hampshire and Dorset area.

If you choose to become part of the First for Support family, we know you will be happy you have made the right choice, because we are incredibly supportive and caring towards our care workers and we understand the sector really well.

In case you don’t know too much about working in the specialist care work sector, let’s tell you a bit about it.

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Temporary to Permanent Staffing Solution

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 11:54:22 GMT

Client Overview

Our client operates Ofsted-registered children’s residential homes and supported living services for young people aged 16+. Due to the nature of the sector, maintaining safe staffing levels and consistency of care is critical.

To support their services, the client relied on agency staff to cover shifts and ensure young people received continuous, high-quality support.

The Challenge

Between March 2023 and late summer, the client experienced a sudden increase in staffing demand. While agency staff provided vital cover, the client wanted a more sustainable, cost-effective long-term solution without compromising quality or fit.

Key challenges included:

High agency costs over extended periods
The need for consistency for young people in care
Candidate hesitation around committing to permanent roles
Concerns from permanent-seeking candidates about temporary-to-permanent security

Our Approach

We introduced a temporary-to-permanent staffing model, allowing the client to:

Assess candidates in real working environments
Maintain consistency with familiar agency staff
Spread recruitment costs over time
Reduce the risk associated with direct permanent recruitment

Throughout the process, clear communication and reassurance were essential. We supported candidates closely, addressing concerns around flexibility, job security, and long-term prospects, while keeping the client fully informed at every stage.

The Outcome

✔ Successfully filled multiple permanent positions
✔ Reduced long-term agency expenditure
✔ Faster start dates using already-cleared agency workers
✔ Smooth integration into permanent teams
✔ Improved stability and continuity of care

Because candidates were already vetted and working through us, they were able to start immediately, transitioning seamlessly while permanent compliance checks were completed.

Both client and candidates reported high satisfaction, with roles secured that suited their needs and working styles.

Why This Worked

This project demonstrates how a temporary-to-permanent recruitment strategy can:

Lower financial risk
Improve staff retention
Strengthen care continuity
Build confidence on both sides before committing long-term

A flexible, people-first solution - aligned with the realities of social care.