First for Support Named Social Care Recruitment Agency of the Year 2026

We are incredibly proud to share that First for Support has been named Social Care Recruitment Agency of the Year in E2 Media’s 2026 Awards of Excellence.

This recognition celebrates our commitment to delivering an exceptional, responsive and people-focused service across the social care and social housing sectors. It reflects the care, professionalism and dedication shown every day by our internal team, our support workers and the organisations that trust us with their staffing needs.

Since First for Support was established in 2019, our purpose has remained clear: to raise standards in care recruitment by bringing together compassion, compliance and professional expertise.

Receiving the title of Social Care Recruitment Agency of the Year is an important milestone in that journey.

What award has First for Support received?

First for Support has been named Social Care Recruitment Agency of the Year as part of E2 Media’s 2026 Awards of Excellence.

The awards recognise organisations that provide outstanding products or services, bring something distinctive to their markets and consistently create positive experiences for their customers.

E2 Media highlighted our dedication to exceptional service and our continued commitment to providing clients with a seamless, supportive and memorable experience.

For us, the award is about much more than recognition. It represents the trust placed in us by care providers, social housing organisations, candidates and support workers across the communities we serve.

A proud moment for our whole community

No recruitment agency achieves success alone.

This award belongs to every person who has contributed to First for Support’s journey.

It belongs to our consultants, who respond quickly when a service needs urgent staffing support. It belongs to our temporary and permanent workers, who bring professionalism, empathy and reliability to every placement. It also belongs to our clients, who work closely with us to create safe, stable and person-centred services.

Most importantly, it recognises the people working directly within care and support settings.

Their work can be challenging, unpredictable and emotionally demanding. Yet they continue to show patience, resilience and compassion while helping children, adults and families live safer, more independent and fulfilling lives.

We are proud to play a part in supporting them.

Specialist recruitment for social care and social housing

First for Support is a specialist recruitment agency supplying trained and carefully vetted professionals across the social care and social housing sectors.

We provide temporary, contract and permanent recruitment support for organisations including:

• Children’s residential homes
• Adult supported and independent living services
• Complex care and support settings
• Education support services
• Secure and specialist environments
• Housing associations and social housing providers

The professionals we recruit include support workers, residential childcare workers, senior support workers, team leaders, housing support officers, waking-night staff, sleep-in staff, care managers and other specialist care professionals.

We understand that every service is different. That is why we take time to understand each organisation, its working environment and the needs of the people it supports.

Our aim is not simply to fill an available shift or vacancy. We want to help our clients build dependable teams and maintain continuity of care.

Why people-focused recruitment matters

Recruitment within social care carries a significant responsibility.

The right person can provide stability, encouragement and reassurance to someone during a vulnerable or challenging period in their life. The wrong placement can disrupt a service, place additional pressure on colleagues and affect the quality of support received.

That is why we place people at the heart of every recruitment decision.

We consider professional experience and qualifications, but we also look at values, communication, reliability and the candidate’s ability to provide respectful, person-centred support.

Our people-focused approach means:

• Listening carefully to clients and candidates
• Communicating clearly and honestly
• Avoiding pressure to accept unsuitable placements
• Matching workers with appropriate services and settings
• Supporting candidates throughout their careers
• Building long-term relationships rather than transactional ones

We believe recruitment works best when everyone feels heard, respected and properly supported.

Compliance, safeguarding and professional standards

Quality and compliance are fundamental to the work we do.

Candidates complete thorough pre-employment checks and safer recruitment processes before being introduced to clients. Our approach includes appropriate DBS checks, employment history checks, references, identity verification and relevant overseas checks where required.

Workers are also supported with training and continuing professional development in important areas such as safeguarding, medication, mental health, challenging behaviour and resilience.

Our consultants understand the expectations placed on services regulated by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission, helping us recruit professionals who are prepared for the responsibilities of their roles.

Compliance is not treated as a box-ticking exercise. It is an ongoing commitment to protecting clients, workers and the individuals receiving care and support.

Responsive support when services need it most

Social care does not operate only during standard office hours.

Staffing needs can change quickly because of sickness, annual leave, changes in occupancy or unexpected incidents. A service may need additional support early in the morning, late at night, over a weekend or during a bank holiday.

Our responsive approach helps clients find suitable cover when they need it.

Every client receives dedicated support from people who take the time to understand their service. Wherever possible, we build a consistent pool of workers who are already familiar with the setting, its routines and the people being supported.

This continuity can reduce disruption, strengthen working relationships and give both permanent teams and service users greater reassurance.

Supporting rewarding careers in care

Our responsibility does not end when a candidate accepts a shift or starts a new role.

We want the people who work with First for Support to feel valued and able to progress. Candidates can receive practical support with their CVs, interview preparation, feedback, training and career planning.

Working across different care environments can also help people broaden their experience and discover new career pathways.

Some may wish to specialise in children’s residential care. Others may want to build experience in supported living, complex care, education or housing support. More experienced professionals may be ready to move into senior, management or leadership positions.

By providing ongoing guidance and development opportunities, we aim to help talented people build meaningful and sustainable careers within care.

Serving organisations across a growing number of regions

First for Support has strong roots in Hampshire and Dorset, where we have spent several years building trusted relationships with local care providers, candidates and communities.

As the business has grown, we have expanded our recruitment support into areas including Devon, Wiltshire and Greater Manchester.

Today, we support organisations across the South East, South West and Greater Manchester while continuing to provide the personal, relationship-led service on which First for Support was built.

Growth is important to us, but it must never come at the expense of quality. As we enter new areas, our focus remains on understanding local needs, maintaining high compliance standards and building genuine long-term partnerships.

Our values remain at the centre of everything we do

The E2 Media Award of Excellence is especially meaningful because it recognises qualities that are closely connected to our values.

• People-focused - We treat clients, candidates, workers and the people receiving support with fairness, dignity and understanding.
• Responsive - We act quickly and flexibly, particularly when clients face urgent or unpredictable staffing pressures.
• Empowering - We help people develop through free training, continuing professional development and practical career support.
• Integrity and compliance - We communicate transparently, recruit ethically and maintain robust safeguarding and compliance standards.

These are not simply statements on a page. They guide how we make decisions, respond to challenges and build relationships.

Looking ahead after the Award of Excellence

We are delighted to receive this award, but we also see it as encouragement to keep improving.

Our focus for the future is to continue strengthening our temporary and permanent recruitment services, expand our support into new regions and help more care organisations build capable, stable and compassionate teams.

We will also continue investing in our candidates through training, professional development and personalised career guidance.

As First for Support grows, we remain committed to the principles on which the business was founded: clear communication, trust, professionalism and a genuine belief that recruitment should improve people’s lives.

Thank you for being part of our journey

We would like to thank E2 Media for this recognition and everyone who has supported First for Support since 2019.

To our clients: thank you for trusting us to support your organisations and the people who depend on your services.

To our candidates and workers: thank you for your hard work, flexibility and commitment to delivering safe, compassionate care.

To our internal team: thank you for maintaining the high standards, personal service and responsiveness that make First for Support what it is.

We are proud of how far we have come, and even more excited about what we can achieve together next.

Empowering people. Supporting services. Changing lives.

Frequently asked questions

What award did First for Support win in 2026?

First for Support was named Social Care Recruitment Agency of the Year in E2 Media’s 2026 Awards of Excellence. The recognition celebrates the company’s specialist expertise, exceptional service and people-focused approach to social care recruitment.

What type of recruitment agency is First for Support?

First for Support is a specialist social care and social housing recruitment agency. We provide temporary, contract and permanent staffing solutions to care providers, supported living services, children’s residential homes, education services and housing organisations.

Which roles does First for Support recruit for?

We recruit for roles including support workers, care assistants, residential childcare workers, senior support workers, team leaders, housing support officers, waking-night staff, sleep-in staff and registered or service managers.

Where does First for Support operate?

First for Support has established networks across Hampshire and Dorset and also supports organisations in Devon, Wiltshire, the wider South East and South West, and Greater Manchester.

How does First for Support maintain recruitment compliance?

Candidates complete appropriate vetting and safer recruitment checks before placement. First for Support also provides training and CPD and works with an understanding of relevant Ofsted, CQC and safeguarding requirements.

Does First for Support provide emergency or temporary care staff?

Yes. First for Support provides temporary, contract and ad-hoc staffing support, including assistance with urgent shifts, sickness cover, annual leave and changing service requirements.

Looking for trusted social care recruitment support?

Whether you need reliable temporary cover, help filling a permanent vacancy or guidance with your wider workforce plans, speak to the First for Support team.

We will take the time to understand your service and connect you with carefully vetted professionals who share your commitment to safe, person-centred care.

Contact First for Support today