Are Agencies for Support Workers A Reliable Staffing Solution for Adult Social Care in 2026?
The adult social care sector will be facing some big changes this year, and Nurseplus would like our care partners to know - we’re here for it!
With new regulatory expectations, a stronger focus on safeguarding adults, and the ongoing need to deliver truly person-centred care, services are under growing pressure. Demand for skilled support workers across residential, community, and supported living services is only set to rise.
We believe agencies for support workers will become an increasingly valuable resource for care providers who want to continue delivering safe, high-quality care while navigating these exciting (and challenging) sector-wide changes.
Let Nurseplus be the agency you choose to work with this year!
The role of support worker agencies in 2026
With regulations tightening and inspection standards evolving, it’s more important than ever for care providers to maintain safe staffing levels with qualified professionals who can support people with complex care needs. Nurseplus is one of the UK’s leading support worker agencies, and we offer more than just temporary cover.
We don't just source quality care professionals in your local areas, we also invest heavily in training that reflects current care standards and real-world best practice. That means you can feel confident your teams are supported, prepared, and ready for whatever the year brings.
Looking ahead, support worker agencies will play an important role in helping care providers respond to:
Tougher CQC rules for safety and compliance
Closer scrutiny of adult social care outcomes
Growing demand for skills in mental health, learning disabilities and complex care
Agencies like Nurseplus help bridge the gap between workforce demand and the changing expectations of regulators, commissioners, and the people we all care for.
When should care providers consider support worker recruitment agencies?
This year is likely to bring both short-term and longer-term staffing challenges across adult social care. We expect many care providers will turn to support worker recruitment agencies when certain pressures arise, including:
Addressing skill gaps: Demand for trained support workers, particularly those with strong safeguarding knowledge, is expected to outpace the availability of permanent staff in 2026.
Responding to regulatory changes: As new safeguarding requirements and care standards roll out, providers will need staff who are trained, or actively training, to meet evolving frameworks.
Managing changes in demand: With more people accessing supported living and community-based care, staffing needs will continue to fluctuate. Flexible agency support becomes essential.
Supporting specialist care: Workers experienced in dementia care, mental health, learning disabilities, and behaviours that challenge will remain in high demand.
At Nurseplus, we understand how difficult it can be to find reliable, high-quality support staff. That’s why we continue to invest in our people and our training, ensuring our carers are well supported and ready to make a real difference.
You can trust Nurseplus to help you find the right people for the right roles.
How you can ensure safeguarding & quality through agency staff?
Safeguarding adults will remain a key focus for care providers this year and beyond. When using agency support staff, it’s vital to know that everyone coming into your service is trained, informed, and working to the highest standards.
At Nurseplus, we take care of this for you. Reputable support worker agencies should already be committed to:
Mandatory adult safeguarding training aligned with current legislation
Strong understanding of care planning, risk assessment, and multidisciplinary collaboration
Ethical, person-centred approaches to complex care
Ongoing compliance checks to meet inspection requirement
Choosing an agency that prioritises these areas helps reduce risk, supports quality care, and gives providers peace of mind during times of change.
Why is working with support worker agencies a smart choice?
Staffing shortages aren’t the only challenge facing adult social care this year. Rising recruitment costs, from advertising and training to compliance and onboarding, can quickly add up.
A trusted agency partnership can help reduce long-term costs compared with:
Recruiting permanent staff: Nurseplus handles sourcing, screening, and onboarding, saving time and easing pressure on internal teams.
Training and compliance: Our staff receive mandatory training and regular refreshers, aligned with care standards.
Covering absences and short-notice gaps: Our trained support workers are ready to step in when you need them most.
Many care providers find that working with a support worker agency allows them to focus on what matters most, delivering compassionate, high-quality care, especially as the sector comes under increasing scrutiny.
Trained, ready-to-work support staff at Nurseplus
We’re ready for the changing demands of the year ahead. Every support worker we recruit is carefully vetted and supported through ongoing training and development.
We can support with:
Mandatory safeguarding and regulatory training
Comprehensive vetting and quality assurance
Rapid deployment for short-term and long-term cover
Experienced staff across complex care and specialist care
Nationwide coverage across adult social care services
When you work with Nurseplus, you’ll have access to skilled, compliant support workers in your local area, people who are ready to help you deliver great care.
A year of transformation for adult social care
Staffing sustainability, safeguarding, and compliance are becoming everyday challenges for care providers. Trusted support worker agencies can play a key role by offering trained, flexible, and reliable staff who help services adapt without losing what matters most, quality and compassion.
At Nurseplus, we’re here to support adult social care providers in 2026 and beyond. You can rely on us to deliver the people you need to continue improving lives through safe, person-centred care.
Want to chat? We’d love to hear from you.
Posted on January 26, 2026 by Nurseplus