Salaries and Costs
Healthcare recruiters in Hove cover temp shifts, fixed-term contracts, and permanent roles across care homes, clinics, and community services. Typical temp pay rates range from £11 to £14 per hour for healthcare assistants, with support workers in complex care often a little higher. Registered nurses on agency books can see £22 to £32 per hour, depending on shift pattern and setting. Permanent salaries vary with banding, experience, and service type, with Band 5 nurse roles often ranging from £28,000 to £34,000 and senior posts above this. Staffing agencies and employment firms usually price permanent recruitment fees as a percentage of salary, often between 12% and 20%, with temp margins baked into the hourly charge rate. Expect higher rates for nights, weekends, and last-minute bookings. Clear terms on recruitment fees, agency costs, rebates, and temp-to-perm conversions help both sides plan.
Qualifications
Recruitment consultants will check the right-to-work documents and a current DBS certificate for care roles. Nurses need an active NMC pin, and many allied health roles require HCPC registration. Care workers benefit from the Care Certificate and NVQ Level 2 or Level 3 in Health and Social Care. Manual handling, basic life support, and medication awareness remain common refreshers. For practice settings in Hove, immunisation compliance and sharps training may be needed. Keeping records up to date helps candidates register with an agency quickly and reduces delays for employers who need to hire staff.
Regional or geographic variations
Hove sits within the Brighton and Hove area, with BN3 postcodes, and has strong commuter links on the A270 and to the coast at Worthing and Brighton. Proximity to Hove Station and stations at Aldrington and Portslade widens the workforce for early and late shifts. Employers near Old Shoreham Road and City Park benefit from road access for domiciliary care travel. Demand for carers in Hangleton and West Hove reflects an ageing population, so staffing agencies often maintain standby pools for short-notice cover.
Hiring challenges
Local employers face competition from NHS staff banks and nearby private providers. Short-notice rotas, rising living costs, and limited parking near central clinics can stretch availability during unsociable hours. Recruitment agencies help by pre-vetting candidates, managing compliance, and maintaining live availability during high-pressure periods. For job seekers, consistent shift patterns and quick payroll build loyalty, which supports retention for repeat bookings. Transparent pay rates and fair mileage help keep carers on the books for community runs.
Roles and career paths
Healthcare recruitment agencies in Hove supply healthcare assistants, support workers, senior carers, and team leaders. Nursing demand spans RGN, RMN, and learning disability nurses across wards, theatres, and community teams. Primary care roles include practice nurses, healthcare assistants, and practice managers. Allied health demand covers physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, and speech and language therapists. Candidates often progress from care assistant to senior carer or move into assistant practitioner routes, with nurses stepping into clinical lead or deputy manager posts. Employment firms with executive search capability handle registered manager and service manager placements for growth and turnaround briefs.
Seasonal trends
Winter pressures push up bookings for nights and weekends across Hove and the wider Sussex coast. Summer sees rota gaps from annual leave, with spikes in community and respite care. University terms can add flexible part-time staff to the labour market, which temp agencies use to fill lighter midweek demand. Flu season and heatwaves can both affect absence, so local businesses lean on recruiters to stabilise rotas.
Key sectors and employers in the region
The area mixes residential homes, supported living, GP surgeries, outpatient clinics, and private hospitals in neighbouring districts. Community and rehabilitation services add a steady need for car drivers with business insurance. Homecare providers around Portslade and Southwick draw from the same talent pool, so prompt interviews and fast offers help employers secure candidates. Recruitment agencies with healthcare desks in Hove understand these overlaps and plan pipelines for peak periods.
Regulatory and compliance standards
Care Quality Commission regulations shape hiring checks and induction. Recruiters will confirm references, training logs, and immunisations where needed. Nurses must maintain revalidation, and clinicians in therapy roles keep CPD records. DBS renewals, safeguarding training, and infection control certificates are standard. For clinics, information governance and confidentiality training are expected. Clear compliance files reduce audit risk and speed onboarding for temporary, permanent, and contract work.
Hard to fill positions
Theatre nurses, mental health nurses, practice managers, and experienced domiciliary carers with cars are common pinch points. Early morning and split-shift community rounds can be tougher to cover. Recruitment agencies respond with talent mapping, flexible interview windows, and quick turnarounds on compliance. Employers who share rota forecasts and offer block bookings tend to fill gaps more quickly and maintain service continuity for service users.
Quick facts and frequently asked questions
What pay rates can I expect for agency healthcare assistants in Hove?
Most placements run between £11 and £14 per hour, with higher rates for nights and weekends.
Do healthcare recruitment agencies in Hove place permanent staff?
Yes. Many recruiters handle both permanent and temp hiring, charging fees as a percentage of salary.
How fast can a candidate register with an agency?
If documents are ready and DBS is current, registration can be completed within a few days.
What checks do employers expect before a temp starts?
Right to work, DBS, references, core training, and, where relevant, NMC or HCPC registration.
Can agencies help with block bookings to aid retention?
Yes. Recruiters can hold recurring shifts, which helps stability for staff and service users.
Do agencies cover the wider BN3 and nearby areas?
Yes. Most healthcare recruiters support Hove, Aldrington, Portslade, and link into Brighton.
How do recruitment fees usually work for permanent roles?
Fees are often 12% to 20% of the starting salary, with rebate periods agreed on a case-by-case basis.
Do agencies handle executive search for managers in Hove care services?
Yes. Employment firms with healthcare desks run executive searches for registered and regional managers.
Can job seekers move from temp to perm through the same agency?
Yes. Temp-to-perm pathways are common, with clear terms to cover conversion fees.
Are travel costs covered for community care shifts?
Many employers offer mileage or travel time, which helps with attraction and retention.