If you've ever searched for care support — whether for yourself, a loved one, or a client — you've likely come across two very different types of services sitting side by side. Both might be offered by the same organisation. Both involve qualified healthcare professionals. But they are fundamentally different in how they work, who's responsible, and what that means for the person receiving care. 

At Newcross Healthcare, we offer both. 

And we think it's worth being completely clear about what sets them apart. 

First, let's talk about staffing agencies 

A healthcare staffing agency — like our HealthForce service — exists to solve a workforce problem. Care homes, hospitals, NHS trusts, and other residential or clinical settings sometimes face gaps in their teams: a nurse off sick, a sudden surge in demand, a specialist skill needed at short notice. A staffing agency steps in and supplies the right qualified professional to fill that gap. 

HealthForce does exactly this and does it well. We supply nurses, healthcare assistants, and specialist carers to care settings across England, Wales, and Scotland — rigorously vetted, trained, and ready to work. When a care home needs a nurse tonight, HealthForce can help. 

But here's the key point: the care setting remains in charge of care delivery. The professional supplied works under the management and clinical governance of the facility they've been placed with. The agency's job is finding and vetting the right person. What happens once they arrive? That's the facility's responsibility. 

There's no care plan owned by the agency. No clinical oversight from the agency. No ongoing accountability for the resident's outcomes. The agency's role begins and ends with the placement. 

Now, let's talk about a regulated care provider 

Our Community Care service is something entirely different. This isn't about filling a staffing gap in a facility — it's about taking on full, end-to-end responsibility for someone's care in their own home. 

When a family contacts us for a loved one with a brain injury, or a case manager refers a client with complex clinical needs, Community Care doesn't just send someone over. We: 

• Conduct a thorough clinical assessment of the individual's needs 

• Design a bespoke, nurse-led care package from scratch 

• Match, train, and deploy our own dedicated care team 

• Provide ongoing clinical oversight through our Lead Nurses 

• Remain responsible — and accountable — for every aspect of that person's care 

We are registered and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the Care Inspectorate Scotland (CIS), and the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW). Those aren't just logos on a page. They mean our services are independently scrutinised, our standards are externally verified, and families and professionals have a formal framework of accountability behind every care package we deliver. 

An agency doesn't carry that accountability for care outcomes. A regulated provider does. 

So why does the distinction matter? 

Imagine two scenarios. 

Scenario A: A care home needs an extra nurse for a weekend shift. They call a staffing agency, who supplies a qualified professional. The care home manages that nurse's work, oversees their tasks, and remainsresponsible for the residents' care. This is staffing — and it works perfectly for that purpose. 

Scenario B: A 34-year-old man with a traumatic brain injury is being discharged from hospital and wants to return home. His case manager needs a provider who will design his entire care package, train carers specifically on his needs, manage clinical risk, liaise with his wider healthcare team, and be accountable for his care every single day. This isn't a staffing need — this is regulated care provision, delivered at home. 

Confusing the two doesn't just create administrative headaches. For complex care clients, it can genuinely affect outcomes. 

The questions worth asking 

If you're exploring care options — for a client, a family member, or yourself — here are some useful questions to cut through the confusion: 

Who is responsible if something goes wrong? With a regulated provider like Community Care, the answer is clear: we are. With a staffing agency, responsibility sits with the facility that engaged them. 

Who designs and oversees the care plan? A regulated provider creates and owns the care plan, with clinical oversight built in. An agency supplies the person; the care planning sits entirely with the facility. 

Who trains the carer specifically for this individual's needs? At Community Care, client-specific training — from tracheostomy care to autism awareness to end-of-life support — is developed by our Lead Nurses before a carer ever steps through the door. 

Is the service independently inspected? Regulated providers are. Staffing agencies are not subject to the same CQC inspection framework for the care itself. 

Two services. One organisation. Total clarity. 

At Newcross Healthcare, we're proud to offer both — and to be transparent about what each one is. 

HealthForce is for care settings — homes, hospitals, and specialist facilities — that need skilled, vetted professionals to support their existing teams. It's trusted by NHS trusts, private hospitals, and care homes across the UK. 

Community Care is for individuals, families, case managers, ICBs, and local authorities who need a fully managed, clinically governed care service delivered in someone's own home. It's regulated, nurse-led, and built entirely around the person. 

If you've been working with us on staffing and didn't know Community Care existed, you're not alone. Many of our partners have been surprised to discover there's another side to what we do — one that could open upnew options for the clients and families they support. 

Whether you need to fill a shift or build a life-changing care package, we're here to help. Now you know exactly which service to reach for. 

Want to find out more about Community Care? Call us on 0330 054 1110 or email referrals@newcrosshealthcare.com 

Looking for staffing solutions through HealthForce? Call 0330 054 5570 or email clientenquiries@newcrosshealthcare.com