Nursing home cover checklist

Before you confirm the shift

• The agency has sent a worker profile in advance. It names the role, shows a recent photograph, and lists the checks done with their dates.
• The role on the profile matches the role you asked for. A Band 5 nurse and a senior healthcare assistant are not interchangeable.
• If the role needs registration, it is current. For a nurse, the profile should confirm the NMC PIN and status. You can verify a PIN yourself, free, on the NMC's Search the register.
• Mandatory training is in date, including safeguarding, moving and handling assessed in practice rather than by certificate alone, basic life support, infection prevention, and the Oliver McGowan training on learning disability and autism, which CQC-registered providers must ensure staff have received.
• The shift is confirmed in writing: date, times, role, the charge basis, and any site instructions.

When the worker arrives

• The person at the door is the person on the profile. Check the photograph against photo ID.
• They can tell you which agency they are from and the shift they are booked for.
• Give the site induction before they start work: fire exits, the resident information they need, where things are, who is in charge, and how to escalate. This is your induction to give, and it is needed at each new site.
• Confirm what they are signed off to do, and what they are not. Some clinical tasks are nurse only. Do not ask a healthcare assistant to administer medicines unless your own policy authorises it for that role on your site and the agency has confirmed the worker is assessed competent.
• Make sure they know your emergency and safeguarding escalation route.

If something is not right

• If the worker is not suitable, tell the agency at once. Under the Capegold Care rate card, told within four hours of them starting, or two hours on a shift of seven hours or less, there is no charge at all.
• Record what happened. Your incident and safeguarding routes apply to agency staff exactly as they apply to your own team.

You stay responsible for everyone who works in your home, agency staff included. Regulation 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, on fit and proper persons employed, covers agency and bank staff, not only your own employees.

Capegold Care sends a worker compliance profile for every worker before the first shift, so your inspection file is complete without chasing. Healthcare staffing, based in Taunton and Bridgwater, covering the South West. Landline 01823 212 811. Mobile 07460 246 863. Text 07576 577 935. admin@capegoldcare.co.uk

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