Stop Paying 20% Agency Fees for Social Care Recruitment
Recruit social care workers yourself with HireLab's social recruitment toolkit. Launch campaigns in days, own your talent pipeline, and cut agency costs dramatically.
- Launch job landing pages in minutes
- Run social recruitment ads without an agency
- Track applicants in the built-in ATS
The Hidden Cost of Social Care Recruitment Agencies
Social care providers across the UK are hemorrhaging budget to recruitment agencies. For many organizations, agency fees have become the second-largest operational expense after salaries themselves.
Why Social Care Recruitment Agencies Are So Expensive
The Numbers Don't Lie
Typical agency fees range from 15–25% of annual salary per hire. For a social care worker earning £25,000 annually, you're paying £3,750–£6,250 per placement. If you hire 10 workers this year, that's £37,500–£62,500 in agency fees alone.
Beyond the Direct Costs
- Limited control over employer brand: Agencies represent you, diluting your direct connection with candidates
- No ownership of candidate relationships: The agency builds the talent pool, not you
- Critical dependency on third parties: Your hiring pipeline is controlled by external partners
- Slow turnaround times: Days or weeks to brief, approve, and launch campaigns
The reality: Many social care providers search for "social care recruitment agencies" because they believe outsourcing is the only way to fill roles at scale. But there's a better way.
DIY Social Care Recruitment with HireLab
HireLab is the productised, repeatable alternative to agencies. Build your own in-house social recruitment engine and own your hiring pipeline.
Social Recruitment Landing Pages
AI-powered, mobile-responsive pages tailored for frontline and social care roles. Launch in minutes, not weeks.
Recruitment Funnels
Multi-step funnels to capture and qualify social care candidates with zero friction.
Smart Application Forms
Low-friction, no-CV forms ideal for care workers. Collect only what matters.
Built-in ATS
Free ATS with unlimited applicants on paid plans. Track candidates from first click to hire.
Social Ad Studio
Create and publish social recruitment ads (Meta, LinkedIn) without needing an external agency.
Predictable Pricing
Flat monthly fee from €49–€129. Hire as many people as you need without per-hire charges.
Agencies vs HireLab: The Clear Choice
See how HireLab stacks up against traditional social care recruitment agencies
| Feature | Social Care Recruitment Agencies | HireLab |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per hire | Percentage-of-salary fee (15–25%) | Flat monthly fee from €49–€129 |
| Number of hires | Pay per hire | Hire as many as you like on one subscription |
| Ownership of candidates | Agency owns most relationships | You own all applicants and talent pool |
| Employer branding | Agency represents you | You control brand, messaging, and candidate experience |
| Speed to launch campaigns | Days–weeks to brief and approve | Launch landing pages and campaigns in hours |
| ATS included | Typically separate | Built-in free ATS on paid plans |
| Social media ads | Agency-managed, extra cost | Self-managed via built-in ad studio |
| Scalability | Cost scales linearly with hires | Predictable subscription pricing |
Instead of paying per hire, build a repeatable hiring engine for your social care roles.
How It Works: 4 Simple Steps for Social Care Roles
DIY recruitment doesn't have to be complicated. Here's how to get started.
Create a Social Care Role Landing Page
Use templates tailored to care workers (support workers, carers, social care assistants). No design skills needed.
Launch Social Recruitment Campaigns on Meta
Use HireLab's ad studio to target local social care talent with job ads and employer branding content.
Capture and Qualify Applicants in Smart Forms
Collect only the key info you need (availability, qualifications, right-to-work) with mobile-friendly forms.
Manage and Hire via the Built-In ATS
Filter, communicate, and progress applicants in HireLab's ATS instead of relying on an agency shortlist.
Who This Works For in Social Care
HireLab serves social care providers across the sector
Care Homes & Residential Care Providers
Common Roles
Support workers, care assistants, senior care workers, night staff
Pain with Agencies
Volume hiring with recurring agency fees draining budgets
How HireLab Solves This
Scalable funnels that fill multiple roles simultaneously with one subscription
Domiciliary Care Agencies
Common Roles
Home care assistants, care coordinators, community support workers
Pain with Agencies
Geographic spread makes agency relationships complex and expensive
How HireLab Solves This
Location-targeted social campaigns reach local talent pools directly
Social Care Charities & NGOs
Common Roles
Support workers, project coordinators, community outreach workers
Pain with Agencies
Limited budgets can't sustain high agency fees for mission-driven roles
How HireLab Solves This
Affordable flat-rate pricing preserves budget for service delivery
Local Councils & Health Departments
Common Roles
Social workers, care assessors, safeguarding officers, support staff
Pain with Agencies
Public sector procurement and budget constraints limit agency use
How HireLab Solves This
In-house recruitment control with transparent, predictable costs
The ROI is Clear: Save Thousands on Every Hire
Hiring 5 Social Care Workers
Hiring 5 Social Care Workers
Every Additional Hire Increases Your ROI
With agencies, hiring 10 workers costs €50,000 in fees. With HireLab, it's still just €1,548 per year. The more you hire, the more you save. Build a sustainable recruitment engine that scales with your needs.
Built for Social Care Providers, Not Tech Companies
"We don't have time or skills to run campaigns"
Pre-built templates, ad studio, and simple workflows designed for non-marketers. Launch your first campaign in under an hour.
"We're not a tech company"
No coding or design skills required. Drag-and-drop builder, guided funnels, and step-by-step support.
"We already use an ATS"
External ATS integration available on Advance plan. Use HireLab for social recruitment and sync to your existing system.
Real Results from Social Care Providers
"We shifted 50% of our care assistant roles from agencies to HireLab-driven social recruitment. In the first six months, we cut our recruitment spend by over £18,000 and built a talent pool we actually own."
— HR Director, Mid-Sized Care Provider
Ready to Rely Less on Social Care Recruitment Agencies?
Build your own social recruitment engine in weeks, not months. Launch landing pages, campaigns, and funnels tailored to social care hiring, without paying per-hire fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are social care recruitment agencies worth it?
For one-off specialist hires, agencies can provide value. But for volume recruitment of frontline social care workers, the 15–25% per-hire fees quickly become unsustainable. HireLab allows you to build an in-house recruitment capability that's more cost-effective and gives you full control over your employer brand and talent pipeline.
How can I reduce agency fees?
The most effective way is to bring recruitment in-house using a social recruitment platform like HireLab. By creating your own job landing pages, running targeted social media campaigns, and managing applicants through a built-in ATS, you eliminate per-hire fees and pay only a predictable monthly subscription.
Do I need marketing experience to use HireLab?
No. HireLab is designed for HR teams and care providers, not marketing agencies. We provide pre-built templates, guided workflows, and a simple ad studio that anyone can use. Most customers launch their first campaign within an hour.
Can HireLab integrate with my existing ATS?
Yes. HireLab includes a free built-in ATS on all paid plans, but we also offer external ATS integration on our Advance plan if you prefer to continue using your current system.
What if I still need agencies for some roles?
That's fine. Many customers use HireLab for high-volume frontline roles (care assistants, support workers) while still using agencies for specialized or senior positions. This hybrid approach gives you the best of both worlds and significantly reduces overall recruitment costs.
