"What they do is unique – there are very few people that specialise in (working with) ventilated clients at home."

Rota Manager

Complete Group Ltd

  

"I have not bothered to contact any other agency as they cannot supply the staff we require but I knew you could."

Senior NHS Manager

East Midlands

  

"we covered a very large area in a small timeframe, which we couldn’t have achieved without them and without the support from ICS, the in-service training would have taken twice as long to complete."

Christine McCabe

B Braun Marketing Manager for Infusion Management Systems

  

 

Do we tick off the right boxes for you?

Stringent recruitment for our Nurses and Doctors

Nurse Recruitment standards

ICS' team of specially trained recruiters (themselves qualified nurses) personally interview and select nurses across the country using a strict method of competence-based assessment. We insist upon at least two professional references and verify all claims of experience in specialist fields.

All qualified staff are verified with the relevant professional body and Criminal Records Bureau checks are carried out for all staff. Monthly reviews of our computerised records are carried out to alert us to nurses whose registration is shortly to expire and we require documented evidence of re-registration before we allow continuation of registration.

This ensures that every ICS nurse meets the highest expectations - in terms of professional accreditation, competency, attitude and personality.

Recruitment process

Basic requirements for all staff

• Six months clinical experience within the preceding two years
• Completed application form
• Signed Agency agreement form
• Eligible to work within the UK
• Fulfilled interview requirements as below:

• Ability to respond appropriately to questions asked
• Completed application form
• Presentable
• All breaks in service to be accounted for
• Ability to provide two relevant clinical references (One should be current/most recent employer)
  
  (This list is not exhaustive)

• Provision of all documentation as requested:

• Passport and Birth Certificate
• National Insurance Number (card)
• Working Visa if applicable
• NMC Statement of Entry (Registered Nurses)
• Completed health and immunisation questionnaire
• CRB Application form and supporting documents
• Proof of indemnity insurance
• Workers Registration scheme document if applicable
  
  (This list is not exhaustive)

• Receipt of two satisfactory clinical references. One should be from current or most recent line manager/ employer, the second from another person working at a senior grade to the candidate. References should demonstrate the following:

• Appropriate clinical skills and experience
• Punctuality
• Reliability
• Flexibility
• No unexplained levels of absence
• Disclosure of criminal convictions if known
• No known reasons why person should not be employed
• Ability to work within a team
  
  (This list is not exhaustive)

• CRB Disclosure check at Enhanced Level including a POVA and POCA check

Nursing Auxiliaries/ Care Workers

• Six months experience as a nursing auxiliary/ care worker within the preceding two years
• Student nurses: two years experience (previous work as an auxiliary considered)

Registered Nurses

• Effective NMC registration
• Six months relevant clinical experience within the preceding two years
• Specialist Nurses one years relevant specialist clinical experience within the preceding two years
• Clinical references (as per previous section) to support each specialist skill

Specialist in Charge of a Unit

• Proven management experience within the specialist area identified
• Minimum one year experience including relevant post registration clinical qualifications within identified specialist area

Desirable requirements for all staff

• Ability and willingness to travel
• Flexibility
• Membership of a professional body or union providing indemnity insurance

Doctor Recruitment Standards

ICS' team of specially trained recruiters personally interview and select doctors across the country using a strict method of competence-based assessment. We insist upon at least two professional references and verify all claims of experience in specialist fields.

All doctors are verified with the relevant professional body and Criminal Records Bureau checks are carried out for all staff. Monthly reviews of our computerised records are carried out to alert us to doctors whose registration is shortly to expire and we require documented evidence of re-registration before we allow continuation of registration.

This ensures that every ICS doctor meets the highest expectations - in terms of professional accreditation, competency, attitude and personality.

Recruitment process

Selection Criteria

• Consultant - Full GMC, 4 Years SPR, UK Higher Qualification
• Ass Spec - Full GMC, SPR/Staff Grade Experience, UK Diploma
• Staff Grade - Full GMC, 3 Years full time at SHO or higher
• SPR - Minimum entry requirements co-ordinated by the JCHMT on behalf of Royal Colleges
• SHO (Standard) - 6 months experience post registration in the UK
• SHO (Inexperienced) - Less than 6 months UK experience however relevant experience from overseas

Checks undertaken

• Full Application Form
• Verified personal identification (original passport/drivers license)
• Current CV (including explanations of any gaps in employment history)
• 2 professional referees from whom the doctor has worked in the past twelve (12) months usually last and present employer.
• Certificates of Medical Qualifications
• Evidence of immigration status
• Confirmation that the locum can communicate clearly and effectively in English
• Evidence of eligibility to work in the UK
• Current GMC/GDC certificate/confirmation and declaration that no investigations current/pending
• Confirmation of entry onto Specialist Register (where applicable)
• Rehabilitation of Offenders Act declaration
• Enhanced CRB & Full POCA & POVA check
• Statement of Good Health/Fitness to Practice Certificate (all doctors cleared by our NHS approved occupational health department)
• Laboratory report of confirmations of immunisations (Hep B, Hep C Rubella,TB, Varicella, Measles/Mumps, HIV)
• Certificates of completed training (ATLS, APLS, Calidicott, Health & Safety, Complaints Handling etc)
• Section 12 Approval under the Mental Health Act (where applicable)
• Details of any Professional Indemnity Insurance held
• Confirmation of Identity/Full Name/Date of Birth (ID badge produced)

Diverstity of skills of our Nurses and Doctors

Types of Nursing staff available

• Auxiliary/Healthcare Support Worker
• NVQ
• NNEB
• RNA
• RNMH
• RNLD
• RNC
• RM
• SCPHN
• ODP

Nurse Specialties

• A&E
• Coronary Care
• District Nursing
• Health Visitors
• Community Nurses
• Occupational Health
• Psychiatry
• Learning Difficulties
• Paediatric Intensive Care
• Practice/Treatment Rooms
• Theatre
• Recovery
• Ward Nurses
• Health Care Assistants
• HDU/ITU/ CCU
• NICU
• Paediatric ICU
• Paediatric Home Care
• Renal Dialysis
• Neuro
• Plaster
• Extended Role
• Prisons
• Secure Psychiatric Units
• Forensics
• Clinical Nurse Advisors/Educators
• Research Nurses

Doctor Qualifications

• Consultant
• Associate Specialist
• Staff Grade
• SPR
• Clinical Assistant
• Trust Grade SHO
• Senior House Officer
• House Officer

Doctor Specialities

• A&E
• Anaesthetics
• Cardiology
• Dermatology
• Endocrinology &
• Diabetes
• Gastroenterology
• Genitourinary
• Medicine
• Geriatric Medicine
• General Medicine
• Haematology
• Microbiology
• Nephrology
• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Obstetrics &
• Gynaecology
• Oncology
• Ophthalmology
• Oral & Maxillofacial
• Surgery
• Orthopaedic &
• Trauma Surgery
• Otolaryngology
• (ENT)
• Paediatrics
• Paediatric Surgery
• Pathology
• Plastic Surgery
• Psychiatry
• Radiology
• Rheumatology
• Surgery

Experience

Community

Quality Flexible Care Provision for a Young Adult with ABI

ICS was approached to provide care for a young adult with acquired brain injury. The client had obtained his head injury from a road traffic accident. His medical condition had been stabilised in hospital and then he had been transferred to several rehabilitation units. He was discharged in January 07 to live in his own accommodation. The client required day to day support in his own home by a team of support workers, this package of support was co-ordinated by a team leader working under the direction of the Case Manager.
ICS provided a trained Team Leader to manage the support workers in their training and organise their off Duty Rota. This tailored package of care provided the client with the opportunity to maximise his independence with quality flexible care provision, monitor and minimise the risks associated with him living in the community.

Tailored Care for a Child with Cerebral Palsy

ICS was asked initially to set up a 24/7 package of care for a young child. The child suffered from a severe Cerebral Palsy resulting from a premature birth. They were self ventilating but their lung capacity was greatly reduced due to scoliosis. The child was receiving care in a hospice but the parents wanted them to return to the family home and requested increased support.
The client required ICS to provide 24/7 cover from an RSCN & an Auxiliary to enable them to care for their child at home ICS worked closely with the client to provide a supportive team of staff that could provide care tailored to their child's nursing and care needs, offering continuity, and helping the family and child to manage their condition in the familiar surroundings of their home.

Fast Discharge and Focused Care for an Adult with Complex needs

ICS was asked to support a care package for a client that had experienced a spinal injury in 2005. The client had suffered kidney damage during the accident and his complex condition meant he required ventilation at night and needed tracheostomy support and catheter care. Prior to ICS involvement the package had not been sustainable due to lack of continuity and Adhoc care, this meant that the client was then hospitalised again causing further stress to the family and client.
ICS were able to provide training and support to Auxiliaries and supplied a trained Nurse to supervise and manage the care package to ensure that the client received the appropriate care in a co-ordinated and timely way. This enabled a quick discharge from hospital to home, with the peace of mind that the care was focused around the patients needs ensuring continuity and stability of the care package.

NHS

Preferred Supplier of Specialist Staff to an Acute NHS hospital in the South East

Peaks in capacity demand and patient admissions, in conjunction with staff sickness and vacancies, meant that the managers of some specialist units were facing difficulties maintaining service, particularly A&E, ITU and SCBU. From 2004 to 2006 ICS were supplying nurses on Ad hoc basis. The quality of service ICS supplied lead to the chemotherapy and CCU wards block booking nurses to ensure continuity of care.

The excellent service we provided resulted in the trust recognising the need for a specialist provider of clinical staff. The ability of ICS to respond immediately and deliver experienced competent professionals into these key areas has meant that the trust proposed a preferred supplier service level agreement with ICS for paediatrics and ITU. ICS continues to provide specialist nursing staff and more recently general nurses to ward areas, in the 3½ years ICS has worked with them we have supplied over 15,000 hours of nursing care.

Block Bookings Maintain High Standards in an Acute NHS Hospital in the South

This Trust provides local hospital services to approximately 500,000 people living in their catchment area. From 1998 till 2004 ICSS were the trusts preferred supplier of specialist staff on an Ad Hoc basis.

However in 2004 the Trust's increased demand lead to the ICS regional manager proposing the option of block booking staff. ICS provided up to 40 additional full time nurses each week, covering around 200 shifts and mostly on a Block Booking basis.

The Block Booking ensured that the Trust benefits from continuity whilst maintaining high standards of care through experienced and appropriately placed nurses.

ICS's ability to respond immediately and deliver this level of provision has allowed the Trust Management to flatten out the peaks of demand using a temporary solution, on a needs basis, meaning that they do not have to recruit into these positions, which would lead to over-establishment during troughs in demand. In the last 3 years, ICS has been able to cover over 96,000 nursing hours.

Remote Location is no Obstacle for ICS Supplying an NHS Trust in the East Midlands

Following the amalgamation of all the areas hospitals into the trust, our ICS regional manager met with the head of the trust, to discuss the possibility of the provision of general and specialist nurses, to support the trust through times of high demand or staffing shortages.
Due to the remote nature of some of the hospitals in the trust previous agencies were unable to meet the trusts demand for staff at short notice, where as ICS has the capability and infrastructure to react quickly to requests.
From an initial contact from the Trust ITU Manager, and subsequent discussions initiated by the ICS Regional Manager, ICS now provides ongoing ad hoc support for the whole Trust, with additional Block Bookings where required for the peaks in demand.

ICS Solution Solves Winter Pressures for a Trust in Scotland

ICS were approached by a Trust in Scotland to assist with the management of the winter pressures across the Trust. The Trust opened 52 winter beds in the first week, and 89 winter beds staffed by nurses from within the Trust. ICS assisted by back filling the shifts made vacant by the Trust staff across 28 wards to cover a variety of specialties including medical, surgical and orthopaedic.

This was the fastest time in which so many beds had been opened and a Directorate Manager, Elderly Medicine said that 'ICS were absolutely critical' in opening these beds. The Assistant General Manager, Medical Division added that ICS had been a 'key enabling measure' in the overall success of the project. The winter beds were closed on time, another first, and (for the first time) the entire project came in under budget and overall the Trust was delighted with the success of the project. ICS had the capacity to apply sufficient resources to this project to achieve a 100% fill rate whilst also maintaining the supply of staff with fill rates in excess of 96% to other Trusts that were experiencing the same winter pressures.

Medical Companies

ICS Nurses Provide Large Volumes of In-service Training for a Medical Device Company

This company had secured two large contracts to supply a large number of hospitals with a revolutionary IV fluid container. This meant that they had a six week period where they were required to train every nurse likely to use the container, in each of the contracted hospitals in the Central and Yorkshire regions. They employ 11 clinical nurse specialists who perform hospital in-service training, but they quickly realised they didn't have sufficient staff to complete this amount of training in the allotted timeframe.

The Corporate Sales Manager contacted ICS to discuss possible solutions. The ICS Regional Managers and the CSM discussed their requirements and offered a flexible mobile team of 10 nurses across 2 regions. Within a very short period, ICS found more than a dozen suitable nurses for this position. Careful selection of these nurses was essential for The company to be confident in their outsourced team, and a combined selection and training day was arranged. They were later provided with several more ICS nurses due to the large scale of the undertaking over a 3 month period.

The fluid contract was successfully completed, by which time, the company were commencing a similar roll out for their infusion pump contract. The ICS Regional Manager coordinated the new booking and ICS provided a team of 4 nurses who were trained to support the Sales Team in educating nurses on their new infusion pump across a range of sites. 6 months later the company required 2 nurses to support their Safety Cannulae audit, and experienced nurses were selected for this contract.

In total, ICS has worked with the company since September 2006, and has provided the company with over 5,000 nursing hours during this time.

This solution helped free up staff in the sales team, who would have been attempting to provide a large volume of in-service training, and allowed them to remain focused on their sales role.

ICS Free Up the Sales Team of a Medical Device Company

This client produces Medical Appliances and supplies them to hospitals all over the UK. The Sales team was responsible for educating their customers and they required a faster roll out of a new product. In order to free up the sales team to concentrate on selling the new product they arranged for ICS nurses on a non contract as needed basis to demonstrate the product to their new customers.
Our nurses worked as training nurses for the company's syringe pump product line and were required to demonstrate a new syringe driver system. The nurses trained hospital staff, including nurses and occasionally doctors on the use of the products. All the nurses on the booking were IV trained and had acute surgical and medical skills with extensive experience in using syringe drivers.

Committed Staff Aid a Research Project for a University in the South East

A Postgraduate Medical School based in the east of England contacted ICS regarding a trial they were conducting. The trial looked at examining sleep conditions in volunteers and how medication might affect their central nervous system. They required trained nurses with previous research experience to help support the trial.
ICS provided a team of trained nurses to escort the volunteers in and out of the facility, making sure they were comfortable in their surroundings. Their responsibilities included taking bloods, administering the medication to the volunteers, providing ECGs, setting up IVs, general observations and keeping patients awake for sometimes up to 76hrs at a time.

Specialist Nurses Assist Drugs Trials for a Pharmaceutical Company

An Early Phase Clinical Research Organisation (CRO) conducting trials from within 2 acute NHS Teaching Hospitals contacted ICS. They are based within 2 University Hospitals and provide innovative Early Phase clinical and SMO (Site Management Organisation) solutions to 7 of the world's top 10 pharmaceutical companies. The Organisation required trained nurses to support the Clinical Research Assistant and the night nurse manger. Assisting on a 30 bedded trial of new drugs and the affects it would have on the healthy volunteers.
ICS provided trained nurses to support the trial and monitor all Volunteers. All nurses were required to have intermediate life support and be on hand to respond quickly in an emergency situation.

Providing a Solution to a Complex Project for a University in the North of England

A Postgraduate Medical University in England had approached many agencies to help assist a study on the effects of a specific sheep dip on farmer's health and their wellbeing. The University was experiencing problems recruiting clinical staff due to the fact the trial required the nurses to drive to remote areas in the region.
ICS was able to provide the university with competent, suitable and reliable nurses, capable of organising their workload sensibly around the different farmer's schedules. They were required to interview the farmers on their medical background, the medication they were currently using and compile lists of all drugs that each farmer was taking and the side effects that occurred. The nurses were also asked to be trained on new medical equipment that would carry the farmer's specimens. This was all reported back to the research department at the university.

Independent Sector

Added Support during Increased Activity for a Private Hospital in Devon

A private hospital based in Devon contacted ICS to help with staff shortages they were experiencing. The Hospital offers a broad range of specialist departments and treatments and required in particular specific Theatre staff to help fill gaps in their rota.
ICS was able to provide specialist Anaesthetic & Recovery Nurses into the hospital where they worked alongside their existing staff to provide added support for a time of increased activity.

Broad Range of ICS Staff Offers Continuity for a Private Hospital in the South East

ICS was approached by a private hospital based in Hampshire. The Hospital offers a broad range of specialist treatments and required support in both staffing their Theatre and Wards.
ICS was able to provide the hospital with Auxiliaries and trained staff to cover shortages on their wards. We also provided them with Anaesthetic & Recovery theatre nurses to fill gaps in their rota. ICS has also supplied a trained nurse on a block booking agreement for their Pre-op Clinic; the same nurse is going in to offer continuity of care.

Specialist ICS Peadiatric Staff When Needed for a Private Hospital in Northamptonshire.

ICS was contacted by a leading private Hospital in Northamptonshire. The hospital specialises in a wide range of treatments and services. The treatments are predominantly in adults so they had no registered children's nurses in employment to provide care for paediatric cases.
ICS is able to provide the hospital with an RN Child whenever a child is admitted for care. The admission rate for paediatric cases is very low, meaning that the hospital does not have the necessity for a full time member of staff. ICS is able to provide care as and when needed.

Creative Solutions and "Additionality" Compliant Staff for UK Specialist Hospitals

UK Specialist Hospitals (UKSH) is an independent sector healthcare company which provides healthcare to both NHS and private patients. UKSH provides surgical and diagnostic services for NHS patients at its Shepton Mallet facility.

At the outset, SMTC HR managers were faced with a short turnaround from contract agreement to service provision. They also faced issues recruiting overseas staff meaning that at 2 weeks to opening they were 25 full time nursing staff short. They did not want to delay opening, and needed an immediate solution.

It became clear that an innovative solution was required to meet this client's urgent needs, but there were potential difficulties with the additionality clause. With the extensive database of nurses, and the existing provision of nurses to the private sector, ICS was able to quickly identify a pool of suitably experienced additionality compliant nurses.

The volume of nurses was likely to be such that a Preferential Customer Agreement (PCA) was offered, giving the client a flexible arrangement where they could tap into the pool of nurses as required, and could wean the service out as their own staff were recruited. The PCA offered SMTC a sliding scale reduction in charges, whilst maintaining complete flexibility in service.

The first nurse was placed prior to opening and worked in their pre-assessment clinic. He was quickly followed by up to 25 full time nurses per week as the surgeries ramped up to full capacity. SMTC continued to require varying levels of extra staff, and have continued to call on ICS for this support, due to the ability to deliver increased nursing numbers at short notice. Over the 2 and a half year relationship, ICS has covered around 23,250 nursing hours.

1 to 1 Specialist Care Provides Team Enhancement for a Private Mental Health Hospital in Somerset

ICS was contacted by a Mental Health provider based in Somerset. The hospital provided therapeutic care and treatment within a low secure environment for patients with an acute mental health problem. They also provide Long term intensive rehabilitation of patients with complex and challenging mental health needs. The hospital required a specialist RMN to provide care for a patient who was in deterioration.

ICS placed a specialist RMN in the hospital that was able to work 1 to 1 with the patient, giving him stability and continuity of care. ICS also regularly supply the hospital with RMNs & Support Workers when required to enhance the team already in place.

Nursing Homes

Professionalism Assists a Nursing Home in Worcestershire Through a Difficult Time

A large, private nursing home group was going through a difficult transition period with one of their homes in Gloucester. There was no manager and moral was low. After trying multiple agencies who 'let them down' the home contacted ICS to cover 2 units with 2 senior nurses with management experience. ICS has covered both units successfully for 6 months with 100% fill rates. The client has praised the nurses and the agency for their professionalism during this challenging period.

Quality assured

At ICS we aim to provide the highest quality service, this is delivered by the high standard of the staff we provide and the excellent customer relations we build. ICS ensures our aim is achieved by the rigorous standards we put in place, in all aspects of our business.

This is reflected in the outstanding feedback ICS have received from the audits we have undertaken from PASA, Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and Welsh Health Supplies.

ICS were audited by CSCI on 06/05/08, ICS received a 3 star excellent rating To view our recent CSCI report please click here (www.csci.org.uk).

When applying for the Welsh health supplies tender for agency nurses they undertook a full quality assessment of the evidence each company had submitted in respect of proof of compliance to the service specification. ICS received a points rating of 1957 out of 2164 the threshold was 1400, ICS received the highest rating of all 22 agencies that applied for the tender.

In addition ICS has been audited by PASA when we were awarded preferred supplier status for the South West Agency Project and we met and exceeded the quality and service compliance criteria.

And most recently ICS have been accepted onto the NHS PASA framework agreement for the supply of locum doctors with part of the tender process being auditing of recruitment, placement and complaints procedures.

CRB Policy

In line with statutory requirements that were effective from 26th July 2004 a POVA (Protection of Vulnerable Adult) check is carried out on all applicants working with vulnerable adults. The POVA check is requested along with a POCA (Protection of Children's Act) check if the nurse will be working with children as part of the Enhanced Disclosure process. All of our existing staff have undergone an Enhanced Disclosure and a POCA check if working with children. These checks are all carried out prior to the applicant being accepted to work through Independent Clinical Services, and prior to placement with our clients. These Disclosures will be repeated on a three yearly basis in line with recommendation of the CSCI and the Criminal Records Bureau.

Protection of Children Act (POCA)

Independent Clinical Services takes great care in the recruitment of staff, carries out all possible checks on recruits to ensure that they are of a high standard and will co-operate in all Government initiatives regarding the sharing of information on staff who are found to be unsuitable to be involved in work which brings them into contact with children.

Government Guidance

Independent Clinical Services undertakes to work in compliance with the Department of Health Guidance on multi-agency policies and procedures to protect children from abuse, the Protection of children Act 1999 and the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 as well as observing the relevant sections of the National Minimum Standards Domiciliary Care Agencies and the Domiciliary Care Agencies Regulations 2002, and the National Minimum Standards for Nurses Agencies and Nurses Agencies Regulations 2002 and the National Care Standards - Nurses Agencies (Scotland).

For further information refer to DoH publication 31815 "What to do if you are worried a child is being abused" available at www.doh.gov.uk/safeguardingchildren/index.htm

Training

Independent Clinical Services provides training in child protection. It is the agency workers responsibility to ensure that they follow the terms of any policies.

Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA)

Independent Clinical Services endeavors to provide support and assistance to those services users who wish to remain in their own home and this document outlines the policy of Independent Clinical Services in relation to dealing with possible or actual abuse of vulnerable adults.

Recruitment

Independent Clinical Services takes great care in the recruitment of staff, carries out all possible checks on recruits to ensure that they are of a high standard including a Protection of Vulnerable Adult (POVA) check and will co-operate in all Government initiatives regarding the sharing of information on staff who are found to be unsuitable to be involved in work which brings them into contact with vulnerable adults.

Government Guidance

Independent Clinical Services undertakes to work in compliance with the Department of Health Guidance on No Secrets - Guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse, as well as observing the relevant sections of the National Minimum Standards for Domiciliary Care Agencies and the Domiciliary Care Agencies Regulations 2002, and the National Minimum Standards for Nurses Agencies and Nurses Agencies Regulations 2002. Independent Clinical Services also recognises local policies that may be in place e.g. No Secrets in Bristol a multi agency commitment to adult protection.


Consistent supply

Arranging cover is simple. Your requirements will be logged on our database and matched with the member of staff that best fits your needs.

Our Call Centre is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and staffed by highly experienced, qualified operators who take personal responsibility for satisfying every request. This commitment to excellence is reflected in our outstanding fill rates, which for nursing are regularly in excess of 90%. What's more, we answer every call in an average of just 12 seconds - another way in which ICS is leading the industry.

For first time clients, we will require some basic information in order to create a personal account for you. This will include the fundamentals of client name and address, invoice address, specialist requirements, etc.

Our powerful and innovative database software allows our Call Centre team to quickly and accurately find the right nurses for our clients' needs. They are able to identify these nurses with minimal lead times, making it possible to provide suitable nurses for short-term assignments at very short notice.

Our online service allows clients to monitor our progress in filling your needs in real-time. This web site provides immediate information to our nurses and delivers a much-improved service to both our clients and nurses.