Changing the game with ‘AgoraStaff’
I am extremely excited to announce something I have been working on, with a dedicated team of innovators, behind the scenes for many months.
It’s finally time to unveil a product which is an online recruitment platform and app for care providers and carers – AgoraStaff
Agora Staff is a bespoke app which uses AI to connect care professionals to freelance care workers – cutting out the need for paying hefty agency fees. These fees add on significant care costs for providers of care (homes, local authorities etc) when care is needed, particularly at short notice.
Many carers are freelance, they do this to manage workload and take control of their hours. A lot of these carers will be registered with agencies who then contact them regarding work. Carers take up work and agencies charge fees for this – they can charge the carer and they charge the care provider for making this connection. This has been how the care system has worked for many years.
These hefty fees stop with AgoraStaff – which will initially be rolled out in Somerset, Bristol and the Bath areas. Over time it will be rolled out nationally.
Carers get free membership, undergo a strong vetting process, and can access local shifts on a freelance basis. For care providers (nursing homes, care homes, hospitals, and home care providers), they will pay a monthly subscription per location for access and then a five per cent cut (plus relevant bank transfer fees) of any shift rate (much lower than current agencies). These smaller fees will be taken to fund the ongoing upkeep of the app and to cover our operational costs.
Creating and managing an app like this requires dedication, investment, tech savvy and commitment – so it’s not free. It is a lot more cost effective though for care providers.
Carers sign up, complete a profile, they will be vetted, then they can search for shifts that fit their schedule and skills. They earn more for their shifts and get paid directly from AgoraStaff. They can also keep track of their shifts and communicate with providers directly.
Providers register, create available shift posts, and then pick from the carers that apply for the job posting. It’s fast and easy as they can chat directly with them on the in-app messaging system.
Agora Staff cuts out heavy ‘middle’ costs and creates a way for people to get directly in touch with care providers – and the platform handles the finances ensuring that parties get paid promptly and fairly.
I have been advising on the creation of this app and am in charge of business development. We’ve already had significant interest during this period of creation of AgoraStaff.
This will be a disruptive change in the social care sector and not everyone will be happy about it. Yet we, as a team, stand by it.
Look out for us in your area in due course. Message me if you’d like a chat about it.