Are we seeing the slow fade of agency reliance? What the rise of bank-first models means for care homes, and how rota tech is playing catch-up.

TL;DRThe Government wants to ban exploitative zero-hours contracts and push for more secure work. That could spell big changes for how care homes manage bank staff and fill gaps. With agency costs still sky-high, now’s the time to shift to smarter, more stable “bank-first” models. But to do it right, care providers need flexible, intelligent rota systems that give real control over their workforce.

Tech is catching up, but homes need to act now. Better planning, clearer contracts and the right tools will help providers stay ahead of new rules and cut back on agency reliance for good.

The sector is poised for significant change. As news breaks that the UK government plans to ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, including those used by agency workers, care providers are facing a staffing inflection point 'Guardian'. While the full details are still being finalised through consultations and legislation expected around 2026, the direction is clear: greater job security, notice requirements, and guaranteed hours for bank and agency staff.

👋 Goodbye agency-first, hello bank-first?

Agency staffing has long been a costly quick fix. Now, with pending tighter regulations on zero-hours contracts, providers are doubling down on bank-first models, using internal pools to fill shifts before looking externally.

But without zero-hours flexibility, how can providers maintain the agility they’ve relied on?

💡 Flexibility isn’t fading, it’s evolving

At JMS One, we’ve built our rota engine to support powerful fairness and flexibility tools:

• AI-powered rota can factor in bank staff's availability, qualifications, and location. (And contracted hours when the law changes)
• Fairness controls to prevent staff fatigue:
• Shift swaps via the app, all with manager oversight

This means providers can comply with changing contract law without losing flexibility or staff satisfaction.

🧠 Policy-ready rota tech

As part of its Employment Rights Bill, the government is exploring mandates like guaranteed minimum hours, advance shift notice, and compensation for last-minute cancellations 'Ward Hadaway', and whether agency workers are directly affected remains a point of consultation.

JMS One is already built for this future:

• Rota templates anticipate guaranteed hours based on historical patterns and can now be cloned.
• Shift notifications ensure carers receive clarity and notice
• Rota history provides audit trails for any cancelled or adjusted shifts

🧭 What care homes can do right now

1. Review your bank:
2. Use fairness settings:
3. Plan for guaranteed hours:
4. Boost bank-first staffing:

🧩 Why the sector needs this

Care homes are under pressure from regulation, recruitment challenges, and rising costs. Embracing a bank-first, fairness-forward, tech-enabled rota strategy helps solve multiple problems at once:

• Improves staff morale and retention
• Helps control agency spend
• Ensures regulatory compliance and staff security
• Equips you for a world where zero-hours are no longer the norm

💬 Talk strategy, not survival

If you'd like a no-pressure chat about how to prepare your bank staff, rota model, and contracts, I’d be happy to help. After all, at JMS One, workforce management isn’t just software, it’s sector resilience and human-centred innovation