Built to fix the biggest bottleneck in care hiring
Built to fix the biggest bottleneck in care hiring
Reference First exists to remove delays, reduce risk, and bring clarity to employment referencing in regulated health and social care.
Reference First exists to remove delays, reduce risk, and bring clarity to employment referencing in regulated health and social care.
Reference First is a managed employment referencing service for regulated care hiring
Reference First is a managed employment referencing service for regulated care hiring
Our Mission
Our Mission
Our mission is to help care providers and recruiters hire safely and efficiently by delivering fast, compliant, and well-documented employment references.
Our mission is to help care providers and recruiters hire safely and efficiently by delivering fast, compliant, and well-documented employment references.
Our Vision
Our Vision
Our vision is a care hiring process where referencing is no longer a blocker, but a clear, reliable step that supports safer onboarding and inspection readiness.
Our vision is a care hiring process where referencing is no longer a blocker, but a clear, reliable step that supports safer onboarding and inspection readiness.
Reference First began with a shared frustration…
Reference First began with a shared frustration…
Our Story
Our Story
Reference First was created by founders with first-hand experience of health and social care operations and recruiter workflows.
Having seen how often onboarding was delayed by slow or inconsistent references, we set out to build a service that takes full ownership of the process.
Not software. Not forms sent into the void.
A managed service that chases, verifies, documents, and delivers references properly.
Reference First was created by founders with first-hand experience of health and social care operations and recruiter workflows.
Having seen how often onboarding was delayed by slow or inconsistent references, we set out to build a service that takes full ownership of the process.
Not software. Not forms sent into the void.
A managed service that chases, verifies, documents, and delivers references properly.
How we approach referencing
How we approach referencing
Every part of Reference First is designed around speed, clarity, and compliance in real care hiring environments.
Every part of Reference First is designed around speed, clarity, and compliance in real care hiring environments.
Care Experience
Built by people who understand regulated care operations, safeguarding expectations, and the reality of onboarding under pressure.
Care Experience
Built by people who understand regulated care operations, safeguarding expectations, and the reality of onboarding under pressure.
Care Experience
Built by people who understand regulated care operations, safeguarding expectations, and the reality of onboarding under pressure.
Visible Chasing
Clear communication and documented chasing so you always know what has been done, what is outstanding, and what comes next.
Visible Chasing
Clear communication and documented chasing so you always know what has been done, what is outstanding, and what comes next.
No Blind Spots
Processes and outputs designed to stand up to internal review, audits, and inspection scrutiny, with clear evidence at every stage.
No Blind Spots
Processes and outputs designed to stand up to internal review, audits, and inspection scrutiny, with clear evidence at every stage.
Designed to work alongside care providers
and recruitment teams.
Meet the team
Reference First is led by a small, experienced team with deep roots in care operations and recruiter-facing services. We prioritise delivery, accountability, and relationships over scale for scale’s sake.
Thomas Davies-Kohler
Co-Founder
Daniel Leggett
Co-Founder