About Us

Ark Nursing & Care Agency is the largest, private, family-run nursing agency in North Devon. We are also one of the few agencies in North and East Devon registered to care for children in their own homes.

Ark Nursing & Care Agency was established by Rowena Rhead, a locally-born Registered Nurse who trained at North Devon District Hospital. It was through her work that Rowena identified a niche in the care market for the provision of first class care with a ‘family feel' and went on to establish Ark Nursing & Care Agency in 2002.

Excellence in Care is the mantra for Ark Nursing & Care Agency with Rowena believing in proactive leadership, remaining the hub and driving force behind the business still.

“From small acorns, large oaks grow" the ancient saying goes, and following the outstanding reception received from Nursing and Residential Homes, NHS, Specialist Homes and private clients alike, Ark Nursing & Care Agency soon developed into the leading agency in North and East Devon that it is today.


Covering North, Mid and East Devon, Ark Nursing & Care Agency supplies nurses and auxiliary care workers to an extensive variety of locations. We work with the NHS, Social Services, private Care Homes and individual families, and are proud of the strong and enduring partnerships we have built along the way.

From humble beginnings employing just 3 care staff and 2 office staff in 2002, Ark Nursing & Care Agency has blossomed thanks to the excellent reputation every single member of staff has worked so hard to achieve. We are now a vibrant and proud employer of over 100 invaluable care staff, a Nursing Director, a General Manager, a dedicated Accounts Department, a Care Co-ordinator and 5 administrative staff.

Training Courses

Our charges are very competitive, starting from £20 for half a day and £45 for a full day.(See details below for further information). All of our Courses are suitable for all grades of staff from RGN's to Care support workers and from Catering staff – to Domestics.

All courses are based at a local Training Centre and refreshments is provided.

Training provided at the mandatory level includes:

Induction Standards
Moving & Handling
Moving & Handling Practical
First Aid
Safeguarding
Food Hygiene

DBS Umbrella Company

Disclosure and Barring Service
To continue building upon our service provision to the care sector, Ark Nursing & Care Agency has become an umbrella service for the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Due to our exacting standards we have managed to build up this service to Care Companies and providers nationwide. We are very proud that our average time from receiving DBS Forms at our Head Office to the receipt of the Individual's Enhanced DBS Certificate is approximately 1 – 2 weeks.