AS a child, Reza Najafian was inspired by the commitment his mother, Alice, a nurse, showed towards her patients.

And it is this same dedication that drives the lawyer-turned-entrepreneur to make a success of his latest venture in the care sector, Staffscanner, an app that matches staff with work opportunities.

Mr Najafian, from Glasgow, is no stranger to the care industry. He and his business partner brother, Omid, own Silverburn Care Home in the south side of the city, and it was the perennial problem of finding reliable, good quality bank staff that initially gave him the idea for Staffscanner, which launched earlier this year.

“Like every care home, we relied on agencies to provide staff," he says. "Not only were these agencies hugely expensive, but in my view they lacked accountability. They were sending the first person who said yes to a shift, rather than the right person for the job.

“I knew there had to be a better way. Our app turns this model on its head. Care home managers can post shifts, outlining the type of skills experience they need. Carers and nurses, who have already uploaded their CVs, then apply, with the homes choosing the right person. We charge care homes considerably less than traditional agencies, so the carers and nurses get a better rate.”

The app uses a star ratings system similar to Uber, and employers can leave comments.

“The most of important thing of all,” adds Mr Najafian, “is that care homes get the right person for the job, improve the quality of care and don’t waste money in the process. Everyone benefits. We eradicate the ‘turning up money’ scandal – people just turning up and not pulling their weight - that has plagued this industry for too long. It’s in the worker’s interest to get a good rating.”

This more rigorous approach is clearly working. Hundreds of care workers and homes have already signed up, many through word of mouth. And the feedback from care home managers is that staff morale and the quality of care are going up, while costs are coming down.

The new business now employs 15 staff, adding to the 85 staff Mr Najafian employs at his care home.

“It’s a huge responsibility and requires lot of management," he says. "But my staff are everything in both my businesses. Without them, I have nothing.”

The 32-year-old stresses that becoming a tech entrepreneur isn’t an easy option. “Altogether it took four years of research and development to get the idea off the ground. You have to be very patient and you need real perseverance. It's also vital to test your product at every stage. What you think is the solution might not be what your customers need. You need to keep listening and learning.”

Though Staffscanners still in its early days, an expansion to Edinburgh is already on the cards.

“I’m not getting carried away,” he smiles. "We’re a start-up and we need to take things one step at a time. But this business has the potential to radically improve the care industry.

“That’s what I love most about being an entrepreneur in this sector. You try to solve problems, and when you are successful you make a meaningful contribution by helping staff deliver better care. It’s hard and stressful work but very fulfilling, too.”

Mr Najafian adds that joining RBS’s Entrepreneur Accelerator Scheme has helped him develop and grow as a businessman.

“Every month I meet with my RBS mentors to discuss the business," he says. "They scrutinise every element and question my decisions. It’s really tough but the feedback and advice I’ve received have been invaluable. Impartial advice is key to any business.”