Are you considering becoming a locum?
From our experience, there are a few things that make this way of working work well.
One of our most important roles as a locum agency is making expectations clear before an assignment begins. It is essential that locums communicate any preferences from the outset, so that they can be negotiated (where possible) with the clinic before an agreement is signed off.
The following aspects of a placement may be open to negotiation:
- Weekly schedule
- Daily schedule
- Sessional rate
- Number of patients per session
- Appointment length
- Timing and length of lunch break
- Time for completing paperwork
- Contribution to after hours roster
- Participation in on call duties
- Reimbursement for overtime
- Inclusion of mileage and other travel expenses
- Accommodation requests
In the same way that locums will have non-negotiables, practices will have non-negotiables too. It is the agency’s job to consider these when facilitating a placement. It is much better to know that a practice cannot meet a locum’s needs, and vice versa, before committing to a placement.
It is in everyone’s best interest to stick to the terms of a placement once an agreement has been signed. Last minute changes and requests (as opposed to things that are out of your control) don’t support the relationships we are building. They undermine the significant work required by practice managers to accommodate various schedules.
If, during a placement, something is not as it should be, we are always on hand to help. It is essential to maintain an open channel of communication so that we can stay engaged with doctor and clinic.
Like any relationship, the more you work with an agency, the better the agency will be at knowing which placements will be the best match. At Good Together, we spend a lot of time getting to know our doctors and their specific needs and drivers. This helps us facilitate placements that will bring professional and personal fulfilment.
Feedback after a placement is as important as preparation before a placement. Good Together feedback forms are designed to help us understand the nuance of each placement, so that we can continually improve in supporting our doctors and clinics.
If you would like to learn more about working as a locum with Good Together, or if you are a practice looking for locum support, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
