How to find locum work

Career Guidance Working as a Locum
1

national-cancer-institute-NFvdKIhxYlU-unsplash-1024x683 png
national-cancer-institute-NFvdKIhxYlU-unsplash-1024x683 png1024×683 40 KB

How to find work as a locum

There are two main ways to find work as a locum – directly or indirectly.

To get locum work directly means that you make direct contact with the practice, health facility, or company where you want to locum. You also receive your payment directly from them.

To find locum work indirectly means involves utilising the services of a ‘middle-man’. This can either take the form of a recruitment agency or a locum profile platform. In both cases, the doctor/facility pays the middle-man and the middle-man pays you, either weekly, fortnightly, or monthly.

Although there are different methods, you are by no means limited to only using one. In fact, the more you use the better your chances of finding the locum work that suits you best – a bit like throwing many lines in to catch the biggest fish. So it is advisable to utilise multiple (if not all) of the methods described below, especially as you start out on your journey of working as a locum and until you have found which works best for you.

:heavy_check_mark: Directly

Getting locum work directly is a helpful method if you have a clear idea of exactly where you wish to locum, as it allows you to be more specific. Below are some steps you can follow to find locum work without utilising the services of a ‘middle-man’.

Getting started

  1. Get your updated CV and certified documentation ready.
  2. Decide where you would like to work.

General Practice

  • If you want to work as a GP, go hand in your CV at a few practices. Let them know you are available to locum for them if they ever need someone.
  • This is quite appealing to most GP practices since it cuts out the commission they would otherwise have to pay the middleman, as mentioned above.

Private sector emergency departments

  • If you want to do locum work in private sector emergency departments (directly), an easy way would be to register with a company like ER Consulting.
  • They manage multiple emergency units across South Africa and use locums where needed.

Specific departments in the public sector

  • If you want to locum in a specific department in a government facility, you should hand in your CV with documentation to HR. Ask them if they could put you on their locum list.
  • You will be added at the discretion of the HOD, so it is recommended that you would at least have done a diploma in the relevant department if you want them to seriously consider using you.
  • You might be asked to come for an interview before they add you to their locum list.
  • You likely do not need to have passed your DipEC in order to locum in a government facility emergency centre, so it is worth a shot to ask to be put on that locum list.

Pros of this approach:

  • You have more control over where you want to work.
  • If you manage to get added to the locum list of a specific department in a government hospital, then you can start getting exposure and build a network in your desired direction. This is particularly helpful if you aim to further your studies at a later stage.
  • There is no ‘buy-out’ or ‘middle-man’ fee since you approached the practice or facility directly. This makes it more likely that you will become a regular locum there.
  • If it works well, you get your shifts at the place where you specifically want to work.

Cons of this approach:

  • You have to manually take your CV.
  • You will likely still have to register with a locum recruitment agency, since some of the government hospitals pay their locums through certain agencies – ask them which!
  • Since you have to do all the groundwork, there is a smaller chance of getting enough shifts for a sufficient monthly income.
  • Unless you enter into a sessional contract with the doctor/facility where you locum, you will likely be receiving gross income. This means that tax will not get deducted, and it will be up to you to stay on top of your provisional tax returns.

:heavy_check_mark: Recruitment Agencies

Recruitment agencies and organisations help to bridge the gap between the locum and the locum-seeker by actively seeking locums on behalf of doctors or facilities that make use of their services. To increase your chances of getting the shifts you want, it is advisable to apply with more than one agency.

Some Reliable Locum Recruitment Agencies

Getting started

  1. Make sure you have medical indemnity insurance (e.g. with MPS or AON).
  2. Go to the website of the locum agency or organisation you want to register with.
  3. Complete the application/registration form found on the website.
  • Some can be completed online while others might need to be downloaded and emailed.
  1. Get all the required (and certified) documents ready to send with your completed application form.
  2. At this point, locum recruitment agencies will usually send you a contract to sign once they have received your application.
  • Be sure to read the contract carefully, especially their rules of conduct.
  1. If you are working through a locum recruitment agency, you will now start receiving shifts via WhatsApp or email.
  • Let them know if you want to do one of the shifts and they will guide you from there.
  1. If you are working through a locum profile, you can start looking for shifts available near you that suit your preferences and set up your calendar to show your availability to those practices looking for locums.

Payments

Depending on the agency/organisation, payments can be made weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. As noted under the direct tab, some public hospitals also use certain agencies to pay their locums, so it would be useful to find out which agencies they use and register with them.

:left_speech_bubble:Please contribute to this conversation by replying to this topic.