locum accommodation

Re: locum accommodation

Andy Elliott — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 22:10:04 GMT

Hi Liz,

I think that as a locum you would always expect some kind of accommodation to be organised and paid for you- might not always be palatial but should at very least be clean and comfortable. Every locum will have a horror story about the flat above the practice. I arrived for a locum job late on a Sunday afternoon and all the light bulbs in the flat were missing. By this time on a Sunday all the shops were closed too. I had to go and find a nice pub for the evening!

We are always grateful to have a list of locums to save on agency fees so any SA locums reading this please advertise your services!

Andy

Re: locum accommodation

Thomas Johnson — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 17:02:26 GMT

[quote user="Linda Filshie"]

Some places I stayed were palatial, one I had to do a mad dash to a Tesco superstore late one night and buy a mattress protector, sheets, pillows, pillow cases and linen before I could bear to sleep in the bed.

[/quote]

Having had a few job interviews at practices that offer accomodation I have been amazed at the dreadful state of some surgery flats, and equally amazed that the people showing them to me were seriously suggesting I might want to live there. I think part of the problem is that they don't attach any value to them. Some places were only suggesting a couple of hundred pound difference in salary a month depending on whether I took the flat or not, which sounds great, but then makes it very difficult to persuade the practice to spend money and get work done.

I've never locumed and find it odd that the cost of the accomodation isn't taken into account when deciding on a locum's pay, as it has been when I've taken permanent positions with accomodation.

Re: locum accommodation

scarlet — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 16:51:14 GMT

up till a few months ago i have locummed for 9 years in the uk all over. i expect accommodation unless its within 1 hr commute from home or 1/2 hr if i'm required to do on call. The standard of accomodation varies wildly. If it is unhygenic or unsafe or completely unsuitable (i was once expected to sleep on a campbed in the op theatre and use the dog groomers bath to wash. ) then do not be afraid to refuse it on those grounds and ask to be housed in a local hotel or b and b. most corporates offer up to £50 per night accomodation. also you should get mileage if you have to use your own car to do branches or visits. We are professionals and as such should be treated like professionals and not backpackers! locumming can be very interesting and rewarding and i thoroughly enjoyed it. hope you do too!

Re: locum accommodation

vetbl.locum — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 16:48:22 GMT

I have been there as well!!

and a Dettol spray for surfaces

Re: locum accommodation

Braden Collins — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 14:08:34 GMT

I always had accomodation provided when I was locuming, varying from flats above clinics to bosses houses and B and B's. It was part of the package on top of my daily fee. I can't say I ever came across myself that didn't offer accomodation as a locum but I stopped locuming in the UK 4-5 years ago.

Re: locum accommodation

Linda Filshie — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 23:40:47 GMT

I was always offered accommodation. Often it was flat above the practice, sometimes the boss's house (with and without the boss and family living there at the time), sometimes a staff member, sometimes a staff members's family, sometimes a B&B, sometimes a hotel or guest house! Some places I stayed were palatial, one I had to do a mad dash to a Tesco superstore late one night and buy a mattress protector, sheets, pillows, pillow cases and linen before I could bear to sleep in the bed.

Re: locum accommodation

Charlotte Marshall — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 23:27:52 GMT

I thought the dying breed at the moment was Locums! They seem to be in short supply lately, in the midlands at least.

Re: locum accommodation

mariette asselbergs — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 21:53:12 GMT

I have always been offered accomodation; it sometimes involved dog/cat/rabbit/chicken sitting for holliday locums!

I also use my campervan in summer, which gives you more privacy and freedom. And makes locuming feel more like hollidays!

Mariette

Re: locum accommodation

vanessab — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 19:36:14 GMT

Hello

I wouldn't pay for accommodation either, all locums I did either provided acc. near to or above the practice in their own property or paid for me to stay in a b+b

Re: locum accommodation

Yantha Smyth — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 19:29:03 GMT

I have done locum work since end 2010, and have until this year only taken locum jobs that do provide accommodation, usually away from commutable distance from home base- this means I have been able to select jobs based on practice and dates rather than location...and bring my chinchilla along!

This year I have made more of an effort to get local work so that I can stay at home- just getting a bit tired of all the packing up and moving about.

There seems to be a real mix of both types of locum vacancies out there listed with the agencies.

I would never expect to source and pay for accommodation as a locum. I sill have rent and council tax to pay at home regardless.

Re: locum accommodation

Bibs — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 17:43:03 GMT

I would assume that sole charge just meant that you were the only vet working and would never assume it related to the length of time I was expected to work. I thought that it was only relevant incase a locum wasn't confident to work "alone" without the moral support of another vet around.

Re: locum accommodation

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 17:19:34 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]Bear in mind I've also always assumed that in sole charge a day is 24 hours long.[/quote] I'm surprised you can get locums prepared to be on call sole-charge 24/7 Evelyn. Another of a (rightly) dying breed if you can.

Re: locum accommodation

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 16:45:11 GMT

I've always provided accommodation in my house, unless it wasn't wanted.

Bear in mind I've also always assumed that in sole charge a day is 24 hours long.

Re: locum accommodation

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 15:52:30 GMT

Sadly I appear to be one of the last of a dying breed in so many ways!

Re: locum accommodation

Bibs — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 15:40:24 GMT

Interesting.

That's what I was hoping most people would do but it doesn't appear to be obviously happening in all cases. Still I might manage to commute 1.5 hours each way if it turns out to be too expensive to pay for accom. Thanks for the feed back.

Re: locum accommodation

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 15:07:16 GMT

A an employer of locums, I provide a flat above the surgery with a double bedroom, sitting room, bathroom and kitchen. It never crossed my mind not to and I don't honestly know if my regular locum would charge more if he had to source his own accommodation. It may be that in the future I will realise the potential income from letting this flat but I would then expect to provide B&B accommodation nearby at my expense not theirs (and have indeed made inquiries just in case). Indeed if the boot was on the other foot and (God forbid) I needed to locum to supplement my pension when I retire, I would expect to be paid the going rate and get free accommodation.