Locuming

Re: Locuming

Nikki Graef — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:06:20 GMT

I used to charge £12 an hour, when i first started locumming i asked Kirsty at Carlton what to charge and she said between £10-£15 an hour was average so i went for in the middle, however i charged £15 for weekend work, mainly as i didnt want to work weekends!

I did my own tax NI etc, very simple to do yourself just record all your invoices and milage then you can claim petrol costs, i begrudge losing money myself paying someone else to do something that is so simple and took me all of half an hour once a year!

Re: Locuming

Sal the 1st — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:56:38 GMT

when I started locumming I asked around and set my rate accordingly but I was also told by a vetfriend that a good rate was 1.5x the hourly rate you would expect as a permanently employed member of staff - that was what he expected to pay for a decent locum (and by coincidence? working it out both ways my hourly rate was the same)

The important thing to remember is if you are too cheap - as already mentioned you are setting everybody elses rates low.

And if you do set your rates too low sometimes it can backfire - if you are too low not only will you not earn enough to survive without half killing yourself but some employers will actually question why you are so cheap ie are you any good at what you do?

Re: Locuming

mrsspider — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 07:25:41 GMT

Thank you all for your replies, locum nursing is going to be my only wage and so from that point of view i do have to make a living from it too, I truly have absolutely no idea what is an acceptable rate as I haven't nursed for 5 years and when I did nurse it was in full time employment.

I will take any comments I receive onboard and then hopefully decide on a figure to suit, I am registered with some agencies too so I guess when they get me any work a wage will be offered with that which saves me having to work a figure out.

I know that I have agreed to working for an out of hours vets for £12 per hour and I am happy with that so will maybe make that my going rate.

thanks for your replies

Re: Locuming

Caro Laithwaite VN — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 22:24:05 GMT

Is ok phin as l said you didn't mean to offend but please dont vent spleen it makes hell of a mess and some poor sod will have to clean up and l sure as heck am not to tired need my bed!

Re: Locuming

Phrin Vernon RVN — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 22:19:01 GMT

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite VN,"]

Sorry phin but that includes those who have never locumed and as to aldi.. l am a damm site better trained up than the aldi checkout assistant as are other quals out there you did not mean it l know bit l find that comment a huge insult to all qualified or student vet nurses.

[/quote]

Hey Caro - I didn't mean to offend! I was just venting my spleen that Aldi checkout people can probably earn more than a QVN - so not right!

Re: Locuming

Caro Laithwaite VN — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 22:03:10 GMT

Contact Ann at A1 Jenny at Shona hostler and Kirsty at Carlton All 3 are very good.

As to rig do a search on here at posts about them .....

Re: Locuming

A-J — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:58:38 GMT

I've used Rig and they have always been great. I used an umbrella company called Azebra and never had any trouble. I don't have time to sort out tax etc so it was the best option for me

Re: Locuming

Caro Laithwaite VN — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:58:31 GMT

No it isnt fair at all. The rate l charge and speaking to other FULL TIME locums is a general 13/hr/weekday and min 8hrs the problem with cheap is that it then pulls wages down for those of us who rely on making a living at it. dont forget we do not have holiday or sick pay and also often have accountants as well. We also have tax and ni and often lean times when not working.Those who do it part time have a regular wage so the other items dont worry them.
Sorry phin but that includes those who have never locumed and as to aldi.. l am a damm site better trained up than the aldi checkout assistant as are other quals out there you did not mean it l know bit l find that comment a huge insult to all qualified or student vet nurses.

It is a big complaint of mine and speaking to other locums know they get angry at part timers who make life difficult for us by undercharging.

Re: Locuming

Phrin Vernon RVN — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:57:29 GMT

Giventhat my local Aldi is advertising for a new checkout assistant at up to £9/hr, I think asking £10/hr as a locum VN is entirely reasonable.

However, I've never locummed, so have no idea of the going rates - Caro would be a good person to ask via PM

Re: Locuming

mrsspider — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:38:11 GMT

sorry to jump in on this thread, I am also just starting to locum, I have already managed to get some work but just wondered what the going hourly rate was???

I was thinking of charging £10 per hour. Does that seem fair? I don't want to be so expensive that nobody wants to employ me but I also need to make enough to be worth the childcare costs etc etc

thanks

Re: Locuming

Pengul — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:05:18 GMT

Thank you, you are all so helpful. I have another question though........what hourly rate should I charge (being that I will be newly qualified)? any ideas?

Re: Locuming

Caro Laithwaite VN — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 07:10:02 GMT

If you go self emp you have 3 months from the start to register for NI and tax if you dont you risk a fine. Other wise it is as has been said but propper pre start advice from an accountant would be reccomended as best.

Re: Locuming

Catherine Goulding — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:49:18 GMT

The more you do yourself, the more money you get to keep. The tax office are really helpful too. I know of people who take all their stuff in for them to deal with instead of using an accountant - its free help and they then can't turn arond and say its wrong!! Really easy to do yourself though, just remember to keep a little bit of money back every month for your tax and the rest is a doddle.

Re: Locuming

Pengul — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 01:35:50 GMT

When I qulaify, I have been offered a locum position at the practice I currently train in . They wont put me on their books (PAYE) so I have to sort my tax, NI and student loan out myself. Would it be worth registering as self employed and getting an accountant to do all the hard work? How easy is it? I dont want to get lumbered with a giant tax / NI bill at the end of the year. can anyone help?

Re: Locuming

Sal the 1st — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:55:14 GMT

[quote user="Alana Dent"]

I work as self employed. I contacted the tax office which gives you a unique tax number. Then you can invoice the practices directly, and at the end of the year fill in your own tax return. You can offset petrol, food, uniform etc on your tax return. I paid someone £100 online to do mine for me - totally worth it!
National Insurance part of Governemnt send you a letter saying how much you should pay into that as and when you need to.

[/quote]

yup thats what I did - its not hard. If I can do it it shouldnt be a problem for most people

Re: Locuming

Alana Dent — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:51:01 GMT

From what i have heard umbrella companys are hard work - and the recruitment agency your with does not have the best repuation of them all.

Good luck!!!

Re: Locuming

SmegSlayer — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:57:42 GMT

When i used rig in 2007 they used eden and all i had to do was fill in their form with all my bank details and then fax them my time sheet each week. they also still owe me some money