Starting as a locum nurse - Advice please?

RE: Starting as a locum nurse - Advice please?

nicolajane — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 21:19:34 GMT

Thanks for your feedback, its great to hear how positive you feel about locuming. I was wondering whether you still come out with a decent wage in comparison to what you earn before these companies take there cut? Do you mind telling me why you choose all 3 companies? x

RE: Starting as a locum nurse - Advice please?

nicolajane — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 21:16:47 GMT

Thanks for your reply, its exactly what ive been suspicious of and wanted to know more about. Most people seem to rate these companies and i do see why there may be benefits but I think I would rather manage things on my own. I dont like the idea of loosing such a huge chunk of the wage I work hard for. Obviously tax and NI must be paid but once is enough! Also weary because 'umbrella company' is surely just a euphemism for a 'pyramid scheme' which rings alarm bells.

Good to hear different points of view though, people must be having good experiences as well or they wouldn't keep using them.

RE: Starting as a locum nurse - Advice please?

Kirsty RVN — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 22:00:18 GMT

Hello

I have just finished 8 months of locum work. I was on £15 an hour. I think the going rate for locums is £13-15 an hour.

I would use a word of caution when using umbrella companies though!!!

I was working nights on a 7 on 7 off at £15 per hour and should have been paid £1260 gross income for that week. I actually got paid £600 so worked out my hour pay was £8 per hour no more than a permanent job without the employee benefits.

If I was permanent on the same rate and hours I would have got paid £1060 a fortnight so that's a massive deduction from the umbrella company.

Umbrella companies charge a fee to do the payroll but they also deduct employers national insurance as well as employee tax and national insurance so you are paying for two different type of tax that they don't tell you about when you sign up. So basically you are paying the company's tax from your earnings.

You are an employee of the umbrella company so employer tax/ national insurance makes no logical sense. They are exploiting a loop hole in the system and have been advised that you should not be paying it but once they have deducted the money it is difficult to get it back so I would avoid umbrella companies.

Also due to change in legislation you are no longer allowed to offset your expenses against your tax and if a umbrella company will let you they are not compliant with HMRC legislation so you could have a huge tax bill.

I unfortunately found out the hard way and lost a lot of money through locum work and would recommend self employed way which is what a lot of my nurse friends do unless you want to pay two tax and national insurance contributions so it's not worth it.

Kirstie

RE: Starting as a locum nurse - Advice please?

Penny Gilbert RVN — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 16:55:24 GMT

Hey I have been locuming for just over a month now and I am so happy I have done so the avarege rate is £13-£15 an hour obviously once you have got more experience then your rate goes up. Now with weekends it depends on the practice you are with if you take the job knowing you would have to work say 1 in 3 weekends then you don't really charge extra however if you take a Locum job and then get asked to do the odd weekend cover I would charge more personally. OOH I would defo charge more if I were doing nights I would charge about £18-£22 an hour With the agents I use 2 I used Carlton professional and Gardner lewellyn they are both amazing and so friendly and they go above and beyond to try and find the perfect place for you. I am very fussy with what type of practice I want to work in and they are so helpful. I also use an umbrella company I4 very good and very cheap!! paid on time every time and get really good benefits. I would say defo work under a umbrella company for first don't go into a limited company as you don't know if you would like it. I absolutely love it at the mOn my way! to thou.