Compliance FAQs

Availability

• 1. How do I let you know about my availability for work?
  There are a number of ways you can let us know your availability. The best way is to phone up your recruiter directly; this way they can discuss suitable placements straight away. Otherwise you can submit your availability to work via our online form
• 2. Can you offer me full time hours as a locum?
  We receive hundreds of jobs daily from all over the UK; this gives you the flexibility to pick and choose the jobs to suit your lifestyle. Let our recruiters know what you are willing to work, and then they can discuss suitable roles for you.
• 3. How long are the assignments?
  This is tricky, as every job is unique. It could be a number of hours to a number of months. When browsing through the jobs, this information is available, so you can rest assured this is firmly in your control.
• 4. How does the placement process work?
  The bookings process varies from Division to another, and one client to another. Please contact your recruiter who will be more than happy to explain the relevant process to you.

Employment Experience/Right to Work

• 1. Why do I have to provide my original documents to HCL?
  When it comes to compliance, everything we do is to meet legislative, home office, professional registration body requirements and regulations, NHS Employers standards and contractual requirements as set out by the frameworks/Contracts HCL have signed up to. This requires us to ensure original documentation is viewed and verified during the compliance process.
• 2. Can my Clinical Interview be done at the compliance event? (relevant to Nursing only)
  The clinical interview is conducted by one of the Nursing team and will require approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour of your time. Due to the nature of compliance events and the number of candidates attending versus time restraints, it is not practical to undertake clinical interviews during these sessions. If we are unable to conduct the clinical interview on the day, then this will typically be arranged for a mutually convenient time on another date, at one of our offices or via Skype or Facetime.

Criminal Record Check

• 1. All my bills and bank statements are online now, what else can I use as proof of address?
  Please see the following link for an approved list of documents for DBS applications:
  www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check/documents-the-applicant-must-provide
• 2. If I am on the DBS update service why do I have to show you my original DBS certificate and proofs of address?

  To enable us to utilise the status check on the DBS update service we have to comply with the following statement:

  You can check the security features of a DBS certificate to make sure it’s genuine. You must be able to say ‘yes’ to the following questions before you carry out a status check. If you answer ‘no’ to any question you can’t carry out a status check:

  • have you seen the applicant’s original certificate?
  • have you checked their ID to confirm their identity?
  • do you have the applicant’s permission?
  • are you legally entitled to the same level of DBS certificate – standard or enhanced?
  • does the DBS certificate only contain the exact workforce that you are entitled to know about for the role you are recruiting for?
• 3. Why do I need to provide an Overseas Police Check?
  The DBS in the UK can’t access criminal records held overseas and therefore a DBS check may not provide a complete view of an applicant’s criminal record if they have lived outside the UK. If you have been outside of the UK for 6 months or more, continuously in the past 5 years, then an overseas police check/s will be required. Please follow this link for more information about how to gain this: www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants

Work Health Assessment and Immunisations

• 1. Why do I have to provide my proof of immunisation / occupational health records to HCL?
  Dependant on the occupational health requirements of the role/s you will be working in, your immunisation history / proof of immunity may be required, as per the most recent Department of Health guidelines.
• 2. What happens if I don’t have the necessary occupational health records to prove my immunity?
  If you do not hold the necessary evidence then we may be able to offer phlebotomy and/or occupational health services at one of our compliance events or HCL offices, and/or offer advice regarding alternate options.
• 3. If I have my bloods taken by a qualified HCL phlebotomist how long will it take for the results to come back?
  Typically HCL will receive a copy of the blood results within 2-3 working days. The results are sent directly to the relevant division and these are stored in accordance with data protection on your file.
• 4. Can I have a copy of the blood results?

  Yes, you can however there is a cost.

  HCL incur the cost of the blood tests as we require proof of your immunity to complete the compliance requirements to enable us to offer you work. However, should you wish to have a copy for your own records then there will be a cost incurred. Please contact your recruiter to discuss further.

• 5. If I don’t have a record of my BCG vaccination or the necessary evidenced proof of the BCG scar, where can I get my BCG scar sighted and verified?
  Your GP, or an occupational health nurse or physician who is deemed competent and has undertaken the relevant training in viewing BCG scars can sight and verify your BCG scar for you. Alternately a member of HCL’s clinical team may be able to offer this service at one of our compliance events or HCL offices. This should be arranged with your recruiter in advance to confirm availability.

Training

• 1. How come my mandatory training with the NHS isn’t sufficient for HCL? (e.g. NHS e-portfolio)

  If you produce training certificate/s from another provider then these must clearly indicate your name, the training dates and validity, who the trainer and training provider was, and (where applicable) stipulate that the training was either practical or conducted ‘face to face’, and/or in line with Core Skills Training Framework (as managed by Skills for Health)

  Please note: Additional validation may also be required if training certificates from external providers are supplied. You will be informed if this is the case.

• 2. What if I don’t have any training certificates, or if I cannot get copies of training certificates from previous training sessions I may have attended?
  If you are unable to provide valid training certificates confirming that you have completed all of the required mandatory practical training as required, then your recruiter or compliance officer will arrange for you to attend one of our training sessions.
• 3. Can I get copies of my mandatory certificates from HCL to confirm that I have done the training?

  Yes, these can be requested directly from the division whom you have registered with.

  HCL incur the cost of the training to complete the compliance requirements that enable us to offer you work. However, should you wish to have a copy of your certificates for your own records then there will be a cost incurred. Please contact your recruiter to discuss further.

• 4. Are your trainers qualified?
  Yes, all of our HCL trainers are clinically qualified and/or certified trainers. They have completed BLS Train the trainer training and attend annual training updates.

Payment

• 1. What are the rates?
  Due to the vast number of professions we cover and variety of positions within each, it would be best to ask your recruiter for the most update to date information that is relevant to your profession. We do also provide information regarding rates on the jobs we post.
• 2. How and when do I get paid?
  This can vary on the type of work you do and where you are working. The timesheet process can also vary depending on this. Please contact your recruiter who will be more than happy to explain the process and confirm what needs to be done (and when) in relation to your booking, to ensure prompt payment.
• 3. Can you recommend an Umbrella Company?
  Are unable to make recommendations, however we have a list of umbrella companies that have passed our internal compliance checks. Please speak with your recruiter who will be able to provide you with this information.
• 4. How does IR35 affect me?
  Read our latest IR35 blog here. If you have any more questions regarding IR35 that haven’t been answered in the blog then please get in touch and we’ll put you through to a member of our finance team.

Professional Indemnity / Indemnity Insurance

• 1. What is professional indemnity and why do I need it?

  The UK Government introduced professional indemnity insurance requirement as part of implementing European Union legislation for healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals must declare to their professional bodies that they have professional indemnity insurance to cover the services they provide (social workers in England are exempt from this requirement). The requirement has been introduced so that if a service user is harmed in some way because of the negligence of a healthcare professional, the service user will be able to recover any compensation they may be entitled to.

  Typically healthcare professionals and social workers will either work in an employed environment where the place of work will indemnify them, and / or if they undertake self-employed work, they will have already made their own professional indemnity arrangements. However, some workers may need to take steps to make sure that they have a professional indemnity arrangement in place for placements where they are not indemnified by the place of work.

Compliance process / duration

• 1. How soon will I be able to start working?
  This is greatly determined by how quickly you can provide the relevant documents to meet the compliance requirements as set by the Frameworks that we comply to, and Clients whom we supply staff to. Your recruiter and/or a member of the compliance team will provide you with a comprehensive list of requirements and will be available to support you through the compliance process.
• 2. What will happen once of my compliance requirements are completed?
  Your recruiter will get in touch to inform you that your file is fully compliance and to discuss your availability. We’ll update our database and discuss suitable opportunities with you and/or explain the next step of the process with regards to bookings which are relevant to your specialty. So keep an eye out or any calls or emails from us!
• 3. What can I expect when I attend one of your compliance events?
  You should expect to spend up to 2.5 hours with the compliance team dependant on your requirements. During this time your original documents will be verified and copied, you will have a short face to face meeting with one of the team and training and Occupational health services will be available, should you require these.

Work opportunities

• 1. Where can you offer me work?
  We work with hospitals and Local Authorities all over the UK; so you can find jobs in all corners of the UK.
• 2. Which NHS Trusts do you supply to?
  We supply to hundreds of NHS trusts, so this list would be very long. If you already know the hospital you want to work for, the best thing to do is get in touch with one of our recruiters who will be able to discuss open opportunities which are suitable.
• 3. Does HCL have offices abroad?
  Yes, we have a sister company in Australia, as well as a satellite office in Italy. However our offices in the UK are able to help candidates from all over the world – with some recruiters being fluent in other languages.
• 4. Can I work through them and what is the application process?
  If you are looking to work in Australia, then it would be best for you to contact HCA directly: www.healthcareaustralia.com.au/jobseekers/overseas-applicants/nursing-in-australia/
• 5. Can I work for more than one agency?
  Yes, however maintaining a good relationship via one agency can potentially open up more placement opportunities.

Still have unanswered questions? Fear not, get in touch with us today and we will get back to you as soon as we can.