10 May Choosing a Healthcare Recruitment Agency: A Guide for RMNs
Choosing a healthcare recruitment agency as a registered mental health nurse can be quite an endeavour. IBIS World, a market research firm, announced that as of 2023, there were 1107 agencies in the United Kingdom alone, only to increase in the coming years. Plus, healthcare staff shortages across the industry have forced the NHS’ reliance on various agencies to staff their vacancies. The gaping hole in the industry is only exacerbated by the UK’s ageing population. So, with so many agencies vying for your attention, how do you go about choosing an agency that will work for you? Read on for tips on choosing a healthcare recruitment agency for mental health nurses.
How to Choose a Healthcare Hiring Agency
Here are some of our favourite tips for choosing a healthcare recruitment agency if you’re a registered mental health nurse!
Location, Location, Location
Location is probably one of the largest factors that influence what agency you’ll opt for. You wouldn’t choose an agency with placements in Yorkshire if you wanted to work in Manchester, right? If you want to travel throughout the UK, choose an agency that operates throughout the UK, like Proximity Healthcare. You could do an array of short-term placements for a year or two to travel our beautiful country while you nurse.
Structure
You should decide what sort of structure you value in a recruitment agency, like whether you’d like to work with solely one recruiter or a team. If you value backup, a team might be better. They can guide you through the compliance process, the DBS check process, and advise you on interview etiquette.
Support
A good agency is there for their nurses, full stop. Your agency should be available even after hours to help you with emergencies and settle disputes.
Pay
Your agency should negotiate for pay on your behalf, so you don’t have to liaise uncomfortably with your future employer. Of course, wages differ by area, setting, the sort of care you’ll provide, and what pay structure it’s under (day, night, weekend, etc.)
Pay can also vary by sector, so if you would like to work in the private sector, be sure to mention that in your onboarding interview.
Reputation and certification
If you’re unsure about an agency, you can always ask them for candidate references, testimonials, or what certifications they hold. Every agency should be at least REC or CYBER Essentials certified, preferably both.
If you have questions about nurse agency work in the UK, be sure to contact Proximity Healthcare! We can answer any question, big or small, about your nurse agency job endeavours.