01 Nov Compliance Process for HCA, RN, & Care Worker Agency Jobs
If you’ve ever applied for an agency healthcare job, you’ll notice one phrase pop up over and over, and over again: compliance process. The compliance process is a crucial part of clearing candidates to work. UK healthcare hiring law mandates that agencies and healthcare institutions keep copies of certain records to ascertain whether they can safely work with vulnerable people. After all, these are people’s lives we’re working with.
Compliance processes vary by healthcare setting, how specialised a role is, whether a temporary or “permanent” placement, and sometimes, a job’s band level. For instance, a band eight CICU nurse would have to undergo a much more comprehensive compliance process than a band three residential care worker. All roles, no matter your band, have a set of standard compliance documentation you must submit (such as a DBS check and clinical references).
Understanding the varying compliance documentation needed for different roles can be tricky if you’re not well-versed in healthcare recruitment. Not to worry, Proximity Healthcare has put together a guide on the compliance process for agency jobs in the UK. Let’s discuss what you need for agency work.
An Overview of the Compliance Process
Before we outline what documentation different roles require, we should fill in some context around why some roles have more stringent compliance requirements than others. The process starts as soon as you fill in our preregistration form. You’ll notice that we ask about your fitness to work, whether you have completed a DBS check, whether you have ever lived outside of the UK, your next of kin details, and two clinical references.
When we receive your enquiry, we’ll call you back to ask about your right to work, your DBS check, a copy of your CV, proof of training, and references. After that, we ask that you send us the compliance documents specific to your role.
For the purpose of this post, we’ll discuss the compliance documents needed for HCA, RN, and care/support worker roles.
General Compliance Documents
Generally, we ask that you submit:
- The right to work: you must have a passport, visa, residence card (EU countries), or BRP / residence permit.
- Recent Photo: An ID/passport-size photo so we can identify you and use it for your ID badge. (Please ensure this is a clear head and shoulder photo with a neutral background. You may smile.)
- Proof of address: not older than three months (utility bill, tenancy agreement, or bank statement).
- Proof of national insurance (P45 or P60 form, recent payslip, HMRC letter, or national insurance card).
- Valid mandatory online training (safeguarding, fire safety, infection prevention and control).
- Valid mandatory practical training (basic life support, manual handling). Candidates with practical training are of high value.
- Immunisation history: vaccination certificates for Hep B Titre levels, TB, varicella, rubella and measles.
- Child and adult DBS certificate.
- Two clinical references: references of anyone you reported to on a higher band than you. This must cover the past three years and have a work email attached.
- Your CV. This must include your professional history over the past 10 years.
If you’re a general nurse, you must also provide your NMC pin, enhanced DBS check, and proof of nursing education (such as a degree or proof of NHS or other training).
If you’re an RMN, you must also provide proof of breakaway training. If you don’t have valid mandatory or breakaway training (for mental health workers), don’t fret! Proximity Healthcare has partnered with various training providers to offer discounted certification. Reach out to us to find out more.
What Happens After I Submit My Compliance Documents?
After you submit your compliance documents, we’ll review them and create a candidate profile for you. Your candidate profile includes everything that makes you compliant and fit to work in a healthcare setting. We use this profile to recommend you for healthcare work.
If all goes smoothly, we can clear RGNs, HCAs, and care workers in 14 days or sooner. After you’re cleared to work, we’ll ask you to complete an online interview. During the interview, we’ll discuss how we might best place you, your ideal shift schedule, and how much you would prefer to be compensated.
Ready to start your agency work adventure? Proximity Healthcare is one of the UK’s best healthcare recruitment agencies. Our team has over three decades of compliance and recruitment expertise. Contact us today to discover your next best healthcare role!