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Responsible Pharmacist Notice
When working as a locum you MUST display a Responsible Pharmacist Notice.
Lateness
It is very important to be punctual. It causes our customers serious problems if you are late because they lose business. The staff have to fill in paperwork to explain how much business they lost, and of course it leaves you “behind” for the rest of the day, especially if it is a busy shop. Whilst we understand that some instances of lateness are unavoidable, we would ask that you take the following steps to avoid lateness and at least mitigate the damage when it happens.
- Call the shop the day before to confirm the booking.
- Double check the directions and parking facilities to avoid delays on the morning.
- Aim to arrive at the shop 10 minutes before you are due to start.
If you realise that you will be late call the Pharmaseeker’s office to let us know, so that we can contact the customer. We will take your call even if it is early in the morning, or at weekend. We maintain “out of office hours” telephone coverage to deal with such emergencies. If you get the voicemail, please leave a message and we will call you back.
Pharmacist Attire
You should wear smart clothing when working as a locum. Wear a suit or smart casual with a pharmacist’s white coat and wear smart footwear.
MUR and Repeat Dispensing accreditations
If you don’t have these accreditations yet, we strongly advise you make it a high priority to take them as most companies only want locums who have them, very soon we will only be able to book you if you have these accreditations. Please send copies of the certificates to us by e-mail.
Call the shop the day before
When we make a booking for you we will confirm all the details either by text or post. It is good practice to call the shop the day before to confirm the booking.
Insurance
It is advisable that Locums have their own Professional Indemnity Insurance and some of our customers insist on this. Click here to be taken to the PDA's website http://www.the-pda.org where you can purchase a policy online. Please email a copy of your insurance certificate to us when you receive it.
Payment
You will be paid directly from the Pharmacy, not from Pharmaseekers. We will tell you how to claim your payment when the booking is made. We will remind you in your diary and on your weekly reminder. Some companies ask that you fax a Locum Invoice to them. Others ask that you input your details onto a computer when in the shop. Likewise, some companies will post you a cheque and others will pay directly into your bank account via BACs. Either way, you should receive your payment within 2 weeks of working. If it is late please contact a member of the Pharmaseekers team and we will chase it up for you. You can keep a record in your on-line diary when you have received payment for the day.
Mileage
When we make a booking for you, we will advise you of the rate of pay and the mileage rate. Some companies pay full mileage and other companies pay after 20 or 40 miles. The mileage rates vary from company to company from 20p per mile up to 40p per mile.
Self Employment
As a locum you are self-employed and you are responsible for your own tax and national insurance. There can be significant tax savings if you work as a Limited Company. If you need any assistance with these matters, you could contact one of these accountants:-
Kay Flanagan of MacMahon Leggate Chartered Accountants on 01282 415172 or admin@macmahonleggate.co.uk
Kevin Carey of McDade Roberts. 01772 717110 or kevincarey@mcdaderoberts.co.uk
Both of these accountants specialise in dealing with locum pharmacists. Please quote Pharmaseekers. They offer a free initial consultation to all Pharmaseekers registered Locums.
Permanent Employment
If, at any stage, you are considering reverting to full-time employment, we can also provide assistance in this area. Through our partner agency, Pharmfinders, we can provide advice on opportunities available with a variety of employers in the permanent employment market. Contact us in the first instance and we will arrange a free consultation with an experienced pharmacist who is able to discuss your options.
Holidays
Work tends to be quieter in November and December. With less work available, this would be an ideal time to book a well deserved break; there are lots of nice places like India, Thailand and Bali which are great for this time of year!
Many of our Locums are recognising the good sense of taking holidays during the quieter time in November and December. We think that’s a great idea, be here when the work’s here, on holiday when it’s not! Well it might not be that simple but the principle is good, we suggest you try it if you don’t already. We have found that work picks up again around Christmas time and into January.
If you are going to be working in these quiet months, it is best to let us book ahead for you as far as possible to ensure you are fully booked.
And finally... If you have any queries at all, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you.
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