AVOID! AVOID! AVOID! Team Locum are complete scam artists. They will try to book you for below market rates. They are liars who do not care about your profession just there own booking fee.
My best advice to locums DO NOT use this company. They prey on vulnerable newly qualified locums.
DO NOT REGISTER with them.
Very unprofessional for me and my colleagues that have used the agency. They are dishonest and have a 'preferred' locum list, meaning they dont provide opportunities to all locums but only who they deem to be on there hierarchy of a list. Untrustworthy and dishonest with bookings. I would recommend looking at the other agencies before even considering TL as a last resort.
Everyone is always really nice and really helpful.
Unethical and dishonest in my personal experience. I will never use them again and would like to see them politely withdraw from optics.
Worst agency to work through. Always trying to mess you about.
7
**Newly Qualified Pharmacists - A Warning** Please do not use this company and read below. It could save you!
Now as a more senior locum with many years experience I feel it only fair to prevent you from making the long term mistake of many of us by using this company to seek work. (No matter how worried you are about starting out!)
After using the company for a while and locuming for a few years learning my way, I finally saw the truth of what was happening:
- This company does not work for the pharmacists to secure you good and fair rates. It works to please the larger companies by aiming to book pharmacists at the lowest rate possible and also secure their own booking fee per shift while doing so.
- Even if a company has offered the shift out at a better rate, TL will try to offer you initial emails at a lower rate in the hope you think this is the going rate and that you will not negotiate. (*All shifts agreements are up for negotiation and the initial email is just a starting point!) They may even tell you there is no negotiation, as other pharmacists who do not know better start to take those shifts. These shifts will also be advertised elsewhere for a better rate!
- I myself experienced being called directly and asked to cover shifts either on the day or in places no other pharmacist clearly wanted to go to for poor rates, as they knew I was at the time naive and said it would "Be a favour" or "look good for future bookings with them" ...I'm ashamed to admit I look a few of these feeling it was a good thing at the time, but now realise I was just being used just to cover work for cheap.
Overall my genuine advice would be please do not use this agency. As a Professional Pharmacist and technically a business/ contractor you will be better served elsewhere.
Every shift is up for negotiation, no matter what anyone tells you. It is a business negotiation!
Do not be afraid to lose a booking if the appropriate rates will not be paid.There will always be plenty of others.
Full paid mileage and paid lunches are allowed!
Talk to fellow positive locums about negotiations and rates, they will help you!
Team Locum has the one of lowest rates in comparison to all the other agencies. The rates are often lower than the standard and when confronted they tell you that it is the 'client' that has set the rate. Well if that was true then the other agencies would have the same rates but they don't. Also the staff can lie and tell you that the coordinator won't agree to a higher rate when they didn't even ask. AVOID!
Always found them to be professional and hardworking, even when the pandemic started and the work in optometry slowed down they seemed to genuinely care and want to help us at all times
Excellent service! Friendly staff, always provide solid bookings with reputable clients. Five-star agency in every aspect!
I have been using Team Locum for a number of years have always been happy with the service from all the members of staff , My main contact is Kyrie , he always very proffesional and helpful :)
Excellent recruitment agency. I dealt with Chris from the start who arranged 2 interviews for me at reputable pharmacists. No pressure from him at all and i took my time and decided on the one which better suited my needs. Chris helped throughout the process and was always available with knowledge and advice. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend
Not even derserving of 1 star in my opinion.
If your looking for first class pathological liars then join Team Locum. You will be very lucky to be offered a fair rate and work location with this agency. They will say one thing to clients and another to the stores.
If you want your reputation ruined via the large companies that need Locum work, then by all means use the agency. They will cancel bookings and blame YOU to the company and blame the COMPANY to the clients. Sneaky.
I first registered with Team Locum as a Locum Optometrist back in 2017 and I've never had a problem dealing with them. Anytime there was an issue with being double booked etc. Team Locum always fought to make sure I was paid as the problem was usually on the optician's booking side. My main dealings have been with Paul Jeffs and Kyrie Samuels and both have always made a big effort in making their emails as personable as possible and making sure I felt looked after! Thanks
Highly recommended. Met my locum needs to the full. Good choice of work locations with rates that more than matched other agencies. Friendly office staff that sorted out my accommodation and other locum queries.
Great agency! Secured a new permanent position as an Optical Assistant through them. Chris was great throughout the process and kept me fully informed from initial contact to job offer. He helped me with interview techniques as i hadn't had an interview for a number of years.
Loving my new job.
Would recommend to anyone.
Friendly efficient service for locum optometrists .They text a reminder of your commitment the day before and you dont have to contact the practice at all.Best rates of pay and the block booking system with accom paid is a brilliant idea.I thoroughly recommend teamlocum.
Excellent locum agency. Highly recommend. Don t listen to these appalling reviews!! Since being qualified, I have had nothing but support and professionalism by this A team. Kyrie and Paul have always gone the extra mile as well as other members of staff I ve had the pleasure to work with. If you re looking for an agency that will get you the rates, root for your success and listen to your needs - sign up already.
After applying for a full time position through the agency, I was well looked by Chris who supported me through every step of the way from interview to the nitty gritty issues such as holiday and start dates! What a fantastic service!
app.teamlocum.co.uk
