Veterinary Recruitment Agency
Wednesday, 22 March 2023 03:33 GMT
Home and Away: Locum accomodation
One of the major downsides of being a veterinary locum is the uncertainty of the locum accommodation. Most practices are well equipped and used to provide good locum accommodation. However, some of fail to provide clean and suitable equipped locum accommodation.What can you expect during your locum position and what are your responsibilities towards the landlord?
Discuss your requirements prior to your arrival:
Make sure that you negotiate your accommodation requirements as a part of your pay package:
The locum accommodation should be a fully-furnished, at least a single bedroom accommodation, either house or unit in good condition, clean and in good working order. If this is not available in some areas, reasonably-priced Bed and Breakfast Accommodation with cooking and laundry facilities would be acceptable. Where the locum brings dependents, additional bedrooms will be required.
Other things that should be provided include: clean linen, cutlery and kitchenware. The accommodation should be stocked with these basic necessities: soap, toilet paper, coffee and tea, in order to provide the locum with basic cooking facilities.
Practices should provide written instructions on any household equipment (e.g. the microwave, household alarm systems) and give information about rubbish collection, the location of the fuse box, and a list of telephone numbers for emergencies. Some community information (location of supermarkets, petrol stations, suitable pubs and clubs, local areas of interest) and a town map would be useful to provide as a reference.
Ask the manager in charge where you can pick up the keys and discuss security questions, in particular if you are expected to sleep at the practice or if you are working night shifts!
Code of conduct by locums:
Please advise your practice manager of your arrival time and transport. Ask for a pick up from the local train station if you have no own means of transport.
Please also check with the persons involved if pets are allowed and advise them well in advance if you are traveling with your partner or with children!
We expect any locum that works through us to keep their locum accommodation clean and presentable at all times. Any broken items should be reported to the practice manager.
Likewise when leaving the locum accommodation make sure that it is clean and tidy and advice the practice when you intend to vacate your room.
Car and Transport:
Most of the practices are either providing you with a suitable car during your placement or give you a car / transport / petrol allowance. However, this has to be negotiated and confirmed by both parties prior to the commitment date.
Speak to your practice:
The locum accommodation is ultimately the responsibility of the practice/ employer. We are more than happy to address any shortcomings of the parties involved.