07.08.2024
Temporary Recruitment in Healthcare
Healthcare is arguably the most important employment sector, helping to keep us healthy and well so we can live life to the fullest. In the UK, we can be guilty of taking advantage of our beloved NHS, and the doctors, nurses, GPs, and pharmacists who keep the operation (pun intended) running smoothly.
It’s a high-pressure industry and needs a lot of skilled workers. That’s why many companies rely on temporary recruitment to fill gaps and provide the care that patients need.
The Importance of Temporary Workers for Healthcare
If you visit a hospital, either to visit family or for something more serious, you’ll see a lot of doctors and nurses rushing around in organised chaos. It’s a hectic job, and one that takes toughness and a quality administration team.
But if suddenly their teams are down a few members, suddenly it becomes too much for those remaining to handle. Illness, holidays, retirement, and other absences can throw a spanner in the works, even if notice is given.
Sometimes there will be an increase in patients, such as during flu seasons, that can put added pressure on healthcare teams. Your hospital or clinic may even gain a patient with a rare or complicated illness or condition that your regular staff aren’t equipped to handle.
In any of these scenarios, bringing in temporary healthcare workers will keep things running smoothly no matter what happens.
When your staff are stressed or struggling, it will have an impact on your patients. It’s important to dedicate the right amount of time to the sick or injured, but when you have to do extra work, this becomes impossible. Temporary workers help take the pressure off, improving things for your permanent team and your patients. The benefits don’t stop there either.
Advantages of Using Temporary Workers in Healthcare
There are a number of reasons why healthcare companies use temporary workers.
The biggest advantage is cost savings. Hospitals and clinics have tight budgets to stick to, meaning they can’t hire large teams of permanent workers. If there isn’t enough work to go around, this can be major a waste of money and resources too.
Having access to temporary workers means you can hire extra staff as and when you need them. They won’t need permanent salaries, and can be on a fixed or flexible contract, whichever suits your needs best.
The traditional hiring process isn’t cheap either. By the time you’ve posted the job listings, screened CVs, and arranged interviews, you’ll be out of pocket and have gone an extra few months without the staff you need. Hiring temporary workers helps you immediately, especially if you go through a trusted recruitment company like the ones we work with.
Unlike a new hire, a temporary worker doesn’t need training. They will be experts at the tasks at hand already. Training is not only time-consuming, draining the time of your staff, but it can be expensive too depending on the resources needed.
It isn’t just doctors and nurses either. Receptionists, administrators, even managers may be needed to help keep you up and running. Some temporary recruitment companies may only supply healthcare professionals but will still be able to help you fill other roles if you need advice.
Last but not least, flexibility is a key benefit of using temporary workers. As we mentioned earlier, temporary workers can fill gaps while permanent workers are unavailable or be brought in to provide extra support. Sometimes you may need someone skilled in a specific part of healthcare, such as intensive care or an uncommon operation. When this is the case, you’ll always be able to find the right people for the job.
Disadvantages of Using Temporary Workers in Healthcare
Bringing in temporary workers can have some disadvantages, but most are myths that are easily dispelled.
Some business owners assume that temporary workers won’t have the same skills and experience as permanent hires. This couldn’t be further from the truth. If they have worked in healthcare for a long time, temporary workers will have packed CVs and experience working in multiple locations.
They’ll also be used to adapting quickly to a new environment. When you hire a new permanent member of staff, it can take them time to get used to their co-workers and their assigned tasks. Temporary workers know how to hit the ground running; they’re there to do a job and will be ready to do it well from day one.
Of course, when your team works well together, efficiency is improved. Healthcare staff develop strong working relationships, making them work better and provide better care for their patients. Temporary workers will be new faces but can still be valued members of the team. When you select your new temporary hires, personality is just as important as skill, and a temporary recruitment company will keep that in mind when they send you candidates to choose from.
Recruitment Finance for Temporary Recruitment Companies
If you provide healthcare workers for hospitals, clinics, care homes, and more, it’s vital to use recruitment finance solutions. You’re under pressure to provide the best workers, but also ensure that they are paid on time, every time.
Our service includes:
- 100% Recruitment Funding
- Credit Control & Protection
Our solutions will even help you improve the relationship you have with your clients. They’re under a lot of pressure to find the right candidates and are turning to you with exact demands. If you not only provide the best workers but are also quick at communicating and your invoices are always spot on, you’ll build a lot of trust.
For a recruitment company, reputation is everything. When your existing clients trust you, they’ll sing your praises and continue working with you in the future. This over time will make you the go-to provider of temporary workers for the healthcare industry.