1. Dr Ajay Sharma

2.  Explore different practices and areas  Gain skills and experience while finding the perfect job/prefect practice  Flexibility  Income source if nothing sorted before completion

3.  Start organising well before completion of training  Look out for emails/flyers for locum work  Documents before starting work ◦ CCT ◦ GP Register inclusion ◦ PCT Performers list inclusion ◦ MDU/MPS subscription ◦ CV focused on locuming

4.  Get Equipped ◦ Doctor Bag ◦ Mileage log book ◦ Smartphone/PDA/Diary ◦ Sat nav /A to Z ◦ Business card  Financial stuff ◦ Self Employed / Limited company ◦ Accountant services ◦ Income Protection ◦ Bank Account/Cheque book/Pay in slips ◦ Pension forms/paying into NHS pension

5.  Keep it short  Essential information ◦ GMC Number ◦ PCT Performers list inclusion ◦ Contact details  Clinical systems used  Other information like CHS/DFFP/Minor surgery etc  Referees

6.  Emails ◦ VTS Coordinator ◦ Practice manager ◦ Colleagues  BMJ careers / GP magazine  Locum Agencies  Send CV with cover letter to practices in target area  Networking ◦ Pennine YPG meeting ◦ ? Website for locums ◦ Be available on phone/email easily

7.  Establish details of work ◦ Date/timings/length of session/consultation times/no of patients ◦ Clinical system used ◦ Visits/Admin work/On call ◦ Rates  Get confirmation in writing and acknowledge booking it  Book work in diary/calendar immediately

8.  Talk to Practice manager/Trainer/Other locums to know local rates  Establish your rate ◦ Hourly rate ◦ Sessional rate ◦ Day rate ◦ Extra work – visits/on call/admin etc  Negotiation skills  Never post rates on public forums (anticompetitive)

9.  Locum Pack  Common stuff like ◦ Med3, Med5 ◦ Investigation forms ◦ Letter heads ◦ Dictaphone/tapes  Computer / clinical system login details  Few phone numbers ◦ Reception ◦ Admin ◦ Practice manager  Patient/Staff toilets  Tea/Coffee room  Fire alarms/exits  Panic alarms/button

10.  Invoicing ◦ Last working week ◦ Computerised ◦ Clear details of the sessions/ work done, amount to be paid, bank account details ◦ BACS/Cheque payments ◦ Softwares like pennyperfect/Office accounting/Sage accounting  Pension forms ◦ GP Locum A form

11.  Set time aside for managing your locum practice  Invoicing  Collate GP Locum A forms  Complete GP locum form B  Pension contribution  Keep all documentation organised for tax and pension purpose

12.  Gross payments  Set aside 35-40% for tax purposes  Pay NI contributions by direct debit  Record of all business expenses (original receipts)  Keep Mileage logs  Accountant

13.  NHS Appraisals Toolkit  Reflective log of educational events/courses/meetings  Significant events/Audits/complaints  Appraisal  Book courses/education events in your calendar to avoid clashing with session bookings

14.  Block days in Diary/calendar well in advance  Essential to destress yourselves

15.  Isolation  Appraisal difficulties ◦ Patient feedback ◦ Peer reviews ◦ Audits ◦ Prescribing data  PCT communication  No Sickness/maternity benefits

16.  Register as Self Employed ◦ http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/selfemployed/iwtregister- as-self-employed.htm http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/selfemployed/iwtregister- as-self-employed.htm  NHS Pensions – GP Locums ◦ http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/2665.aspx http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/2665.aspx  National Association of Sessional GPs ◦ http://www.nasgp.org.uk/ http://www.nasgp.org.uk/