Things to know
Below is a large amount of information that is extremely useful and important to think about if you are considering a locum position in the UK.
Please use the below links if you wish to skip through to a specific section:
HPC Registration
In order to work as a professional through Countrywide Medical Selection in the UK it is a mandatory requirement to obtain state registration with the Health Professions Council.
In the case of OTs and physiotherapists, this is because prior to becoming HPC registered, an OT or Physiotherapist can only work as an Assistant and these positions are not as abundant as Basic Grade or Senior posts. You can obtain application forms to register with the Health Professions Council by downloading one from
www.hpc-uk.org.
Once your application has been received it will be checked to make sure it is complete. Any incomplete applications will be returned.
You will be sent an acknowledgement letter with a reference number that you will need to use when contacting the HPC.
Your application will be sent to the HPC specific registrant assessors who will consider each application on an individual basis.
Assessors can only base their decisions on the information provided by you, your referees, training institutions and any education,
training or experience you provide in your original application. Following the successful completion of your application you will receive an offer letter from the HPC.
Contact details for the HPC are as follows:
Park House
184 Kennington Park Road
London SE11 4BU
Tel: 0207 582 0866
Fax: 0207 820 9684
Eligibility to work in the UK
Click on the links for further information about visas and permits:
Writing your CV
A CV does not need to be too long but it must contain all your accomplishments which are relevant to your profession.
Click here to see an example CV.
Money matters
Banking - To open a UK bank account can take time and have complications if you are coming from overseas.
We however have arrangements with one of the major high street banks which speeds the process up considerably to a matter
of only a few days before you can have your account available to you.
Your pay - On joining CMS you will be issued with timesheets that you should have signed at the end of
each working week by your supervisor. Fax and then post this to us (we must have the hard copy) in the stamped addressed
envelopes we will provide for you as soon as possible so that we can arrange for your payment to be made direct into your
bank account as swiftly and smoothly as possible.
Accommodation
With the exception of Central London accommodation can often be found in hospital nursing accommodation at very
reasonable costs (we can help organise this where possible). Within London however, you may seek to rent a room or property
(we would not recommend a lease longer than six months), bed and breakfast or stay in a hostel. Standards and costs will of
course vary considerably, as in any major city, dependant on the facilities offered. Local newspapers, www.gumtree.com,
TNT Magazine and LOOT Magazine are good places to start if you are looking for accommodation.
You may also find the links below to be of use.
Healthcare
On arrival in the UK it is advised that you register with a local doctor, known as a General Practitioner -
GP for short. This will mean that if you become ill or have an accident the National Health Service (NHS) will help you,
provided that you hold a National Insurance (NI) number. CMS can advise you on how to go about this simple procedure.
Visiting the UK
The links below have all sorts of ideas and information on travelling around Britain including advice on getting around places to see.
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Uniform
The standard UK uniforms are as follows:
Occupational Therapist - White tunic with green trousers or a white dress with green piping.
Physiotherapist - White tunic with blue trousers or a white dress with blue piping.
Speech & Language Therapist - No uniform required.
In some departments you can wear a plain cotton polo shirt with your profession embroidered onto it. Most hospitals
will be able to lend you a uniform but, as a Locum, you may prefer to purchase your own to ensure a good fit!
Listed below are three of the main suppliers in the UK:
Airport information
Occupational Therapists
Physiotherapists
Speech and Language therapists
- Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists
2 White Hart Yard London SE1 1NX
Tel: 020 7378 1200
www.rcslt.org
Car ferries
Car rentals
Currency conversion
Department of Health
Maps
Transport in Britain
Travel insurance
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