Team Locum - Birmingham

Amazing A.

Awful company and awful people. Constantly preying on newly qualified pharmacists to offer them low rates. They will not negotiate for you. They only care about their own booking fee. As a pharmacist, be aware. You will find them always being the first to push your hourly rate down and make it seem like you can’t negotiate. Rude staff and disgusting service. They have no interest in you getting a better rate, only that they can get their booking fee. You will find that they will do anything and be the first to give you a lower rate in the hope that companies will use them to fill shifts. AVOID!

Janet J.

When I booked the service was very clear what I needed and expected. The staff I found caring but time keeping was often an issue...upto 45 mins late on occasions. Not all Staff were trained correctly and often english wasn't their first language so relaying vital information was difficult. My daughters care package was dropped overnight without any consideration for her care/mental health. Very disappointed in the management. No discussion was undertaken 3 stars for the carers!!!

Samira S.

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.

zuaib S.

Team locum are a brilliant agency that’s never let me down. Don’t listen to the bad reviews, they’re professional, kind and welcoming people who make up a great team especially Kyrie and Grant! :D. Highly recommend them if you need a booking, TL is the way forward.

Eimear O.

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

Micheal S.

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.

- When doing double cover and talking to fellow locum pharmacists I realised that they were covering these same shifts for rates much higher than what was offered by Team Locum and also being given paid lunches and full mileages! Which I was told by Team Locum the company "wouldn't do". (i.e being offered a £24/hr emergency with no paid break, while another locum was on £35/hr with a paid lunch)

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.

Know your worth and always stand up for your suitable rates and mileages, even when bookings are low. (2 Shifts at £30/hr are better than 3 shifts at £20/hr!)
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!

Mueid K.

Avoid this locum agency like the plague! Very unprofessional and behave in a bullish manner. Offer lower then Average rates as they only care about their own booking fee. Will ring you and say what you doing on your day off and rudely say why don’t you work today etc and persist in it. Tell you wrong work times so you might end up somewhere an hour early and not get paid for it. Avoid!

James C.

Used a few times to book locums, no real issue. But staff cant seem to get names correct ( despite all emails being signed off with name) maybe train staff a bit better. Also had multiple emails that are for me