EBME Forums Forums Management Recruitment A New Deal for Agency Techs

I have been giving a bit of thought lately to the agency biomed scene. By this I mean the provision of temporary technical manpower, typically into hospitals to supplement the efforts of existing permanent staff in medical engineering departments.

I believe that the traditional way of going about this has some shortcomings, and consider a new approach to be in order.

For instance, on the part of the agent I would propose that they be a bit more proactive. That is, getting out there and finding what clients and prospective clients actually need (rather than just waiting for the phone to ring).

They should support their techs (rather than just sending them off to "just get on with it"). If the need for a manpower "surge" becomes apparent at the client's site, then the agency should be able to respond, just as they should be able to provide a stand-in if the tech becomes unavailable for whatever reason.

Where need be, they should help out with accommodation (helping to find it, and helping to pay). In my own experiences of agency work, accommodation has sometimes been a problem. There have even been occasions when I could not take on a booking because I simply couldn't find anywhere handy to stay!

There should be assistance and guidance regarding training (rather than just leaving it to the tech). That way, training could be targeted more towards what clients actually require. There have been cases where agents have simply let good work (with funding already available, and all the rest) slip through their fingers because they didn't have available techs meeting the client's requirements - without any effort being made to remedy the situation! Not good business, in my opinion.

Techs interested in agency work would be retained and encouraged (by the agent) by being well administered, fairly treated, appropriately paid and a realisation that they are being competently assisted in providing biomedical engineering services (that is, rather than just being a commodity in a body shop)!

The whole thing should be set up and run as a Quality Service*. In the Real World such a service commands premium rates, and this would need to be the case here as well.

I have in mind an à la carte approach, whereby clients "tick the box" for the options they think they require (such as, and for example):-

- A specific commitment (in terms of length of booking etc.)
- The tech supplies own tools (or whatever)
- The tech needs own transport, drivers’ licence etc.
- The tech needs specific skills
- The tech needs to have had specific training
- The tech needs to be VRCT registered
- The tech needs a recent CRB check ... etc.
- A requirement for "out of hours" working
- Only so many hours (days) per week ... and so on

Each such special requirement would impact on the hourly rate to be negotiated!

I’m making this post on here now in the hope of gaining some feedback – from techs interested in agency-type work, and biomed departments in need of temporary manpower. Later on, once ideas have been developed further, I shall most likely approach a couple of "well known" agents for their reaction. And then ... I may even have a go myself!

I have in mind a "biomed service, run by biomeds". Anyone care to join me?

See also this earlier thread.

* A Quality Service is one that conforms totally to customer requirements.

A register of techs, similar to 'Bank-nursing'

There are a number of websites out there.

I have in mind something a bit more, shall we say, proactive!

With emphasis as well (and as I have indicated) on "supporting the tech"!

I think there is some mileage in your proposal, Run by Biomeds, For Biomeds.......

Most of the major players in this field have ample experience in agency recruiting, but not necessarily biomedical expertise to match.

Also, as someone who has worked contract, there clearly is room to support and improve the lot of the Agency Biomed. A clear recognition on the part of the Agency of the problems facing the travelling Biomed would be a start, also career aspirations / expectations.

By George, Mr. Hannis! You may have something there!

I have lost count of the number of times I have been sent along having been, shall we say, "poorly briefed". Unforgivable, in my opinion.

At least if a biomed dealt with the prospective client in the first instance, there may be an even chance of a subsequent good tech to client match! In other words, an informed appreciation of the situation at the client's end, and hopefully a win-win-win for all concerned.

Not to mention an eye for further booking opportunities beyond the initial placement!

I'll count you in then, Sean.

Meanwhile, I am looking for some work again myself.

Being the humble soul that I am, I'm not too fussy (nor too proud) about what I do. Just as long as it's within my range of capabilities. To my mind, work is work ... be it database or inventory stuff, "hands-on" repairs or PM, or even organising in the workshop or the stores.

Short-term, long-term, now-and-then. Part-time, short-time, full-time, night-time (any time), contract (agency) or what have you, I remain pretty flexible.

And as Dr.David Livingstone (one of my heroes, of course) is purported to have said:- "I am prepared to go anywhere, provided it be forward"!

Contact details can be found in my Profile.

Following on from my initial post, I sense that there may be a new game being played now.

I have heard about a number of short-term jobs in NHS biomed shops of the type that in Happy Days of Yore would have been farmed out to Agencies, but are now being advertised as "fixed-term contracts" of so many months (3, 6 ... 12). That is, as an employee of the Trust for the period in question, at pro-rata Band 4 or 5 rates of pay (that is, less than the hourly rates of the past).

I am assuming that there must be a general aversion nowadays to hiring short-timers via Agencies. Or could it just be that HR departments are becoming smarter (more flexible, imaginative ... whatever)?

For the tech himself, I guess it makes little difference if he was on PAYE (etc.) with the Agency ... but not so good if he was with one of the infamous one-person "umbrella" companies where certain claims could be made against tax, and all the rest.

The bottom line seems to be Good News for the Trust, mainly as they not only avoid the Agent's fee (mark-up) but also get to "control" the guy more tightly than before.

A Buyers' Market, then.

Perhaps. But, for me, the Good News is that the tech now doesn't have to worry about insurance (usually carried by the Agency, by the way), as any and all risks must now be carried by the Trust. No more "blaming the Agency Tech", then!

Perhaps it's just me getting ancient and paranoid, but I have definitely detected a nervousness in recent years in the NHS departments I know of (there has always been tension). To put it bluntly, everyone seems to be [censored] scared of dropping a [censored], often spending a lot of time going to great lengths in covering their [censored]!

In fact, these days I sometimes question the wisdom of seeking work in such environments at all!

Is anyone (else) affected by all this? Any comments to make?

I have received a response to the above post via email from a friend who is no longer allowed to make his own posts to the forum. However, as he is probably the most experienced Agency Biomed Tech in the UK, I feel that his comments are well worth displaying here (edited slightly for clarity):-

"You've summed it up well Geoff. I agree wholeheartedly with your opinion of the state of play.

It's certainly OK for a guy on PAYE, but the only snag there is waiting a month for your money, instead of weekly pay (as it would be through an Agent).

It makes what I used to do non-viable, though. I needed the expense cover (ie, using an "umbrella" company) for accommodation and travel to be able to work away in the week and return home at weekends.

It is a buyer's market, and yes the NHS EBME Manager would call the shots more. But on the plus side you might be accepted more as "One of the Guys", not the [censored] Agency Bod, [censored], [censored], whatever!! Ha, ha."

Could this be part of the reason for hiring on (short) "fixed-term" contracts, I wonder?

It looks like there will be no more Agency work beyond twelve weeks now, then!

Don't you just love the seemingly daily stream of edicts from the morons in Brussels, who apparently have the audacity to believe they have the right to endlessly fiddle about with our lives? What do they know about economics? After all the incompetent idiots haven't yet been able to balance their own books! Meanwhile, fingers crossed that the Gravy Train will be hitting the buffers very soon!

"It's going to be extra basic pay, [and] extra shift allowances potentially, where those workers are not paid at the same level as the equivalent permanent employee,"

Most Agency Techs are already paid at a higher level than the equivalent permanent employee rate. Greater entitlement to holidays would always be pro-rata,(depending upon contract length), the main issue would be overtime. Most Agency Techs dont receive it, or only get flat rate.

In the present financial climate its hard to justify long term contract Agency tech's when an Employer could make a viable case for a permanent appointee who would cost less.

As a freelance Tech (who presumably has lower overheads) this will allow you to market your skills competitively against Agency Techs who will have to increase their overheads to comply with new legislation.

The downside is of course monthly pay to bring you in line with permanent employees.