Medical Recruitment and Locums
Medical Recruitment
NSW Health is committed to providing quality health care to the people of NSW through the provision of highly skilled Health Professionals.
In order to achieve this NSW Health has made changes to the process of recruiting medical officers. Outlined below is information on recruiting from overseas and engaging locum agencies to fill positions within NSW Health.
The Panel of Overseas Recruitment Agencies (PORA)
As of the 11 August 2008, NSW Health has implemented a Panel of Overseas Recruitment Agencies (PORA) for the provision of recruitment services for overseas health professionals including doctors. Area Health Services, as well as the NSW Ambulance Service, Justice Health and the Children's Hospital at Westmead, when engaging the services of an agency for the recruitment of overseas health professionals must now use a member of the PORA.
The PORA is the result of a state-wide tender that was advertised and closed in late 2007. Agencies were invited to submit a proposal to provide services for the recruitment of overseas health professionals for NSW Health. The successful agencies will be publically announced within 60 days of the finalisation of contracts. For agencies who currently provide overseas medical officers to NSW Health, fees for services will only be payable for candidates presented prior to the 11th August. If you wish to continue to present candidates to NSW Health it may only be done so through a member of the PORA. The tender is will be in place for 3 years.
Medical locums: NSW Health Standards and Conditions
In 2008 - 09, the NSW Health Standards and Conditions have been implemented statewide to better manage medical locums and the casual medical vacancies in hospitals.
During this period, businesses providing locum medical officers to NSW hospitals have demonstrated through a self assessment process that they meet the requirements set out in the NSW Health Standards and Conditions and the Standards and Conditions Support Pack to be listed on the NSW Health Register of Medical Locum Agencies.
Register of Medical Locum Agencies
Agencies currently on the Register have demonstrated compliance to the NSW Health Standards and Conditions through a self assessment process. NSW Health Services only use Medical Locum Agencies that are listed on the Register.
Following the release of the Policy Directive PD2009_051 Locum Medical Officers - Employment and Management, NSW Health Services have until the 29th January 2010 to have signed agreements with medical locum agencies that provide services.
Medical locum agencies will be expected to demonstrate that they meet the Standards and Conditions through a third party audit by this time. The third party auditor selected for this purpose will need to be JAS-ANZ accredited.
The statement of compliance should be in the form of a 'report' that states that the Standard and Condition has been adhered to, complied or utilised in an audit process and that the agency complies or doesn't. Where compliance has not been met there should be reasons stated as to why in the auditor's opinion the Standards and Conditions has not been meet. The agency should then identify the steps and the timeframe to rectify.
After the 29th January 2010 the NSW Health Register of Medical Locum Agencies will show only agencies that have completed a third party audit through a JAS-ANZ accredited auditor and have signed agreements with the NSW Health Services.
Medical Locum Agency Audit Guidelines
To assist the Audit process the Medical Locum Agency Audit Guidelines provide advice to accredited auditor bodies and assist agencies compliance with the NSW Health Standards and Conditions for the provision of locum medical officers to the NSW Health services. The Medical Locum Agency Audit Guidelines are available here
Medical Locums: Key Dates
24 July 2008 - Minister announces NSW Health Standards and Conditions for the provision of locum medical officers to the NSW Health Services
18 August 2008 - NSW Health hosts a briefing session held for medical locum agencies.
18 August 2008-13 October 2008: self assessment period
Businesses will be required to conduct a self assessment against the Standards and Conditions and then submit their compliance status to NSW Health at locuminfo@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
18 August 2008-17 August 2009: third party assessment period
Businesses will be required to be assessed against the Standards and Conditions by a third party auditor body accredited with JAS- ANZ and then submit their compliance status to NSW Health at locuminfo@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
7th May 2009: NSW Health hosts an information session on Audit Guidelines to assist with the implementation of the NSW Health Standards and Conditions for the provision of locum medical officers to the NSW Health Services .
12 August 2009: NSW Health releases Policy Directive 2009_051 Locum Medical Officers - Employment and Management
12 August 2009 - 12 October 2009 [60 day period]: Medical Locum Agencies on the NSW Heath Register of Medical Locum Agencies have demonstrated compliance to the Standards and Conditions through a third party audit and finalised signed service agreements with the NSW Health Services.
29 January 2010: Revisions made to NSW Health Register of Medical Locum Agencies. Only businesses listed on the Register will be accepted to supply locum Medical Officers to NSW Health Services.