Over-worked, under-paid and asked to complete jobs they are not trained for… something has to change if the problems in healthcare recruitment are to get better. This is the message from healthcare recruitment specialist Grace Gatheru, Match Options franchisee for Southend-on-Sea, Essex.

Grace is urging fellow recruiters to ensure that they actually care about their clients, as far too many workers, particularly in the healthcare sector, are being being asked to do jobs they are not trained for as the skilled jobs market continues to squeeze.

“It seems like an obvious thing to say, but the most important rule in recruitment is caring about placing people in the right jobs,” explains Grace.

“The biggest challenge I face just now is sourcing nurses, particularly the more senior nurses in band 7 and band 8. Nurses are overworked and underpaid that is the unfortunate fact of the matter, so we are losing many from the profession. Quite simply too many are being asked to work long hours and complete jobs they are not trained for. I respect my nurses, for example I would never ask one of my accident and emergency nurses to do a general shift as they are over qualified for this.

“There are far too many examples out there of people just chasing the money, and filling placements with the first person that comes along. This is why the recruitment sector gets a bad name. The key is to get to know your clients, both your candidates and companies and ensure their long-term needs are met. Trust is key to building up a buoyant customer base.”

Grace adds: “The NHS is obviously facing huge challenges currently, it needs huge investment if the quality of care is too improve. Doctors are in huge demand, nurses are overworked and demand in the care sector is going through the roof. What can be done is the million pound question, but certainly I think they could save a lot money by cutting some middle management positions that simply don’t need to be there and focus more on the staff.”

Grace Gatheru began her franchise journey with Match Options in April 2016, and so far she is delighted with how it is going. Grace had previously worked in recruitment for over seven years before investing with Match Options, so had built up a lot of knowledge about the recruitment sector and how it works. She also knew the potential in the healthcare recruitment market, as there has never been more demand for healthcare workers in both the private and public sector.

“With regards Match Options, from my previous dealings within the recruitment sector I knew that healthcare represented a fantastic opportunity to hit the ground running and grow quickly. Add to this the established relationships Match Options has with the NHS and organisations such as BUPA and Virgin Care, who have us placed on their preferred supplier list, and I knew there was real scope to build up a successful business relatively quickly.”

Match Options is a recruitment agency providing healthcare staff on a temporary and permanent basis. It not only places doctors and nurses but healthcare assistants, care support workers, and domiciliary care workers.  It also places health workers in the likes of schools and prisons, meaning the market potential is huge.

Source: Recruitment International (Lauren Sexton) Read online