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What to Look for in an Allied Healthcare Staffing Agency

December 20, 2024 Posted by Remede in Blog
healthcare professionals sitting in a meeting

We don’t have to tell you why Allied Healthcare professionals like yourself are important: from providing comprehensive patient care to enabling better patient outcomes, the healthcare space would not be as successful without practitioners like you.

However, connecting the dots between the right healthcare pro and the right organization can be challenging. And, that’s where an allied healthcare staffing agency can help. This article will unpack the value a staffing agency can bring to allied health professionals and provide advice for finding the right staffing agency to support your goals.

1. Industry Expertise

One of the first things you can look for is expertise in the field. While some staffing agencies try to be everything to everyone, we’ve found over our years of experience that an agency and team with specialized knowledge healthcare can serve both our talent and our employers well. Ask the recruiter your speaking with:

  1. How long have you worked in healthcare staffing?
  2. How long has your agency worked in healthcare staffing?
  3. How will you help me find the right position, matched to my skills and preferences?

2. Employer and Candidate Screening

A good allied health staffing agency will vet potential employers just as well as they vet candidates. Beyond employer reputation, they’ll look into compliance history, and get to know the culture and specifics of the job demands. Once candidates are placed a good agency maintains a strong relationship with regular check ins and feedback mechanisms so that both the employer and candidate are having a positive experience.

On the other side of the coin, you can expect a good staffing agency to vet you well too. That means basics like interviewing, background and credential checks to skills assessments and reference checks. In order for the match to be right, your recruiter must know and trust you.

If you want to be confident in your agency’s screening process – ask!

  1. Tell me about how you screen potential employers.
  2. What can I expect in my screening process?

3. Compliance and Credentialing Support

If working with a staffing agency is new to you, you might be pleasantly surprised how much help a good agency will provide in maintaining your credentialling and compliance. From help to prepare you for your first day to ongoing support and reminders when your credentials need renewal – the best staffing agencies should have your back and make your life easier. Find out if the agency you’re vetting will care for you as you expect:

  1. Tell me about your credentialling process?
  2. At what points in my working with you will you help with credentialling?
  3. Are you a Joint Commission-certified agency? What does that mean to me?

4. Range of Opportunities

Of course the healthcare agency partner you choose to work with should match you to just the right position, location and care setting. But what if your needs change in the future. Many allied healthcare pros we speak with appreciate an agency that can provide a diverse range of job opportunities so that as they grow and change, so can their career. Whether the care setting be in a clinic, hospital, in home, or more, diversity of options matter.

5. Support and Resources

Many agencies can toss you into a job interview but the ones that get it will have your back from the first conversation until the next contract conversation. Look for an agency that provides career counseling, interview prep, resume support – ongoing support and relationship is critical to making this experience an easy one. Ask your recruiter: How will you help me win this position?

4. Transparency and Communication

When you’re putting yourself out there as an allied healthcare professional to find a short term or perm placement, you want to trust the process rather than add more headaches to your life. Look for your recruiter to see clear expectations about the hiring process from the very beginning and be transparent about job details, contract terms and what to expect on the job. You can ask them:

  1. How often should I expect you’ll be in contact?
  2. Will we do calls, text, email?
  3. If you’re on vacation is there someone else who can help me?
  4. Where can I find the information about a specific position?
  5. What do other allied health professionals appreciate about working with you?

6. Flexibility and Work-Life Balance

When you work with an agency, you should be getting someone on your personal team. They should be able to find you positions and advocate for you to have the flexible job you want – whether it be temp, part-time or full-time; or the shifts you want – like days, nights or weekends. Ask your recruiter:

  1. How will this position help with my work-life balance?
  2. Will this position fulfill my need for [insert what you care about, like being off every other weekend]?
  3. What kinds of flexible work options are available?

7. Compensation and Benefits

One of the most common reasons allied healthcare professionals cite using an allied staffing agency for is compensation. You should know that doesn’t always just mean a high pay rate – though pay rates higher than perm positions are a huge perk. Collaborate with your recruiter on the full compensation package to be sure you’re getting the best deal. Create a view of the combined package rather than just focusing on pay rate only. Often a creative compensation package with a lower pay rate is a better overall outcome for you. Here’s what to ask about:

  • What is the pay rate?
  • What is the per diem?
  • What health insurance options are available?
  • How about retirement or other savings accounts?
  • Are there any discounts or benefits you provide such as for food or housing?
  • Any other perks I should be aware of?

Conclusion

When choosing an allied staffing agency partner that’s right for you, look out for their industry expertise, their screening processes, how they’ll support and empower you, their communication and transparency, the range of opportunities they have available, how they’ll support you and work-life balance as well as compensation and benefits.

We know choosing a recruiter is not always easy, but we’ve found after years of working with the talent contract after contract, that selecting the right partner can make a big difference in the long-term. If you’re ready to get started with a trusted allied healthcare staffing agency, please reach out or apply for an allied job here today.