What is Nightingale?
Nightingale is an online marketplace that directly connects nurses and GPs with service providers for shifts and locum work, without the need for expensive recruitment agencies. We give power back to healthcare professionals by cutting out recruiters and exploitative agency fees.
The Nightingale platform allows nurses, GPs and service providers to talk directly and agree shifts and rates of pay without an agency middleman complicating everything - and increasing the cost.
Service providers can save up to 50% compared to the cost of using an agency, which means savings can be passed back to nurses and GPs in the form of higher pay – up to 20% more than working with an agency.
Everybody wins.
It’s time for something better.
#nomoreagencies
How is Nightingale different?
Nightingale is a free online platform for all nurses and GPs looking for extra shifts or locum work. By connecting you directly with service providers, we’ve removed the need for expensive recruitment agencies, empowering both sides to take control of the process.
Nightingale gives you the freedom to:
Sing your own praises: build your own profile to showcase your clinical skills and experience
Take control: agree your own shifts and rates of pay
Earn more: no more agencies mean nurses and GPs receive 100% of the agreed rate – up to 20% more than working with an agency
The Nightingale platform is simple, transparent and easy to use on any device, plus our sophisticated matching process will find you the perfect shifts or locum work instantly.
We’ve removed admin, paperwork and endless phone calls for a seamless online experience giving you more time to do what you do best: patient care.
And forget paper timesheets – hours worked are auto-approved and submitted for payment instantly so you always get paid on time.
All Nightingale nurses and GPs are self-employed, independent healthcare professionals which means that they have the freedom and flexibility to work exactly how, where and when they want to.
#nomoreagencies
Is Nightingale just another agency?
Absolutely not!
Nightingale is an online marketplace that directly connects nurses and GPs with service providers for shifts and locum work, empowering both sides to take control of the process.
This process is usually managed by recruitment agencies who charge extortionate fees, which reduces your pay and increases the cost to the service providers.
Nightingale completely removes agencies from the process and therefore saves service providers up to 40% vs using an agency. This in turn means those savings can be passed back to nurses and GPs in the form of higher pay – up to 20% more than working with an agency.
Everybody wins.
#nomoreagencies
Who can join Nightingale?
Nightingale has nationwide coverage and works with many of the best known primary care providers, GP federations, social care providers and care homes in both the NHS and private sector.
Nurses: Nightingale welcomes all nurses that are registered with the NMC with no restrictions to practice, at least 12 months experience and up-to date compliance documents
GPs: Nightingale welcomes all GPs that are registered with the GMC with no restrictions to practice, are listed on the National Performers List and have up-to-date compliance documents.
what are my payment options via Nightingale?
PAYE
Nightingale operates a PAYE service for all Service Provider Clients in order to make fast, prompt payments to Locums who prefer to be paid via PAYE.
Simply choose ‘Nightingale PAYE’ in your Profile > Payment Details and complete all of the fields. On submission and approval of your e-timesheets within Nightingale you will receive a weekly payment net of income tax, National Insurance Contributions, student loan payments and pension contributions for hours worked. The majority of individuals who receive their income solely via PAYE are unlikely to need to file a tax return.
Limited Company
As a locum you can also choose to trade via a limited company. You would need to set up (“incorporate”) a company and become a shareholder and director of your company. You would then invoice the Service Providers you work at via your limited company. Nightingale will do this automatically on submission and approval of your e-timesheets and you will receive a weekly gross payment into your limited company bank account.
Limited companies pay corporation tax, which is lower than income tax and do not pay National Insurance; however you would then need to take the money out of the company (unless you can afford to leave it in there) via either a salary or dividends. It’s also important to note that the income received by the company is not pensionable. It’s always a good idea to get professional advice before setting a limited company up. There’s also a higher administrative burden of trading via a company, as you would need to file accounts and corporation tax returns.
Sole Trader
If you trade as a sole trader you’ll be treated as self-employed.
1. Make sure you’re aware of your legal requirements
If you’re locuming as a sole trader, you must register with HMRC by 5th October after the end of the first tax year (5th April each year) that you start to trade. HMRC will then register you for Self-Assessment so that you can file a tax return each year by and also for Class 2 National Insurance (see below). You could be fined by HMRC if you do not do this.
The deadline for filing your tax return is 31st January after the end of the tax year to that it relates. For example, for the tax year ending 5th April 2023 the return is due by 31st January 2024.
You’ll need to prepare accounts, but won’t need to file them anywhere, as you’ll just need to use the information to file your tax return. You can choose any day of the year to be your accounting year end. The recommended date is 31st March, as HMRC will sync this with the tax year end.
It’s recommended that you set up a separate business bank account to keep your business income and expenses independent of your personal ones.
2. Be aware of how your tax is paid
Sole Trader Locums (self-employed) will receive their gross income. Therefore, a tip is to take a proportion of the money that you receive each month and save it in order to pay your future liabilities. Suggestions vary as to how much to withhold, but 33% is generally thought to be sufficient.
You’re then responsible for paying HMRC any tax due for each tax year. This must be paid by the 31st January after the tax year end. Self-employed individuals have to pay their tax bills via the “Payment on Account” system - it’s very important to understand what this means.
This is a way in which HMRC collects tax from you in advance of the next tax year. In the first tax year you start to locum, you’ll work out your taxable profit for the year and then pay tax on this by the following 31st January.
At this point, HMRC will make you pay an additional amount of tax equal to 50% of that tax bill and then a further 50% of that same tax bill by the following 31st July. Any amounts you have paid in advance will be deducted from your next tax bill.
As an example, imagine you complete a Self-Assessment tax return and have a tax bill for year one to the 31 March 2023 of £1,000. Your tax payments will be as follows:
Payment due by 31st January 2024: £1,000
First POA (50% of tax bill) also due by 31st January 2024: £500
Second POA (50% of tax bill) due by 31st July 2024: £500
Be aware that, if you’re self-employed, you’ll have to pay two different types of National Insurance Contributions (“NIC”). Class 2 is charged at a rate of £3.15 per week if profits exceed £6,725, whereas Class 4 is charged on your profits and is paid along with your income tax liability as above.
Do I have to pay to use Nightingale?
The Nightingale platform is always completely free to use for nurses and GPs.
As a service provider, whether an independent practice or a large group of companies, you can also create a profile and post shifts for free on the Nightingale platform.
As a service provider, you only pay after you use the platform to engage a nurse or GP for shifts or locum work. Huge financial savings - up to 50% less than using an agency - mean more resources are available where you need them most: your healthcare services and patients in need.
To find out how much Nightingale can save your services contact us and a member of the Nightingale team will be in touch.
What are your pay rates?
As a nurse or GP using the Nightingale platform, you‘ll set your own rate. But the quick answer is that your rate will always be up to 20% higher than working through an agency.
Remember the service provider will also pay less than using an agency too, saving up to 50% on their temporary staffing costs.
It really is a win-win situation; one that agencies and their outdated, inefficient and expensive processes can’t compete with.
At Nightingale, we’ve found that over 80% of nurses and GPs have a direct relationship with the service provider for whom they do shift or locum work, but are forced to go via an agency for their shifts.
It’s time for something better – why not talk to the service providers you work with about Nightingale and what we can do? Better still, share this site with them and earn a referral bonus as well as getting a pay rise and saving them money.
How are pay rates set?
As a nurse or GP using the Nightingale platform, you set your own pay rates when you create your profile. Each service provider also sets their own rates of pay when posting shifts.
Our technology does the rest and instantly matches you with shifts that are paying your preferred rate as a minimum.
You’ll always see the pay rate, service provider and other shift details before deciding whether you want to work the shift.
Plus, if you already know the service provider for whom you provide shifts or locum work, negotiate with them directly, agree your own shifts and rates of pay and ask them to post them directly to the Nightingale platform with you already booked.
Do I need to make a minimum work commitment to use Nightingale?
Absolutely not.
Nightingale is all about giving power back to you. Once you’ve registered with Nightingale, you can work as much or as little as you like.
#nomoreagencies
How does Nightingale make money?
The Nightingale platform is always completely free to use for nurses and GPs.
Nightingale charge a flat fee and/or a subscription fee to service providers. The service providers can post shifts or locum work for free on our platform, they only pay a fee once the shifts or locum work has been completed by the nurse or GP.
Huge financial savings - up to 50% less than using an agency - mean more resources are available where service providers need them most: their healthcare services and patients in need.
Can I work my existing agency shifts through Nightingale?
Yes.
It’s your choice who you work for, and when and where you choose to work.
At Nightingale, we’ve found that over 80% of nurses and GPs have a direct relationship with the service provider for whom they do shift or locum work, but are forced to go via an agency for their shifts.
It’s time for something better – why not talk to the service providers you work with about Nightingale, what we can do and how we can arrange the migration of your shifts to the Nightingale platform? Better still, share this site with them and earn a referral bonus as well as getting a pay rise and saving them money.
My agency won’t let me leave – can they do this?
For far too long, agencies have used scaremongering tactics within the healthcare sector, often threatening legal action against nurses and GPs if they join another agency or service provider. This is completely unenforceable under UK Employment Law.
Similarly, service providers are often threatened with extortionate fees if they want to engage a nurse of GP outside of the agency arrangement. Again, these threats are often completely unenforceable and have no legal standing.
Why should I join Nightingale?
Nightingale is an online marketplace that directly connects nurses and GPs with service providers for shifts and locum work, without the need for expensive recruitment agencies.
Here are just some of the reasons why should join us:
Take control: agree your own shifts and rates of pay based on your preferences and availability.
Earn more: no more agencies mean you receive 100% of your agreed rate, which is up to 20% more than you’d earn via an agency.
Simple and easy to use on any device: find the perfect shifts and locum work in just a few clicks.
No more admin/paperwork or timesheets: hours worked are auto-approved and submitted for payment instantly so you always get paid on time.
Better rewards:
Refer a friend and receive:
£200 once they have worked their first 200 hours through the Nightingale platform
Another £200 once they have worked 400 hours via Nightingale
Another £200 once they have worked 500 hours via Nightingale
Refer a service provider and receive £1000 once they have used 500 hours of shifts/locum work through the Nightingale platform.
Looking after you… The more you work, the more we reward you:
Work 80 hours or more per month and get a month of Netflix* on us
Complete your first 1,000 hours and get 12 months of Amazon Prime*
* Third party Ts&Cs apply
How do I register with Nightingale?
It’s quick and easy to register with Nightingale.
Please click [Register] to jump to our registration page and complete some basic information about yourself. It will be really handy if you have electronic copies of the following documents to upload as part of the registration process:
Up-to-date CV
Passport (Photo ID page)
Enhanced DBS certificate
Two references or referee contact details
The last step before completing your registration is to book a phone call with a member of the Nightingale team at a date and time to suit you.
The initial registration process should take no longer than 5 minutes.
I’m a nurse - what documents do I need to start working through the Nightingale platform?
You’ll need to have electronic copies of the following documents to upload and complete your initial registration:
Up to date CV
Passport (Photo ID page)
Enhanced DBS certificate
Two references or referee contact details
You will need to have electronic copies of the following documents to upload and complete your Nightingale profile and be ready to start working through the Nightingale platform:
NMC Number
Appropriate mandatory training certificates
Proof of Medical Indemnity Insurance (Medical Malpractice)
Any other appropriate professional qualifications/skills certificates
Good quality photo*
*Top photo tip: A head and shoulders shot with a plain background works best, and don’t forget your best smile. Great profile photos are more likely to be successful in applying for shifts.
Once your documents and profile have been checked and verified by the Nightingale team, you’re ready to start booking shifts through the platform.
Remember – it’s really important to keep your profile and availability up-to-date to make sure we can match you with the perfect shifts and locum work.
I’m a GP - what documents do I need to start working through the Nightingale platform?
You’ll need to have electronic copies of the following documents to upload and complete your initial registration:
Up-to-date CV
Passport (Photo ID page)
Enhanced DBS certificate
Two references or referee contact details
You will need to have electronic copies of the following documents to upload and complete your Nightingale profile and be ready to start working through the Nightingale platform:
GMC Number
Appropriate mandatory training certificates
Proof of Medical Indemnity Insurance (Medical Malpractice)
Any other appropriate professional qualifications/skills certificates
Good quality photo*
*Top photo tip: A head and shoulders shot with a plain background works best, and don’t forget your best smile. Great profile photos are more likely to be successful in applying for shifts.
Once your documents and profile have been checked and verified by the Nightingale team, you’re ready to start booking shifts through the platform.
Remember – it’s really important to keep your profile and availability up-to-date to make sure we can match you with the perfect shifts and locum work