Professional registration
Record your registration number and regulator: GPhC for Great Britain or PSNI for Northern Ireland. Check the requirements where the placement will take place, particularly if you normally work in another UK nation.
Use your registered name during onboarding and explain any name change through the evidence route provided. Certificates and registration numbers can go out of date, so agree who will check the live register, including relevant annotations, conditions or restrictions.
Identity and right to work
Identity documents connect your qualifications and work history to you. Right-to-work evidence answers a different question. Ask the engaging organisation which check applies to your circumstances and working arrangement.
British and Irish citizens cannot get the online right-to-work share code used for this purpose; GOV.UK describes other evidence routes. If a form requests a share code from everyone, contact the reviewer. Check any restriction on your type or hours of work before accepting a shift.
CV, references and training evidence
Your CV should make recent dates, settings and responsibilities easy to follow. Choose referees who can comment on relevant work and ask their permission before sharing their details. Explain gaps when requested without putting private health information into a general profile.
Group training evidence by service. Keep prescribing qualifications, service learning, systems experience and recent practice distinguishable. A certificate may show that you completed a course without showing whether you can deliver the service independently at this branch.
Be specific about support you need. You might know a PMR product but need help with a newer version, or have completed service learning without yet delivering that service alone.
Check Pharmacy First requirements for the country where you will work.
Indemnity and other checks
Confirm that your indemnity covers the proposed duties. The hirer may also need a service declaration, occupational health information or a criminal-record check. Ask what is required for this role and why.
Criminal-record checking differs in Scotland and Northern Ireland. GOV.UK states that a DBS certificate has no official expiry date. Its relevance and the hirer’s rechecking policy still matter; “no expiry date” does not mean a document will satisfy every future request.
For an unclear request, ask which evidence is required, who reviews it and how to submit it securely.
Keep a review checklist
Record issue dates, expiry dates where they exist and review dates separately. For example, a register check confirms your current status, while a training renewal is a separate date to track. Set reminders early enough to deal with a problem before your next booking.
Tell the relevant contact if your evidence changes after a shift has been discussed. Keep the version used for each booking so a later query can be traced.
- CV and reference contacts.
- Professional register and current-status check.
- Identity and right-to-work evidence.
- Indemnity covering the intended work.
- Service-specific training and competence evidence.
- Systems access and induction needs.
Send sensitive documents securely
Read the recruitment privacy information and use the submission route provided. An initial enquiry needs your work preferences and experience; keep passport copies and bank details for the relevant private process.
The ICO’s recruitment guidance covers candidate information and vetting. At this guide’s review date it is marked draft and under review. Check who will receive sensitive information and verify unexpected requests before responding.
FindALocum’s registration form records your interest. It does not complete a document review or confirm suitability for a shift.
Common questions
Is GPhC registration the same as Northern Ireland registration?
No. The GPhC regulates pharmacy professionals in Great Britain; PSNI is the separate Northern Ireland regulator. Check the applicable registration requirements for the proposed work.
Does a DBS certificate expire after one year?
GOV.UK says a DBS certificate has no official expiry date. The appropriate check, its relevance and any rechecking policy need to be considered for the role; Scotland and Northern Ireland use different arrangements.
Should I attach all my documents to an initial enquiry?
Use the information requested for that stage. Keep sensitive evidence for the designated secure review process and clarify unexpected requests with the organisation concerned.
Sources and further reading
Check the current official documents for the country and service where you will work.
These guides cover general booking and preparation questions. Read our editorial policy. If a detail needs updating, send us a correction.