The MMPO support with the recruiting, relocation, and payment of locum midwives on behalf of Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora maternity facilities and PHOs across the country for roles including Rural LMC caseloading teams, on-call labour and birth cover, core shift cover and sole charge rural birthing unit roles. We do also look for locums on behalf of self-employed rural midwives from time to time too.
Detailed herein is information on how to become a locum and how the process works for you from recruitment through to payment.
Locum Engagement Terms and Conditions
The Locum Engagement Agreement applies to all locum covers facilitated via the MMPO on behalf of maternity facilities, PHOs or LMC midwives. Please click here for a copy of the Locum Engagement Agreement.
We are asking all locums who provide facility-based cover to please:
- Read the Locum Engagement Agreement carefully to ensure you understand all clauses of this agreement.
- Initial each page, sign and return the full document to a member of the MMPO Locum Support Team via email prior to your first locum placement.
We will hold the signed Locum Engagement Agreements on file for our records.
We will also share a copy of this document with each recruitment email and role confirmation email that you receive, to ensure it is always easily accessible to you.
Becoming a Locum
Locums are engaged as self-employed independent contractors when completing locum placements through the MMPO Locum Service and are therefore responsible for their own taxes, insurance, recertification, and statutory obligations.
To register as a locum with the MMPO, you will need to meet the following minimum requirements:
- Current APC (with no conditions to practice)
- Current CVCheck (Vulnerable Children's Act)
- Indemnity Insurance with the NZCOM (self-employed category)
- Minimum three years of practice
- Signed up as a rural locum on the NZ College of Midwives online portal – this is to support in managing your locum payments, but also provides valuable information about your midwifery experience as applicable
Before you are confirmed for a specific locum placement you will be asked to provide evidence of your APC, CVCheck and Indemnity Insurance. Depending on the region of the placement you may also be required to complete some or all of the following:
- Signed Access Agreement for the relevant region
- Referees x 2
- ID photo
- Drivers Licence (front and back)
- Health Declaration forms or similar
- Emergency Contact (name and number)
- Short Bio – introducing yourself to the facility and team you’ll be working alongside
How it works
The MMPO Locum Service is contacted by Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora Facilities or PHOs when they are experiencing critical workforce shortages (this could be ongoing or for a pre-defined period). The Locum Service works together with the Facility / PHO to understand their locum requirements and together develop a locum role and locum package to support this. Our team then to recruits for the dates / shifts as provided by the Facility / PHO and facilitates the booking, relocation and payment of locums on behalf of the Facility / PHO.
How does the recruitment process work?
Once you have been added to the MMPO Facility Locum contact list you will receive notifications of available locum placements via email. If you are interested in a placement, we ask you to respond via reply email with your availability, being as specific as possible with regard to dates and shifts. The MMPO will then share your availability with the relevant facility.
The decision of whether you are then confirmed for a placement sits with the facility or practice manager, who are also likely to contact you as part of this decision process if you have not locumed or worked in the district before. Once approved, our team will contact you to formally confirm the placement, including the cover period, shift details (if appliable), on-boarding documentation requirements and travel and accommodation arrangements.
Who arranges my travel and accommodation?
- Return flights (if applicable) will be organised by the MMPO Locum Service. These will be co-ordinated between yourself and a member of our team, upon confirmation of your locum placement. You will continue to receive Air New Zealand Airpoints on all applicable Air New Zealand flights.
- Return mileage (if applicable) will be calculated by the MMPO Locum Service and paid to you at the completion of your locum placement as per current IR approved rates. Your mileage is calculated for you via Google Maps from your normal place of residence to the facility / return.
- Accommodation may be organised in one of two ways, as detailed below – this will be clearly detailed in your role confirmation email:
- The facility or PHO will organise your accommodation on your behalf (this could be in a housing area, hotel / motel or a dedicated property that has been provided by the Facility).
- Locums will be reimbursed up to an agreed nightly rate of $150.00 (plus GST if applicable) based on receipts provided to the Locum Service.
What expenses are covered?
Locum expenses that are covered varies between Facilities, based on the locum package. However, the expenses detailed below are routinely covered – and we aim to reimburse these quickly:
- Travel to and from the locum placement (as detailed above)
- Accommodation (as detailed above)
- Mileage (as detailed above)
- Taxi / Uber receipts (to / from airport and between accommodation and facility)
- Airport parking
How and when do I get paid?
Payments are made within one week of completing your locum placement. If you’re completing a longer placement, these may be split to ensure regular weekly payments. Mileage and travel away from home allowances (if applicable) are paid at the completion of your locum placement.
What if I am not vaccinated against COVID-19?
There are no longer Covid-19 vaccination requirements for midwives, including self-employed locums.
Locums may be asked to declare their vaccination status and provide evidence of vaccination(s) (if they have been vaccinated) or immune status as part of the on-boarding process if a district requires it. This would occur after a locum placement has been confirmed.
Further information
If you have any further questions or would like to discuss your situation or interest in locum placements with a member of our team, please don’t hesitate to contact us as detailed below:
Shanti Daellenbach [email protected] – Rotorua & Taupō (Lakes), Nāti Pēpi (Gisborne), Aoraki Midwives (Timaru)
Nikki Eyles [email protected] – Northland (Northern), Nelson & Blenheim (Nelson Marlborough), Timaru (South Canterbury), Central Otago (Southern)
Belinda Mitchell [email protected] – Oamaru (Southern), Tairawhiti (Gisborne), Thames (Waikato)
Chrizelle Jooste [email protected] – Southland (Southern), Dunedin (Southern)
Clare Robertson [email protected] – Flights and reimbursements
Or alternatively, please call us on 0800 MIDWIFE