Thinking about nursing recruitment agencies? You may want shifts around your current job, a different working pattern or an opportunity to use your experience in a new setting. Before applying, it helps to know what to prepare and what happens next.
Start with an up-to-date CV, your Nursing and Midwifery Council registration details, and a clear idea of your availability and preferred locations. The agency will explain which supporting documents and checks are needed for the work you are considering.
Applying, supplying documents and being cleared for a placement are separate stages. Understanding the difference helps you prepare without making plans around an unconfirmed start date.
Elevation Healthcare is a healthcare recruitment agency based in London, supporting healthcare professionals exploring opportunities across the UK. Its nursing recruitment services provide a starting point for discussing roles that match your experience and preferences. This guide explains general preparation; your recruiter should confirm the requirements for your circumstances. www.elevationhc.co.uk
What do you need before applying?
You do not need to buy new courses or arrange every check before contacting an agency. Gather what you already have, then request its current registration checklist.
| Area | What to prepare | What to clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Accepted identity and address documents, plus evidence of any name changes | Which documents and verification method the agency accepts |
| Nursing qualifications | Your nursing qualification details and relevant additional certificates | Which certificates need to be supplied |
| NMC registration | Your PIN and current registration details | Whether your registration is appropriate for the proposed role |
| Work history | An updated CV with accurate dates and explanations for gaps | How much employment and training history is required |
| References | Suitable referees’ names, roles and current work contact details | Who can provide references and which periods they must cover |
| Right to work | Accepted documents or a share code, where applicable | Whether your permission covers the proposed work |
| Criminal-record checks | Details of existing certificates or scheme membership | Which check is needed and whether existing evidence is acceptable |
| Health assessment | Information requested by occupational health, including relevant vaccination records | What assessment or workplace adjustments may be needed |
| Training | Relevant certificates, course details and completion dates | Which courses are accepted and whether updates are required |
For NHS recruitment, the NHS Employment Check Standards cover six official categories:
- Identity checks.
- Criminal record checks.
- Work health assessments.
- Professional registration and qualification checks.
- Right to work checks.
- Employment history and reference checks.
The preparation table separates some categories into individual tasks and adds training. It does not change the six official categories. www.nhsemployers.org
Use the agency’s agreed secure document-submission method. Obtain instructions before sending identity documents or health information, and follow any separate occupational health process.
Explain your experience, availability and travel limits
When contacting nursing recruitment agencies in London, give the recruiter more than a job title. Explain what you have done recently, what you feel confident doing and how agency work would fit around your existing commitments.
Prepare a short summary covering:
- Recent practice: your nursing field, settings, patient groups and responsibilities.
- Current skills: activities you regularly undertake and areas where you need further training or support.
- Preferred work: the roles and settings you would like to explore.
- Availability: days, nights, weekends, notice periods and other work commitments.
- Travel limits: preferred locations, maximum journey time and transport restrictions.
For London placements, consider the journey at the actual shift time. An early Sunday start or a late finish may be less practical than a weekday daytime journey.
“Available for two weekday night shifts within 45 minutes of home” gives your recruiter more useful information than “flexible”.
You can explore Elevation Healthcare’s information for candidates to learn about the settings and working patterns it supports. Discuss your preferences directly, as suitable opportunities depend on your experience and current requirements. www.elevationhc.co.uk
Can newly qualified nurses apply?
Do not assume that every agency requires the same number of months or years of experience. Requirements depend on the agency, provider and assignment.
Explain your clinical placements, experience since qualifying and any preceptorship—structured support when entering professional practice. Find out whether the proposed role offers the supervision and support you need.
Elevation Healthcare’s nursing page welcomes enquiries from experienced nurses and new graduates. However, some advertised roles specifically seek experienced nurses, and not every assignment will be suitable for a newly qualified applicant. www.elevationhc.co.uk
What happens after you submit your application?
There are three stages to understand.
1. Your professional registration is verified
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) regulates nurses and midwives across the UK, and nursing associates in England.
You need current NMC registration to practise as a registered nurse. Joining an agency does not replace this. The agency verifies your registration and considers whether it is appropriate for the proposed work.
Professional registration alone does not establish your suitability for every assignment. www.nhsemployers.org
2. The agency completes its recruitment checks
You supply information and documents; the agency reviews and verifies them. This can include obtaining references, reviewing employment history and following up anything that needs clarification.
Illustrative example: You send your former ward manager’s email address. Your referee details have been supplied, but the reference check is not complete. The agency still needs to receive the response and review it. If the manager has changed roles, you may need to provide an updated contact.
This is why uploading everything requested does not necessarily mean all checks are complete. References help verify employment or training history, rather than simply recording who could provide one. www.nhsemployers.org
3. Your readiness for a particular placement is confirmed
Placement clearance means the relevant checks and requirements have been accepted for a particular assignment.
A provider may require specific recent experience, training or local induction. Clearance for one placement does not automatically mean you meet every other provider’s requirements.
The process can vary between agencies, healthcare providers and roles.
Which checks might need further action?
Some evidence may already be available. Other checks may need updating or arranging through the agency.
Right to work
NMC registration and permission to work in the UK are separate requirements.
The evidence you need depends on your circumstances. Follow the GOV.UK guidance on proving your right to work, and make sure your permission covers the proposed work. www.gov.uk
DBS and other criminal-record checks
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) carries out criminal-record checks for England and Wales.
Tell the recruiter about any certificate you already hold and whether you subscribe to the DBS Update Service. The service allows eligible organisations to check a certificate’s status, but the agency still needs to determine whether the existing check meets the role’s requirements. www.gov.uk
Scotland uses Disclosure Scotland, while Northern Ireland uses AccessNI. For standard and enhanced checks, the appropriate service depends on where the recruitment suitability decision is made—not simply where you live. Cross-border arrangements should therefore be clarified with the agency. See the government’s guidance on choosing the correct criminal-record checking service. www.gov.uk
In Scotland, Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership is legally required for regulated roles involving children or protected adults. The official PVG scheme guidance explains the process. www.mygov.scot
If you have lived or worked abroad, overseas criminal-record information may also be requested. A UK check should not be treated as a complete record of overseas history. www.gov.uk
Health assessments and training
Provide the information requested through occupational health, including relevant vaccination records and any support or adjustments you need. Work health assessments consider suitability for the role and working environment. www.nhsemployers.org
For training, share the courses you have already completed. Before paying for anything new, establish which course is required, whether your existing certificate is acceptable, who arranges the update and who pays.
Professional indemnity
Professional indemnity is an arrangement providing cover for claims arising from your professional practice.
The NMC requires appropriate cover for the work you undertake. You do not always need an individual policy, but you remain responsible for ensuring that the arrangement covers your role and scope of practice.
Do not assume that cover from your main job extends to additional agency shifts. Establish who provides cover for the assignment and whether you need your own arrangement. Read the NMC’s professional indemnity guidance for details. www.nmc.org.uk
What if you trained internationally or your registration has lapsed?
If you trained outside the UK and have not joined the register, follow the NMC’s guidance for internationally trained nurses. An agency application does not replace this process. www.nmc.org.uk
If your registration has lapsed, use the NMC’s readmission process. You cannot practise as a registered nurse until you have been readmitted. Depending on your circumstances, a return-to-practice course or Test of Competence may be required. www.nmc.org.uk
Explain your situation when you first contact the recruiter so that expectations are clear.
How long will registration take?
There is no single timescale that applies to every nurse or agency.
Reference responses, document verification, criminal-record checks, health assessments and training can all affect progress. Missing dates, unclear copies or differences between names on documents may also need follow-up.
Keep your information organised and respond promptly. Before making plans around a start date, find out whether it is provisional or confirmed.
Completing checks does not guarantee available shifts. Work still depends on your suitability, location, availability and the provider’s requirements.
What should you confirm before accepting a shift?
Before committing to a booking, make sure these points are clear:
- Suitability and checks: the duties match your current skills, and the assignment’s requirements have been met.
- Location and contact: you have the correct site, ward, shift times and reporting contact.
- Induction: you know what local orientation, system access and support will be provided.
- Pay and timesheets: the rate, payment arrangements, breaks, deductions and approval deadlines are understood.
- Cancellation terms: you know what happens if you or the provider cancels.
- Support: you have contact details for booking problems, clinical concerns and out-of-hours issues.
Resolve anything unclear before accepting the shift.
Exploring complex care, ITU, paediatric or school nursing?
If a particular role has prompted you to consider agency registration, mention it when you apply. Your relevant experience and preferred location give the recruiter a clearer starting point.
Elevation Healthcare’s recruitment adverts have featured the following roles and locations. Contact the team to confirm which vacancies remain available and the requirements for each assignment.
Complex care, ITU and paediatric nursing opportunities
The adverts invite experienced registered general nurses (RGNs), intensive therapy unit (ITU) nurses and paediatric nurses to enquire about opportunities in:
- London: Croydon.
- South East England: West Sussex and Kent, including Sittingbourne.
- Midlands: Birmingham, Leicester and Nottingham.
- North West England: Manchester, Chester and Blackburn.
The adverts highlight experience in tracheostomy care, PEG feeding, ventilation support and epilepsy care. PEG feeding means providing nutrition through a tube placed into the stomach.
If you are looking for complex care nurse jobs in Croydon, West Sussex or Sittingbourne—or opportunities in the other advertised locations—describe your relevant recent practice and training. The recruiter should explain which skills are required for the particular assignment.
Focus your application on the places you can realistically travel to and the work you are qualified and ready to undertake.
School nursing opportunities in London and Surrey
Elevation Healthcare has also advertised for qualified registered nurses with school experience to support children’s health and wellbeing in school settings.
If you are exploring school nurse jobs in London or Surrey, share your school-based experience, relevant nursing background and availability. Discuss the responsibilities, exact location and support available before deciding whether a role is suitable.
Contact Elevation Healthcare about these nursing opportunities to confirm current availability and the experience required.
Begin your registration with Elevation Healthcare
Whether you are interested in complex care, paediatric nursing, school nursing or another suitable setting, start by explaining what you are looking for.
Begin your registration with Elevation Healthcare by submitting your details and uploading your current CV. Include:
- Your recent nursing experience and relevant training.
- The role or setting you are interested in.
- Your preferred locations and travel limits.
- Your availability and earliest possible start date.
The registration form asks for contact details, NMC and right-to-work information, and a CV upload. Submitting it begins the conversation; eligibility, completed checks and placement availability still need to be confirmed.