Locum Doctor Recruitment Northern Ireland
Leadcare Recruitment is a Tier 1 Approved Supplier to all five HSCNI Trusts, placing locum doctors across Northern Ireland in foundation, core training, registrar, SAS, and consultant-grade roles. We offer competitive weekly pay, flexible shift booking via the Leadcare App, full compliance support including revalidation and mandatory training, and 24/7 local out-of-hours support.
Looking for locum doctor jobs in Northern Ireland?
Leadcare Recruitment connects doctors with locum opportunities across Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care system. We are a Tier 1 Approved Supplier on the HSCNI Medical and Dental Agency Framework, supporting medical staffing requirements across all five HSCNI Trusts.
From FY2 and SHO through Registrar, SAS and Consultant grades, our medical recruitment team helps doctors find suitable locum opportunities while supporting them through registration, compliance and placement.
As a Northern Ireland-based healthcare recruitment agency, Leadcare combines local HSCNI knowledge with dedicated recruitment, compliance and booking teams.
HSCNI Approved Tier 1 Healthcare Recruitment Agency
Trusted to supply Locum Doctors by healthcare providers across Northern Ireland
Leadcare Locum Doctor Rates
We offer transparent pay rates and operate a weekly payroll. Specific rates for each shift are provided to our Locum Doctors and are confirmed prior to shift acceptance.
The rates below are indicative and may vary depending on specialty, shift type, urgency, and client requirements.
More Than Doctor Recruitment
Leadcare Recruitment is a nurse-led healthcare recruitment agency supporting public and private healthcare services across Northern Ireland.
Across our wider healthcare staffing operation, Leadcare has:
- 500+ healthcare workforce
- 5,000+ healthcare staffing hours supplied each week
- Tier 1 HSCNI status for agency nurses and locum doctors
- RQIA-regulated services
- Northern Ireland-based recruitment, compliance and booking teams
- 24/7 support
This wider healthcare infrastructure supports our medical recruitment service with established recruitment, compliance and workforce-management processes.
Don't have much time but want to get started quickly?
Complete our Fast-Track Application and upload a copy of your CV. A member of our Recruitment Team will be in touch to guide you through the process and help you secure shifts as quickly as possible.
Feedback from our Doctors
Payments are always accurate and on time, and the booking team are professional and easy to deal with. the entire process feels organised and reliable.
dr lauren b.
- Doctor
I was working my first shift within 10 days of signing up, the team sorted everything quickly
dr. sarah m
- Doctor
Very impressed with how quickly everything was sorted. Compliance, references and first shifts were all handled without stress.
dr ahmed r.
- Doctor
Leadcare actually answer the phone when support is needed, even late at night. I’ve worked with several agencies previously and none have matched the level of support provided
dr priya k
- Doctor
The joining bonus hit my account after my third shift as promised, no chasing, no excuses. That kind of reliability matters when your locum
dr james o
- Doctor
The app and communication system make everything simple. Shifts, timesheets and updates are all very easy to manage.
dr daniel p.
- Doctor
Why Doctors Choose Leadcare
Excellent Pay Rates
Leadcare offers transparent and clear industry-leading hourly rates.
Flexible Working
Choose shifts that suit your schedule, including ad-hoc or block bookings.
Leadcare App
Save time with our app – update your availability, accept shifts, and submit digital timesheets all from your mobile phone.
HSCNI Approved Supplier
As an Approved Supplier for HSCNI you will have first-choice access to a range of shifts across Northern Ireland.
Compliance Checks
We cover the cost of your AccessNI Check, Mandatory Training, and Occupational Health Clearance to help keep you compliant.
Referral Bonus Scheme*
Earn unlimited referral bonuses of up to £1,200 per referral through our structured referral scheme. Terms & Conditions apply.
24/7 Support
Work with an NI-based team that understands the healthcare system and is available 24/7/365.
Recognition & Reward
To show our appreciation, each shift you work enters you into our monthly appreciation give away and much more! Visit our Facebook for details!
Dedicated Consultant
A single point of contact who understands your specialty, availability, and preferences.
Shifts For All Doctor Grades
Whether you are a Foundation Year Doctor or an experienced Consultant, at Leadcare Recruitment we offer locum opportunities across all HSCNI Trusts for every Grade.
Foundation Doctors
FY1 | FY2
Core / Early Specialty Trainees
CT1 | CT2 | ST1 | ST2
Middle Grade Doctors
ST3 | ST4 | ST5 | ST6
SAS Doctors
Specialty Doctor | Associate Specialist
Consultants
Consultant
Don't see your Grade listed?
Get in touch - we're always expanding our recruitment.
Relocating to Northern Ireland? Find Locum Doctor Opportunities with Leadcare
Moving to Northern Ireland from elsewhere in the UK, the Republic of Ireland or further afield? Leadcare Recruitment can help you explore locum doctor opportunities across all five Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts in Northern Ireland.
Our medical recruitment team will review your experience, explain the documents needed for your role and guide you through the compliance process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leadcare Recruitment an HSCNI-Approved Locum Doctor Agency?
Yes. Leadcare Recruitment is a Tier 1 Approved Supplier on the HSCNI Medical and Dental Agency Framework, supporting locum doctor requirements across all five Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland.
These are:
- Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
- Western Health and Social Care Trust
- Northern Health and Social Care Trust
- Southern Health and Social Care Trust
- South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
This gives registered and appropriately compliant Leadcare doctors access to suitable locum opportunities arising across Northern Ireland’s HSCNI system.
What Locum Doctor Jobs Are Available in Northern Ireland?
Leadcare Recruitment works with doctors across a range of grades andspecialties.
Depending on current HSCNI requirements, opportunities may beavailable from FY2/SHO through Registrar, Specialty Doctor/SAS and Consultant level.
Common areas of recruitment include:
- Emergency Medicine / A&E
- General Medicine
- Acute Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Anaesthetics
- Paediatrics
We also recruit across a range of other medical and surgical specialties depending on current HSCNI requirements.
Available roles change regularly, so doctors should speak directly with our medical recruitment team about current vacancies.
Which HSCNI Trusts Does Leadcare Recruitment Supply Doctors To?
Leadcare Recruitment supports medical staffing requirements across all five HSCNI Trusts.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Opportunities can arise across major Belfast hospital services including the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast City Hospital, Mater Hospital and other Belfast Trust facilities.
Western Health and Social Care Trust
Leadcare supports opportunities across the Western Trust region, including services in Derry/Londonderry, Omagh and Enniskillen.
Northern Health and Social Care Trust
Medical opportunities can arise across the Northern Trust region, including Antrim, Ballymena, Coleraine and surrounding areas.
Southern Health and Social Care Trust
Leadcare supports opportunities across the Southern Trust region, including Craigavon, Newry, Armagh and surrounding areas.
South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
Opportunities can arise across the South Eastern Trust region, including Dundonald, Lisburn, Downpatrick, Newtownards and surrounding areas.
Why Work as a Locum Doctor in Northern Ireland?
Locum work can give doctors greater flexibility over where and when they work, while providing experience across different hospitals, specialties and clinical teams.
Depending on current vacancies and Trust requirements, opportunities can include:
- Ad hoc shifts
- Weekend work
- Night shifts
- Full rota positions
- Short-term placements
- Longer-term locum assignments
Our medical recruitment team works with doctors to understand their grade, specialty, experience, availability and preferred locations before identifying suitable opportunities.
Why Do Locum Doctors Register With Leadcare Recruitment?
Leadcare is a Northern Ireland-based healthcare recruitment agency with established HSCNI framework experience.
Doctors registering with Leadcare benefit from:
- Tier 1 access across all five HSCNI Trusts
- Dedicated medical recruitment support
- Northern Ireland-based compliance team
- Support with HSCNI registration requirements
- Ad hoc and longer-term locum opportunities
- 24/7 support
Our team works with doctors throughout the process — from initial registration and compliance through to vacancy submissions, bookings and ongoing assignments.
What Do Doctors Need to Register With Leadcare Recruitment?
To register with Leadcare Recruitment for locum doctor opportunities in Northern Ireland, doctors will generally need:
- Active GMC registration and licence to practise
- Minimum 6 months’ medical experience within the NHS, HSCNI or HSE
- Right to work in the UK
- Enhanced AccessNI disclosure
- Professional references, including your current or most recent employer
- Required occupational health, mandatory training and role-specific compliance
Our dedicated compliance team will guide you through the process and let you know if any additional documentation is required for a particular HSCNI Trust, grade, specialty or vacancy.
Do I Need GMC Registration to Work as a Locum Doctor in Northern Ireland?
Yes. Doctors must hold the appropriate GMC registration and licence to practise for the role they are undertaking.
Leadcare verifies GMC registration as part of the compliance process. Additional training, experience and compliance requirements will depend on the individual vacancy and grade.
How Quickly Can I Register as a Locum Doctor With Leadcare?
Registration time depends on how quickly the required documents, references, AccessNI and other compliance requirements can be completed and verified.
Doctors who already have their documentation available may be able to progress through compliance more quickly.
Our recruitment and compliance teams will identify any outstanding requirements and help you progress towards being ready for suitable HSCNI opportunities.
What documents do I need to apply with Leadcare Recruitment?
Our dedicated Recruitment Team will guide you through the compliance documents required during your registration process. However, as a handy reference, at minimum you will need:
- A valid General Medical Council (GMC) Registration.
- Evidence of Mandatory Training completion e.g., relevant certificates.
- A passport or valid photo ID as proof of identity.
- A valid UK/Irish passport, relevant Visa, or other relevant documentation as proof of your Right to Work in the UK.
Does Leadcare Recruitment Help With Doctor Compliance?
Yes. Our dedicated compliance team supports doctors throughout the registration process.
Our team can identify outstanding requirements and help doctors understand what is needed before they can be considered for suitable placements.
This includes support with GMC verification, AccessNI, right to work, references, occupational health, mandatory training and other role-specific compliance requirements.
Does Leadcare Help Doctors With AccessNI?
Yes. Leadcare’s recruitment and compliance team can guide doctors through the AccessNI process required for relevant healthcare placements in Northern Ireland.
Doctors relocating from England or Wales should be aware that AccessNI is separate from DBS, so existing DBS documentation does not necessarily remove the requirement to complete the applicable Northern Ireland process.
Can FY2 and SHO Doctors Register With Leadcare Recruitment?
Yes. Leadcare recruits doctors from FY2/SHO level through Registrar, SAS and Consultant grades.
Availability of suitable roles depends on current HSCNI vacancies and the doctor’s experience, specialty, compliance status and individual vacancy requirements.
Doctors should provide an up-to-date CV showing their clinical experience clearly so our recruitment team can identify appropriate opportunities.
What Is the HSCNI Medical and Dental Agency Framework?
The HSCNI Medical and Dental Agency Framework is used for the supply of temporary medical and dental staff within Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care system.
Leadcare Recruitment is a Tier 1 Approved Supplier, enabling us to support medical staffing requirements across all five HSCNI Trusts.
For doctors, this means Leadcare can submit appropriately registered and compliant candidates for suitable opportunities released through the applicable HSCNI recruitment and booking systems.
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/new-medical-and-dental-agency-framework-launched
How do I get paid?
We provide weekly payroll with flexible payment options e.g., via PAYE or Umbrella. You submit digital timesheets through the Leadcare App on completion of your shifts, and payment is processed directly into your bank account every Friday (note – payment days may be subject to change based on Bank/Public Holidays).
Can I choose my own shifts?
Absolutely. Shift flexibility is a core part of our ethos at Leadcare Recruitment. You can set your own availability via the Leadcare App so our team can match you with relevant, available shifts. Our team may also contact you about available shifts that fall outside of your specified availability, but you only accept the shifts that fit your schedule. You can also set your preferences for locations as well as areas of specialty.
Which areas in Northern Ireland do you cover?
Leadcare Recruitment is an Approved Supplier of Locum Doctors to all five HSCNI Trusts including Western, Northern, Southern, South Eastern, and Belfast. We also provide Locum Doctors to a range of private hospitals and healthcare settings across Northern Ireland.
Based in Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, Antrim, Enniskillen or Omagh? See our local pages: Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, Antrim, Enniskillen and Omagh.
Is there support available out of hours?
Yes, our team is available 24/7/365. Whether you have a question about a shift, need directions, or require assistance with the Leadcare App, there is always a team member ready to help.
Do you support doctor revalidation?
Yes. Leadcare Recruitment provides dedicated revalidation support for all locum doctors on our register. We help you track your appraisal requirements, maintain your revalidation portfolio, and meet GMC revalidation deadlines. Full details are available on our Revalidation Support page.
Can international medical graduates (IMGs) apply to work as a locum doctor with Leadcare?
Yes, provided you hold full GMC registration with a licence to practise and have the right to work in the UK. Our compliance team will guide you through the full documentation process, including AccessNI, occupational health, and mandatory training requirements.
Relocating From England, Scotland or Wales to Northern Ireland?
Doctors currently working elsewhere in the UK can register with Leadcare Recruitment for suitable locum opportunities in Northern Ireland.
There are some differences between working in the NHS in Great Britain and working within Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI).
One important difference is criminal-record checking. Northern Ireland uses AccessNI, rather than the DBS process used in England and Wales.
Doctors moving to Northern Ireland may also need to become familiar with encompass, Northern Ireland’s regional digital health and care record system.
Our Northern Ireland-based team can help doctors understand the registration and compliance requirements and discuss:
- Current locum opportunities
- Trusts and hospital locations
- AccessNI requirements
- encompass training
- HSCNI compliance
- Grade and specialty requirements
- Shift and rota patterns
Which Recruitment Agencies Supply Locum Doctors in Northern Ireland?
Leadcare Recruitment is a Northern Ireland-based healthcare recruitment agency and Tier 1 Approved Supplier on the HSCNI Medical and Dental Agency Framework, supporting locum doctor requirements across all five HSCNI Trusts.
Doctors can register with Leadcare for suitable HSCNI locum opportunities based on their grade, specialty, experience and compliance status.
Can I Work as a Locum Doctor in Northern Ireland if I Currently Work in England?
Yes. Doctors currently working in England or elsewhere in the UK can register for suitable Northern Ireland locum opportunities.
You will need to meet the applicable GMC, AccessNI, HSCNI framework, compliance and vacancy-specific requirements.
Do I Need AccessNI if I Already Have a DBS?
Doctors working in Northern Ireland may need to complete the applicable AccessNI process, even if they already hold DBS documentation from England or Wales.
Our compliance team can advise on the requirements applicable to your registration.
Do I Need encompass Training to Work as a Locum Doctor in Northern Ireland?
Yes. encompass training is required for doctors working within HSCNI. encompass is Northern Ireland’s regional digital health and care record system and is used across HSCNI services.
If you are coming from England, Scotland, Wales or elsewhere and have not used encompass before, Leadcare Recruitment can support you in accessing the required encompass training as part of getting you ready for suitable locum opportunities.
Our medical recruitment team will explain the training requirements and help you complete the necessary steps before starting an applicable HSCNI placement.
Can Leadcare Submit Doctors to All Five HSCNI Trusts?
Yes. Leadcare Recruitment is a Tier 1 Approved Supplier on the HSCNI Medical and Dental Agency Framework covering all five HSCNI Trusts.
What Grades of Doctors Does Leadcare Recruit?
Leadcare recruits doctors from FY2 and SHO through Registrar, Specialty Doctor/SAS and Consultant level, subject to current vacancies and individual role requirements.
Does Leadcare Recruit A&E / Emergency Medicine Doctors?
Yes. Leadcare recruits doctors for Emergency Medicine/A&E opportunities, subject to current HSCNI vacancies and the doctor meeting the required grade, experience and compliance criteria.
Does Leadcare Recruit Consultant Doctors?
Yes. Leadcare works with Consultant-grade doctors across relevant specialties when suitable HSCNI opportunities are available.
Does Leadcare Recruit Doctors for Full Rotas?
Yes. Depending on available vacancies, Leadcare can support doctors seeking full rota positions as well as ad hoc shifts, weekend work and other locum assignments.
Can Leadcare Help Me Understand HSCNI if I Have Only Worked in the NHS?
Yes. Our Northern Ireland-based team can explain the HSCNI Trust structure, locations, AccessNI, encompass, registration process and applicable compliance requirements when you register.
How Do I Register as a Locum Doctor With Leadcare Recruitment?
Contact our medical recruitment team or complete the doctor registration process through the Leadcare Recruitment website.
Having an up-to-date CV and your core compliance documentation available can help our team assess your experience and identify the next steps more quickly.
What locum opportunities are available for FY2 and SHO doctors in Northern Ireland?
Leadcare Recruitment offers locum shifts for FY2 and SHO grade doctors across all five HSCNI Trusts in Northern Ireland. Shifts are typically in acute medicine, emergency medicine, general medicine, and surgical specialties. Day shifts, nights, weekends, and ad hoc shifts to fit around training commitments are available. Indicative pay rates for FY2 and SHO grade range from £40 to £60 per hour, confirmed before shift acceptance.
How quickly can an FY2 doctor register and start locum work with Leadcare?
FY2 doctors who already have their compliance documentation in order can progress through registration and be shift-ready in as little as one to two weeks. Required documentation includes GMC registration, NHS or HSCNI experience evidence, AccessNI disclosure, occupational health clearance, mandatory training certificates, and professional references. Leadcare’s compliance team guides you through every step.
A Northern Ireland-Based Medical Recruitment Team
Leadcare Recruitment is headquartered in Derry/Londonderry, with an additional office in Belfast.
Our Northern Ireland presence means our team understands the geography of the five HSCNI Trust regions, local hospitals and the requirements involved in working within Northern Ireland’s healthcare system.
For doctors unfamiliar with Northern Ireland, our team can help explain locations, Trusts, hospitals, encompass and the compliance process when discussing available roles.
Register for Locum Doctor Jobs in Northern Ireland
Whether you are already working in Northern Ireland or considering moving from elsewhere in the UK or Ireland, speak with Leadcare Recruitment about current and upcoming locum doctor opportunities across HSCNI.
Our team can discuss your grade, specialty, clinical experience, preferred Trusts and locations, availability and compliance status.