Understanding the OnLocum Reputation System: A Complete Guide
How we're bringing trust and accountability to healthcare staffing. Learn how the OnLocum Reputation System works, what affects your score, and how to advance your career.
5 min read
In healthcare, trust isn't optional — it's essential.
When a facility hires a locum, they're not just filling a shift. They're putting their patients, their staff, and their reputation in someone else's hands.
That's why we built the OnLocum Reputation System.
This guide explains exactly how it works, why we built it this way, and how you can use it to advance your career.
The Problem We're Solving
Traditional locum hiring is broken:
For Facilities:
- No way to verify credentials quickly
- No visibility into past performance
- No accountability for no-shows or poor conduct
- Reliance on word-of-mouth and WhatsApp groups
For Providers: - Hard to stand out from the crowd
- No credit for reliability and good work
- Limited access to premium opportunities
- No clear path to career growth
The Reputation System solves both sides.
How the Reputation System Works
Component 1: Verified Profile
Your OnLocum profile is your professional identity. Unlike a paper CV, it's:
Verified: We check your credentials against official sources - Nursing Council of Kenya registration
- Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council
- Clinical Officers Council
- Pharmacy and Poisons Board
- Relevant institution verification
Structured: Facilities can quickly scan: - Professional licenses (with expiry dates)
- Educational qualifications
- Work experience
- Specializations
- References
Living: It updates as you work - New certifications added automatically
- Experience grows with each shift
- References accumulate over time
Component 2: Reputation Score (0-100)
Your Reputation Score is a single number that tells facilities how reliable you are.
What affects your score:
Timeliness (25%): Do you arrive on time? Early? Late?
Completion (25%): Do you finish your shifts?
Professionalism (20%): Conduct, communication, appearance
Facility Feedback (20%): Direct ratings from employers
Profile Completeness (10%): Is your information up to date?
How scores change:
Great shift: +2 to +5 points
Good shift: +1 to +2 points
Neutral shift: No change
Issue reported: -5 to -15 points
No-show: -20 to -30 points
Score Recovery: Made a mistake? Scores can recover over time with consistent good performance. One bad day doesn't define you — but patterns matter.
Component 3: Provider Tiers
Your tier determines what opportunities you can access.
Standard Tier (Entry level for new providers)
Requirements: Verified identity, valid professional license, complete profile (80%+)
Access: Standard shift listings, basic visibility to facilities, community features
Pro Tier (For established, reliable providers)
Requirements: 10+ completed shifts, reputation score 70+, zero serious incidents in 90 days, at least 3 positive reviews
Access: Priority shift matching, Pro badge on profile, higher visibility in search, access to premium facilities
Elite Tier (For top performers)
Requirements: 50+ completed shifts, reputation score 85+, zero incidents in 180 days, 90%+ positive feedback, advanced certifications preferred
Access: First access to premium shifts, Elite badge, featured in facility recommendations, premium rate opportunities, ambassador program eligibility
Component 4: Feedback Analysis
We don't just collect ratings. We analyze them.
Quantitative: - 5-star ratings for each shift
- Specific scores for punctuality, skill, communication
Qualitative: - Written feedback from facilities
- Sentiment analysis to identify patterns
- Common praise and concerns highlighted
What facilities see: - Your overall score
- Recent trend (improving, stable, declining)
- Key strengths highlighted
- Any flags or concerns
How to Maximize Your Reputation
For New Providers (Standard ? Pro):
- Complete your profile fully: Upload all certifications, add work history with dates, include professional photo, list all specializations
- Start with accessible shifts: Accept shifts you can definitely complete, don't overcommit, build a track record
- Be early, not just on time: Arrive 15 minutes before shift, sign in promptly, ready to work immediately
- Communicate proactively: Confirm shifts 24 hours before, notify immediately if any issues, ask questions upfront
- Request feedback: Ask facilities to rate you, learn from constructive criticism, build your review count
For Pro Providers (Pro ? Elite): - Maintain consistency: Don't let your score fluctuate, avoid gaps in activity, keep documents current
- Pursue advanced certifications: BLS/ACLS current, specialty certifications, continuous education
- Build relationships: Become a "regular" at facilities, build a referral network, seek long-term engagements
- Go above and beyond: Offer to help beyond your role, share knowledge with colleagues, represent OnLocum well
What This Means for Your Career
Short term: Better matching to suitable shifts, faster acceptance from facilities, clear feedback on performance
Medium term: Access to premium opportunities, higher rates as you tier up, recognition for good work
Long term: Portable professional reputation, career advancement documentation, industry credibility
Ready to build your reputation? Update your profile today and start your journey to Elite status.
Ready to get started?
Whether you are a facility or a healthcare professional, OnLocum connects you with trusted opportunities.