How Ratings & Reviews Work on Airlocum — and How They Help You Get More Shifts
✅ Quick answer After every shift, the practice completes a 7-question survey about your performance. Your answers directly affect your star rating, whether you’re added to their Favourites list, and how early you receive future booking notifications. New locums start with a 4-star rating and 90% reliability score — you’re in a strong position from day one. |
Your ratings are the most important factor in how much work you get on Airlocum. Higher-rated locums receive booking requests earlier, get added to more Favourites lists, and are booked more frequently. This guide explains exactly what practices are asked, what each question means for you, and how to maximise your scores.
What Do Practices Rate Me On?
After every completed shift, the practice is asked 7 questions about your performance. Here’s each question, what it measures, and how to score well:
1. Did the locum arrive on time? Aim to arrive 10–15 minutes early. This shows professionalism and gives you a buffer for unexpected delays. Use the Send ETA feature when you’re on your way — it builds trust before you even walk through the door. |
2. Was the locum’s appearance professional? Ensure your attire is clean, pressed, and appropriate for a clinical environment. When in doubt, opt for a more formal look. First impressions matter — especially on a first shift with a new practice. |
3. Did the locum have a positive attitude towards their work and the team? Engage with the team during breaks. Instead of using your phone alone in the surgery, join colleagues in the staff room and participate in conversations. Small interactions make a big difference to how you’re perceived. |
4. Did the locum proactively ask where they could help or take initiative during downtime? If there’s a quiet moment, ask a team member, owner, or practice manager if there’s anything you can help with. Practices remember locums who show initiative — it’s one of the strongest predictors of being added to Favourites lists. |
5. How would you rate the value provided by the locum relative to their hourly rate? Deliver excellent service and make sure the rate you charge matches your abilities. Practices are often happy to pay a bit more, but then they expect more. Consistently delivering value at your price point is what earns top scores here. |
6. Did the locum use their time productively, avoiding distractions like personal phone use? Keep your phone on silent and out of sight during the shift. Even checking a message briefly can leave an impression. Practices notice — and it directly affects this question. |
7. Would you have this locum back for future shifts? This is the most important question. A “Yes” here automatically adds you to the practice's Favourites list — meaning you'll be prioritised for their future shifts. Everything above needs to go well to earn a “Yes” on this one. |
Finally, the practice gives an overall experience rating from 1–5 stars. This is the score that appears on your public profile and is visible to every practice that views you.
How Do My Ratings Affect My Bookings?
What it affects | How |
Star rating on your profile | Based on the overall experience score (question 7). This is visible to every practice that views your profile. |
Favourites list | If a practice answers “Yes” to “Would you have this locum back?”, you’re automatically added to their Favourites. This means you’re prioritised for their future shifts via “My favourites first.” |
Earlier shift notifications | The booking algorithm sends requests to locums in waves, starting with the highest-ranked. Your star rating and reliability score determine which wave you’re in. Higher ratings = earlier notifications = better chances of securing shifts. |
Badges & recognition | Consistently great feedback earns you badges on your profile — visible trust signals that help practices choose you over other locums. |
What Rating Do I Start With as a New Locum?
⭐ Your starting position New locums start with a 4-star rating and a 90% reliability score. These are the same thresholds that experienced locums aim to maintain. Why? Without initial ratings, new locums would never get booked — practices would always choose experienced locums with proven track records. Starting at 4 stars and 90% reliability puts you in the early notification waves from day one. The targets to aim for as you build your history: 4.5+ stars and 90%+ reliability. These are the benchmarks that keep you in early notification waves consistently. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my individual ratings from each practice?
Your overall star rating is visible on your profile. Individual practice feedback is used to calculate your score but is not shown to you question by question.
Can locums rate practices?
Currently, the rating system is one-directional — practices rate locums after each shift. Locums cannot rate practices.
How is my reliability score calculated?
Your reliability score is based on your last 10 shifts. Cancelling or no-showing on accepted shifts will reduce your score. Maintaining 90%+ reliability keeps you in early notification waves.
I got a low rating — can I dispute it?
Individual ratings cannot be disputed, but one low score won’t define your profile. Your visible star rating is an average across all your shifts. The best way to recover is to focus on your next shifts and aim for consistently strong feedback.
How do I get added to a practice’s Favourites list?
It happens automatically. When a practice answers “Yes” to “Would you have this locum back?” in their post-shift review, you’re added to their Favourites list. You’ll then be prioritised for their future shifts when they use “My favourites first.”
What’s the difference between star rating and reliability score?
Your star rating reflects the quality of your work (based on practice reviews). Your reliability score reflects whether you show up — it’s based on cancellations and no-shows from your last 10 shifts. Both affect which notification wave you’re placed in.
Start getting more shifts
A strong profile and consistent ratings are the fastest way to get booked more often. Keep your availability up to date, use the Send ETA feature on every shift, and aim for that “Yes” every time. Log in at airlocum.co.uk to update your profile and pick up your next shift.
Support is available via live chat — ask to speak to a person at any time.
