Associate FAQs

What is the Assessment Process?

We evaluate potential associates through a robust selection process. After submitting your CV and personal statement we will invite you to attend an MS Teams call to have a chat with the Business Manager. During the interview stage you will be required to provide examples of your work and will have the opportunity to tell us all about your background. We are looking for people who can combine not just experience and expertise but also the personal values and pride of work that we think are necessary to be effective in the environment in which we operate.

What happens once I have been selected to be an Enable East Associate?

Your details will be entered onto our database and an Enable East CV / Pen Portrait will be created which you will be asked to write a short profile for. Enable East is committed to representing all Associates equally, which is why we submit all CVs in the same house style. We will then begin to circulate relevant project opportunities to you as and when they come in. You will be able to quote for these pieces of work and will hear if you are successful within 5 working days. We would then put forward your information to the commissioners and get a scoping meeting in place to give you a feel for the project before contracting.

What is the Associate Database?

All supplier information is contained within our Enable East Associate database. Using this we can match customer requirements with Associates that can best fulfil the business need. All data held is handled in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.

How long is a role for?

The length of a contract is variable but the maximum number of days you can deliver services for is 228 days per annum. It is important to note that most projects run for a set number of days over a short period of time and will not be substantive posts.

How often will work become available?

We maintain a register of at any one time around one hundred associates of whom around about 20 will be working with us actively to deliver services to our customers. The frequency of work is dependent on the needs of our customers and the availability of our Associates.

What are your rates of pay?

We offer competitive rates to our customers and therefore we also look to offer reasonable rates to our associates as well. Enable East generally pays its Associate rates in line with the NHS Agenda for Change banding and skills framework. The rate you will be offered will take into account the knowledge and skills required to deliver the contract and the budget set by the customer.

What are the benefits of becoming an Associate?

At Enable East we hand pick our Associates to work on projects that fit their skillset and experience. This way we are able to choose somebody from our pool of highly skilled specialists that has an excellent track record that has the key personal characteristics and attributes that the customer is looking for. The type of work our customers require is varied and can be in both the Public, Private and Voluntary Sector. This means that there is the opportunity for our Associates to expand business networks and work in new fields.

Is Enable East an Agency?

Enable East has given consideration to whether the Agency Worker Regulations apply to our services to customers. However, we believe the Regulations are clearly not intended to apply to contracting and/or sub-contracting of project and programme management services of the type undertaken by Enable East. Part of this is due to the fact that we have a hands-on approach with our customers. It is the Associates themselves that complete the assignment, however the Business Development Manager and Associate Director play a part in scoping, co-ordinating and managing the projects. Working through Enable East has a more collaborative feel to it rather than working via an agency.

What would be my relationship with Enable East?

How an Associate works with Enable East will be dependent on the type of project they are working on. To determine the relationship we use the HMRC Employment Status Tool to establish the employment status.

• If the outcome of the HMRC Employment status Tool determines that the Associate should be treated as employed, Enable East will employ the Associate with an honorary contract with Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).  Enable East then second the associate to the customer and pay the Associate using our payroll arrangements making the required deductions for income tax and national insurance.  Enable East will ensure that all employment legislation is followed.
• If the outcome of the HMRC Employment Status Tool determines that the associate should be treated as self-employed, Enable East will issue the Associate with a contract for service and manage invoices and payments.  Enable East will also require timesheets and check for evidence for tax compliance.

The HMRC Employment Status Tool can be found on the following HMRC website link www.gov.uk/guidance/check-employment-status-for-tax