Our Most Asked Questions
Welcome to our frequently asked questions, we hope this gives you a deeper insight into the benefits of our service. If you need a cook for a school or a care home, please contact us today!
General FAQ’s
Below are some common questions about our service
Are nightingale cooks fully trained?
Yes, all of our cooks are fully trained and DBS checked. Our cooks cannot complete any work until they have completed or supplied the below;
- Up to date CV
- Enhanced DBS Check
- Level 2 Food safety
- Level 2 Allergen
- Safeguarding vulnerable adults awareness
- Safeguarding children’s (Child protection) Level 2
- 2 References
How do the cooks get paid?
At nightingale, we pay the cook directly on our PAYE.
Does nightingale employ each worker?
Yes, all agency cooks are employed on a contract for services by nightingale.
Do you have a minimum charge?
Yes, each shift is subject to a 5 hour minimum charge for the day. This allows us to guarantee a minimum day rate for each one of our cooks.
Do you have a cancellation policy?
Yes, we have a 2 working day cancellation policy.
*a working day is defined as any day Monday to Friday within our business hours of 9am-5pm
Making A Booking
Below are some common questions about our booking process
How much notice do I need to give you to get the cover I need?
We understand that in some cases you may not be able to give us much notice. However, it is possible for us to provide same day / next day cover.
Obviously if the cover is planned, for instance maternity cover, that would increase chances of a successful placement.
Will you definitely cover my shift?
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee we can cover every shift. This can be dependent on workflow, availability and suitability of any worker.
We will however keep you up to date on progress and we aim to cover 90% of shifts that we receive.
Do I need an account to make a booking?
Yes, we need to have an account registered and our terms of business agreed to before we can start working on your cover. Account registration is easy to do, can be completed online and takes around 10 minutes. Contact Us today to register for an account
How do I make a booking?
The fastest way is to contact us by phone and speak to our consultants. You can also email in or contact us via our website here.
Managing Invoicing & Billing
Below are some of are common questions about our invoicing process.
When does nightingale invoice you?
Invoices are raised each Wednesday for the prior weeks services. For instance if a cook worked with you Thursday and Friday one week, you would be invoiced for those hours the Wednesday following.
All invoicing is sent via email.
How can I check that we have been invoiced for the correct hours?
With every invoice, we send a copy of the digital timesheet as a PDF. This timesheet verifies the hours have been worked and confirmed by a member of your staff at site.
What are your payment terms?
As standard our payment terms are 14 days, if you qualify for a corporate account, we can extend the terms to 7 days after month end.
How do you collect payment?
We collect all payments via Direct Debit, unless otherwise agreed in writing by a director of nightingale.