Negotiating with agencies

[Sausage Surprise]

Agency probably have some kickback deal with the brolly they want you to use.

Change that to "will"

[socialworker]

outcome

If anyone is the slightest bit interested this is what happened: I kept getting increasingly anxious but trying to sound in control calls from Agency 2 asking me to explain to the client what had happened, even offering to write an email for me (!). Agency 1 stayed stumm, I realise now, cleverly waiting for it all to go pear shaped and I would ring contrite on Friday afternoon agreeing to sign up with them. Which is exactly what happened. Client was worried about upsetting Agency 1 and getting into legal stuff, initially I tried to say tactfully it was an issue between them and Agency 1, but to avoid hassle for the client I went back to Agency 1 and said I'll go with you provided you match Agency 2's rate. Which they did. Phew. I dont think I will try to be that clever again, Im obviously not cut out for it.

And to be frank if I was a director of social workers, had one coming (given the chronic shortage) and an agency had messed everything around I would be telling the agency to shut up or suffer the consequences of being removed from various councils list of preferred suppliers

I doubt in the end agency 1 would actually try to enforce the contract for the sake of the relationship but my concern was that the team manager tring to deal with all this as well as run a team would get fed up and bin me. The shortage is in childcare social workers but not so much in adult care so it isnt a case of walk into something else on Monday. Hence I cut it short to avoid her getting hassle. on reflection Agency 2 was being quite naughty and could have lost me the job.

Anyway thanks guys for all the helpful comments

[Wanderer]

I kept getting increasingly anxious but trying to sound in control calls from Agency 2 asking me to explain to the client what had happened, even offering to write an email for me (!). Agency 1 stayed stumm, I realise now, cleverly waiting for it all to go pear shaped and I would ring contrite on Friday afternoon agreeing to sign up with them. Which is exactly what happened. Client was worried about upsetting Agency 1 and getting into legal stuff, initially I tried to say tactfully it was an issue between them and Agency 1, but to avoid hassle for the client I went back to Agency 1 and said I'll go with you provided you match Agency 2's rate. Which they did. Phew. I dont think I will try to be that clever again, Im obviously not cut out for it.

Yeah, it's a bit stressful and I always keep it in mind that these agencies do this bulltulip day in day out so it's it can be a bloody fight sometimes. In the end you've still got the job and a rate increase too? That's a WIN!

on reflection Agency 2 was being quite naughty and could have lost me the job.

You're right about the client's getting pissed off with the agency antics though. Of course the agency 2 has got NOTHING to lose, have they.

This is why we love agencies so much.

[Contreras]

I dont think I will try to be that clever again, Im obviously not cut out for it.

hmm, that's being a tad harsh. Rather than being 'clever', you played hardball and succesfully negotiated on your terms.

Well done!