Getting work in the NHS
Discussion
Good evening everyone,
Just after a bit of guidance please,my ex girlfriend is trying to get into a career with the NHS (ideally healthcare assistant etc) but as she has no previous experience shes finding it very difficult. Is there anything anyone can suggest for her to try to maybe "up" her chances? (sensible answers please).
She would be great if given the chance,its just getting the chance thats close to impossible it seems.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Cheers.
Just after a bit of guidance please,my ex girlfriend is trying to get into a career with the NHS (ideally healthcare assistant etc) but as she has no previous experience shes finding it very difficult. Is there anything anyone can suggest for her to try to maybe "up" her chances? (sensible answers please).
She would be great if given the chance,its just getting the chance thats close to impossible it seems.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Cheers.
yeah, work experiance aint the norm in the NHS you would have to be VERY luckey !
it's a hard sector to get in the door, could try agency staff depending on what she was wishing to do within the NHS.
Having myself just secured a contract working for the NHS having worked on contract for 9 months albeit in a very different deptment (IT)
it's a hard sector to get in the door, could try agency staff depending on what she was wishing to do within the NHS.
Having myself just secured a contract working for the NHS having worked on contract for 9 months albeit in a very different deptment (IT)
Find out who your local provider arm (the staff that provide the health to patients as this is now split from the PCT's) is and then contact them direct - there is sometimes student placements that could come available. You should be able to find the provider arm by looking on your PCT's website.
You need to know how to fill out a competency based application form
Look at the person specification and then use the extra information bit of the application form to describe how your girlfriend meets all essential criteria (and as many desirables as you can). The first sort will literally be a tick box exercise, usually by junior HR staff and if you don't give them the information you'll not get any further. It helps if you structure this so that the information showing that each criteria is met is easy to see - some people even go as far as to suggest having headings corresponding to each point on the person spec with a sentence or two showing how she meets each one through qualifications/experience/life skills.
Oh and as another person said, volunteering will get some experience whilst she looks for a paid role.
Also, consider agency care assistant roles - usually pretty easy to get into, especially if you have your own transport. She can then use that to build up some training and experience if she doesn't want to stay in that.
Look at the person specification and then use the extra information bit of the application form to describe how your girlfriend meets all essential criteria (and as many desirables as you can). The first sort will literally be a tick box exercise, usually by junior HR staff and if you don't give them the information you'll not get any further. It helps if you structure this so that the information showing that each criteria is met is easy to see - some people even go as far as to suggest having headings corresponding to each point on the person spec with a sentence or two showing how she meets each one through qualifications/experience/life skills.
Oh and as another person said, volunteering will get some experience whilst she looks for a paid role.
Also, consider agency care assistant roles - usually pretty easy to get into, especially if you have your own transport. She can then use that to build up some training and experience if she doesn't want to stay in that.
Edited by oldbanger on Tuesday 22 November 21:43
There are feck all jobs 
The NHS are cutting budgets left right and centre. It's not unusual now for qualified AHP's leaving uni to apply for HCA roles, due to a severe lack of jobs.
I guess I'm not so well versed on the HCA job market, but if qualified staff are also applying then competition will be fierce.
When I qualified in 06 it was a case of taking your pick of jobs, and I had mine secured dependent on final exam pass. The relevant journals were packed with jobs, my recent November one dropped on the mat, and it is very very slim indeed.
The NHS are cutting budgets left right and centre. It's not unusual now for qualified AHP's leaving uni to apply for HCA roles, due to a severe lack of jobs.
I guess I'm not so well versed on the HCA job market, but if qualified staff are also applying then competition will be fierce.
When I qualified in 06 it was a case of taking your pick of jobs, and I had mine secured dependent on final exam pass. The relevant journals were packed with jobs, my recent November one dropped on the mat, and it is very very slim indeed.
Healthcare assistant is not a protected title, but she will, as said earlier, have to demonstrate some form of aptitude to get on a training course. My advice would be to start in a care home as a basic assistant, enroll on a HCA training course and work her way up. See http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/Default.aspx?... for more info.
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