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Original poster

References NHS

65 replies

BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 03/09/2021 17:49

Anyone have any experience of trac.jobs?

I have an offer for an NHS role, they are insisting on references for the last three years of employment, 2 of my previous employers have ignored all requests, won’t answer my emails or the phone to me.

I provided a personal reference as an alternative, which trac initially said was fine, and now have changed their minds and said it has to be all employers within the last 3 years.

Help!!!! I could get the offer withdrawn, but I can’t force them to give me references can I?

They are companies with no HR departments.

OP posts:
Original poster
BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 05/09/2021 00:37

@FelixBrown

Have you tried emailing [email protected]
I’ll give that a try, thanks
OP posts:
FelixBrown · 04/09/2021 21:34

Have you tried emailing [email protected]

Toddlerteaplease · 04/09/2021 21:24

I've only worked in the ward for 16 years. I knew the NHS isn't very efficient. But this has taken the biscuit!

Toddlerteaplease · 04/09/2021 21:23

I also had to chase it they'd withdraw the offer.

Toddlerteaplease · 04/09/2021 21:23

I've only had to provide two references. However one of mine didn't tell me she was retiring early. Then my manger went on emergency leave. I applied for the job in June and still haven't got a start date. Arghh!!

Original poster
BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 04/09/2021 21:21

@Waitingaround

Contact the person that interviewed you. They can assess whether they are happy to take a personal reference instead.
They initially said yes, then changed their mind and said they have to have the last 3 years of employment
OP posts:
Original poster
BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 04/09/2021 21:19

@Spindelina

Was there a contact person in the advert? Who interviewed you? Do you have their contact details?
All people from Trac, who are not being helpful and threatening to withdraw my offer
OP posts:
Waitingaround · 04/09/2021 20:34

Contact the person that interviewed you. They can assess whether they are happy to take a personal reference instead.

NewFlav · 04/09/2021 20:10

Is it just for proof of employment? If so, call HMRC and as for a proof of earnings. I think they can give you the last 5 years of employment. They normally post it out within 2 weeks. I've had to do this when previous references ignored requests.

daisypond · 04/09/2021 19:45

Can people give a negative reference?

Absolutely, as long as it’s true. That’s the whole point of references.

Spindelina · 04/09/2021 19:31

Was there a contact person in the advert? Who interviewed you? Do you have their contact details?

Original poster
BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 04/09/2021 19:27

@Spindelina

I use Trac as a recruiter (NHS) and it's a headache. But Trac is just the platform. In your shoes, I'd contact the recruiting manager and tell them what's happening. They will be able to speak to recruitment in the Trust / health board and work out what to do.

If it's a specialist role, then in my experience much effort will be put in to get a satisfactory outcome. Even if it's not a specialist role, it's quite likely that the recruiting manager will be keen not to waste the effort put in so far in recruiting you.

Any idea how I would find out who the recruiting manager is?
OP posts:
Original poster
BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 04/09/2021 18:55

@Spindelina

I use Trac as a recruiter (NHS) and it's a headache. But Trac is just the platform. In your shoes, I'd contact the recruiting manager and tell them what's happening. They will be able to speak to recruitment in the Trust / health board and work out what to do.

If it's a specialist role, then in my experience much effort will be put in to get a satisfactory outcome. Even if it's not a specialist role, it's quite likely that the recruiting manager will be keen not to waste the effort put in so far in recruiting you.

Thank you, very helpful

The role is Trainee Emergency Ambulance Care assistant, with the London Ambulance Service. The first six months is training.

OP posts:
Spindelina · 04/09/2021 16:17

I use Trac as a recruiter (NHS) and it's a headache. But Trac is just the platform. In your shoes, I'd contact the recruiting manager and tell them what's happening. They will be able to speak to recruitment in the Trust / health board and work out what to do.

If it's a specialist role, then in my experience much effort will be put in to get a satisfactory outcome. Even if it's not a specialist role, it's quite likely that the recruiting manager will be keen not to waste the effort put in so far in recruiting you.

HarrysChild · 04/09/2021 16:08

I had this with Trac jobs (also nhs!), when i was going back to work after some time out as a sahm. I couldn’t provide an employment reference as I hadn’t been employed for all of the previous 3 years. After much deliberation they allowed a personal reference and I also had to just write a statement explaining why I was unable to provide a 3 year employment reference. Might be worth asking?

HurryUpAndWait23 · 04/09/2021 16:01

God, all those years I was giving out references from jobs in which I was a teenage nightmare, thinking they couldn't give me a negative reference!!

😂😂😂

bluegreygreen · 04/09/2021 14:18

You can give any kind of reference you like, but it must be truthful and you must be prepared to stand over it.

For this reason many companies now give very neutral, structured references.

Queenie6655 · 04/09/2021 13:47

@HurryUpAndWait23

That's not correct.

Oh fair enough, this was what I was told about 20 years ago and I've never questioned it Blush.

What is the case?
Can people give a negative reference?

That's what I thought also??
HurryUpAndWait23 · 04/09/2021 13:44

That's not correct.

Oh fair enough, this was what I was told about 20 years ago and I've never questioned it Blush.

What is the case?
Can people give a negative reference?

Original poster
BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 04/09/2021 09:57

Thank you, this is helpful.

The trouble is, with the agency I worked for, they always answer the phone and say they’re happy to do it, will get the right person to do it etc, then he never does, never allowed to speak to him, he’s always ‘in a meeting’.

They ignore all my emails; no matter who I sent them to.

I’m not on bad terms with them or anything, they are just so disorganised and can’t be bothered to fill in a form.

OP posts:
Original poster
BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 04/09/2021 09:10

@HurryUpAndWait23

No one is allowed to give a negative reference.

You can only refuse to give one.

If several people are refusing to engage, could it be possible that they don't have a good reference to give?

2 have not been engaged, I got references from 2 others including my current employer
OP posts:
ThatSunnyCorner · 03/09/2021 23:31

@HurryUpAndWait23

No one is allowed to give a negative reference.

You can only refuse to give one.

If several people are refusing to engage, could it be possible that they don't have a good reference to give?

That's not correct.

OP, presumably you asked your referees before passing on their contact details to the recruitment team? If they are now asking you to chase, I'd check if a simple dates of employment and sickness record would suffice. If so, chase your referees hard and explain that only minimal info is required, rather than a full reference. That might work.

If not, I'd do as bakewelltarty suggests. Contracts and payslips might be helpful to prove who you were employed by. The information here might be useful too: www.nhsemployers.org/articles/temporary-pre-employment-checks

bakewelltarty · 03/09/2021 23:18

A personal statement is a form that Recruitment use for new employees to complete if they haven't got the required references (ie out of work for a period of time, career break etc). We use it at our London NHS Trust so I'm sure yours would have something similar.

daisypond · 03/09/2021 22:26

You absolutely can give a negative reference. It just has to be truthful.

HurryUpAndWait23 · 03/09/2021 21:49

No one is allowed to give a negative reference.

You can only refuse to give one.

If several people are refusing to engage, could it be possible that they don't have a good reference to give?