NHS Admin job - Skills

[CliftonGreenYork]

Hi All. I am currently an HR and Admin Manager with John Lewis but have been told this week that our store is closing. I have been given a great redundancy deal which includes £3000 to do any training or qualifications I want. At the age of 50 I have decided that its time for a change and I am really keen to get a position with the NHS in admin or something similar. Happy to go in at any level as just want job security and the pension is great. I left school over 30 years with O' levels and 1 A'level but don't have a degree - just years of management experience.

My question is can anyone advise me what courses of qualifications would best get me in the door. Like I said I have at least £3000 available and am happy to pay more. Many jobs are asking for ECDL is level 2 enough or should I do the advanced? Should I do a NVQ in Business Admin or something similar. If anyone has any advice or tips I would be really grateful.

Huge thanks

I'd go for a Microsoft Office Specialist qualification over ECDL.

I'm thinking about the band 3 admins in our team. One has a masters in business admin, another has a degree (it's in politics or something irrelevant but they had a high flying job previously) and another is a college leaver who is now doing an apprenticeship in a level 3 administration course, I think this was part of the deal when they took the job. Oh and one I worked with in redeployment had a degree in health and social care. I would definitely do a level 3 rather than a level 2.

The way I got into my nhs job (analysis rather than admin, but same principle), was to find a job advert of my dream job and then contact the named contact to tell them that I wasn’t at that stage yet but to ask what experience they would like to see in a candidate. They gave some really good advice and I have ended up closer to my goal.

Also it sounds as though from your current job you have loads of experience so I'm not even sure you'd need a specific qualification?

If you would consider a school, then SIMS training might be helpful? When I did the course most people doing it were in a similar position to you.

I got an nhs admin job last year, I only have GCSE's and office experience in other areas. Most people in my office don't have formal qualifications and lots seem to come from a care background.

@ThePricklySheep

The way I got into my nhs job (analysis rather than admin, but same principle), was to find a job advert of my dream job and then contact the named contact to tell them that I wasn’t at that stage yet but to ask what experience they would like to see in a candidate. They gave some really good advice and I have ended up closer to my goal.

This is a great idea - huge thanks for the tip.

Good advice on this thread. I would also read up on patient confidentiality (information governance, Caldicott Guardians) and GDPR so you are well informed on this crucial aspect of NHS administration.

Microsoft Office is essential for NHS admin, so a qualification to evidence that would be great.

The real key to getting shortlisted for an NHS admin job is to make sure you meet, and can evidence, all the essential criteria on the person spec. Then also show how you meet the desirable criteria. Believe me, when you've got 50+ applications, that's all many people will look at as a first sift for shortlisting. Anyone missing an essential will be taken out, then shortlisters often look at the desirable criteria to thin the pile down further. Am sure you know all this already with your current role, but sometimes the NHS is much more rigid than other organisations because of the volume of applications.

If you go onto NHS Jobs and find roles at the level you're thinking of, take a look at the person spec for each of them. That's the best way to make sure you understand the skills you will need to evidence. Some will be generic to the band, others to the role.

I'm conscious that in your current role, this is all probably really obvious, so if any of it has come across as patronising, apologies in advance, it's not meant in that way. The very best of luck, with your skill set you'd be a great asset to the NHS!

My NVQ in Business Admin always served me well in the past with getting office jobs.

Does anyone know what they will ask band 2 admin interview nhs apprenticeship please. My interview is coming up soon and it’s 30 minutes long. How many questions do they ask. Any help is appreciated

Hi - Best thing to do is go onto youtube search nhs band 2 admin interview. There is a man on there who has the questions and great answers from nhs set interviews. I did this for mine and they asked every question I had prepared for - thanks to him.

Can I ask how many of those questions did they ask, as there are 21 questions on there, and if so which questions.

Your current role and job description will get you in. Once in you can do work related nvqs for free. Good luck op, I love my nhs admin job.

Thank you. It is a 30-minute interview, I am nervous. Would they ask me 21 questions, or is it normally 5 or so?

I shortlist nhs vacancies, my tip would be to ensure your application form states exactly the requirements from the person spec. If they want team player, say you are a team player, if they want reliable, say you are reliable, if they want Microsoft excel say you have Microsoft excel. The shortlisting programme is a tick box exercise and the points add up. Don't even miss out something obvious like good time keeping if that's what they've listed. With the job description and the person spec I could write an application which would secure anyone an interview.

Thank you. Do they generally ask you why you want the job?, or is that not included.

Yes the application will ask this and will be expanded at interview. Probably not ideal to say the pension! Just say something about how your skill set meets the position perfectly and how you'd be proud to be part of the greatest asset the country has.