Page 2 | References NHS

BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 2021-09-03T16:49:49+00:00

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 I could get the offer withdrawn, but I can’t force them to give me references can I? They are companies with no HR departments.

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?

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.

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.

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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?

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Spindelina · 04/09/2021 19:31

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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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

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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!!

Toddlerteaplease · 04/09/2021 21:23

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

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!

FelixBrown · 04/09/2021 21:34

Have you tried emailing [email protected]

Original poster

BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 05/09/2021 00:37

@FelixBrown

Have you tried emailing [email protected]

I’ll give that a try, thanks

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Original poster

BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 05/09/2021 00:38

@Toddlerteaplease

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!!

What did you do in the end?

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Booknooks · 05/09/2021 00:43

@daisypond

Can people give a negative reference?

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

There has been a rumour around for a while that places cannot give bad references, in reality they can, but most don't unless there's 'evidence' such as disciplinary procedures in case someone comes back as they didn't get a job and the reference was seen as subjective. Most have a policy now of only confirming very basic details from HR such as x worked here in y role for z dates.

OP to be honest it sounds like the job is a great opportunity and that they wouldn't have been short of applicants, unfortunately this will affect the amount of effort and risk of deviating from policy that they take. For me red flags would be waving is both of a candidates previous jobs weren't responding or willing/able to provide references. I know you say you have emailed them, but the onus really is on you to get them to respond; is there any other way of contacting them?

Original poster

BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 05/09/2021 07:12

Booknooks-

My most recent job gave me a glowing reference, so did my job before the other two. In addition, I supplied a personal reference.

The agency job was only a temporary one during the last lockdown, they have loads of people coming and going and they hardly knew me at all.

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Booknooks · 05/09/2021 07:20

@BluebelllsRosesDaffodills

Booknooks-

My most recent job gave me a glowing reference, so did my job before the other two. In addition, I supplied a personal reference.

The agency job was only a temporary one during the last lockdown, they have loads of people coming and going and they hardly knew me at all.

All trac require is confirmation that you did the role you said you did for the time you said you did. Have you contacted the general contact at the agency and asked them to provide this if a manager won't? It's a lot of jobs in 3 years which of course, life happens, but that's probably also why they're keen to get them to see why you have moved so much ie were you fired etc basically.

CurzonDax · 05/09/2021 08:06

Just wanted to add something to those saying you can't give bad reference. As others have stated, you can say whatever you want in a reference, as long as it is truthful.

Around 6-7 years ago, I was in a job which I hated, mostly because I did not get on with my line manager at all. However, I did mt job as best as I could, was never put on any disciplinary or anything - we just didn't on.

I was then offered another job, but the offer was withdrawn, which I suspected was due to the reference. I therefore requested to see my references (think it may have been under the Freedom if Information Act, but I'm not too sure now), which confirmed my suspicions that I had received a bad reference. I arranged a meeting with my line manager's manager and took a copy of the reference with me. I also took a copy if my last appraisal, and a couple other bits I had (emails, etc), and highlighted passages in them which directly contradicted the negative reference (he was actually quite shocked to see the reference).

I make it very clear that I did not wish to make an official complaint/take anything further (it would have been far too much hassle), but instead I was was going to continue looking for a new job, and would put him down as a reference in future, not my line manager - he agreed to this. Two weeks later, I got offered another job, and no further issues arose.

OP - sorry, I can't help with your specific issue, but think others here have instead. Good luck with it - the role itself seems great!

OnGoldenPond · 05/09/2021 10:34

Not NHS but public sector. Had job offer from a schools academy trust. They wanted references from my last 5 employers which meant going back 20 years! The earliest one came back and said they didn't have the employment records from that far back so couldn't even confirm I had worked for them. In the end I managed to find the woman I had job shared with all that time ago on Linked In and she kindly confirmed my dates and role. Luckily she did as they were insistent that I had to get some kind of confirmation for that job. Ridiculous!

Original poster

BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 05/09/2021 12:09

Booknooks-

I was with the same employer from 2015-2019

Then 2019-20- made redundant due to Covid

Got a new job November 2020- did it for 3 weeks then got lockedown

As a temporary job, I worked for an agency, during the last lockdown ( because my actual job was closed!!!! And got no furlough!)

Then lockdown ended and I went back to actual job and stopped doing agency shifts

I was not fired from any of the jobs!

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Booknooks · 05/09/2021 12:15

@BluebelllsRosesDaffodills

Booknooks-

I was with the same employer from 2015-2019

Then 2019-20- made redundant due to Covid

Got a new job November 2020- did it for 3 weeks then got lockedown

As a temporary job, I worked for an agency, during the last lockdown ( because my actual job was closed!!!! And got no furlough!)

Then lockdown ended and I went back to actual job and stopped doing agency shifts

I was not fired from any of the jobs!

I didn't say you were, but that is what they require the references for, to confirm this wasn't the case amongst other things, it is a lot of jobs in a relatively short space of time. They have said what they require, this sounds harsh but just saying the reality, you don't have skills or experience that they can't readily find elsewhere if its a training post, it's unlikely they will accept less than they have asked for. You have to find a way to gain references even if they're just confirmations of dates worked if you want the job.

Original poster

BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 05/09/2021 12:49

@OnGoldenPond

Not NHS but public sector. Had job offer from a schools academy trust. They wanted references from my last 5 employers which meant going back 20 years! The earliest one came back and said they didn't have the employment records from that far back so couldn't even confirm I had worked for them. In the end I managed to find the woman I had job shared with all that time ago on Linked In and she kindly confirmed my dates and role. Luckily she did as they were insistent that I had to get some kind of confirmation for that job. Ridiculous!

That’s good. Did that woman still work for the company?

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Original poster

BluebelllsRosesDaffodills · 05/09/2021 12:50

Booksnooks- I’m just saying that I wouldn’t normally have had that many jobs; but it was because of Covid.

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