Can NHS give job without advertising ?!

[TulipVictory]

We are nurses, our ward will be working alongside another ward and opening up a new role. A few weeks ago our manager said that there will be a new role in the future and there will be extra shifts available on this ward in the time being whilst we establish what exactly the role will require. She also asked who would be interested in said role (a few of us).
However, around two weeks later, we receive an email saying this person and this person have the new roles on this ward with the set hours they requested. This can't be fair can it?!! A few of us were interested but they were given to two nurses from our current ward ! This was the first we even knew that they were even leaving

It depends on a number of factors, whether the roles are within the same department, or in a different department within the same trust.

If it is the same department, I think within certain situations, recruitment can be from within the existing staff base, and should be following an 'expression of interest' and agreed structure to determine who is employed. This can be managed internally within the department / directorate.

Within the trust, and between departments, there should be open advert to trust employees and formal application managed by recruitement / HR.

Outwith the trust there should be open advertisement and free application, shortlisting and recruitment managed by recruitment and HR.

Yes it happens all the time! People are always magically moved around into positions that were never advertised within the NHS.

I’ve known people become matrons, risk leads, quality leads, specialist nurses and ward managers without the job advert coming out, even internally. If your face fits…..

If it's a difficult to recruit to role then they don't have to advertise. I'm recruiting attractive positions and have been told that due to unions, we have to advertise. Don't know about legality though.

Happens all the time across the public sector not just NHS. Face fits then you get the job.

I am a manager in the NHS this is not allowed in my Trust even if its a postion someone is potentially earmarked for ie promotion, secondment or fixed term
Any role has to as a minimum advertised internally as Expression of Interest, if more than 1 application then we have to interview suitable candidates

In the trust I was at any position that becomes available has to first be offered only to those at risk of redundancy for a short period of time before it is opened to all candidates

It also means that you never get any new faces in with fresh ideas.

I’m a clinician/manager in the NHS and there’s no way we’d get away with doing this!

It must vary loads between trusts then?

This isn’t allowed in my Board for standard level roles - generally posts have to be offered to the redeployment list first and if there’s no-one suitable it then has to be advertised internally (a week is usual, so posts are often missed), and then it’s advertised externally. I imagine that very senior posts like the Chief Exec is dealt with slightly differently though!

In our trust, jobs have to be advertised even if it's just internally. If more than one person applies, they have to interview.

I used to work in public sector (not NHS) all vacancies had to be advertised. To be honest it was a pain as you'd often spend time on your application, go to interview and then find out someone in the dept had already been lined up and sure enough they got the job. I actually took to phoning and asking if an internal candidate was in line for it as I didn't want to waste my time, didn't get very positive responses.

On the other hand my DH applied for a vacancy, he got the job and was told someone else had been promised the job but DH did so well at the interview they gave him the job so I suppose it is swings and rounabouts.

Don’t be too put off by internal candidates - I’ve had to interview some absolutely awful internal candidates before and I’ve been praying that we get external applicants. As @ancientgran rightly says, it’s swings and roundabouts.

Wouldn't be allowed in our trust. I have to put a band 6 1.day a week out to cover some sick leave this week. It's for 6months but must go to expressions of interest and interview if we get more than one. All we will do is mark it for internal candidates only.

Whoever said this happens in the public sector is wrong. Now all roles have to be advertised, there’s no slotting people in

@ISmellBurnings

It also means that you never get any new faces in with fresh ideas.

This with bells on....

Makes it worse when the new initiatives are only implemented because of a senior management imperative or regulation requirement.

Bottom up creativity & innovation is completely stifled at the NHS Trust where I work. Nobody reads anything or is willing to try anything new (I'm planning to leave this year). Yay to nepotism.

My first though was that there could be perfectly valid reasons for not advertising the role eg as an alternative to redundancy or a redeployment in the case of Ill health, although from your post, it doesn't sound like this was the case.

I think you should ask your manager in the first instance, as there could be a valid explanation.

They don't have to if they are redeploying someone.

Ususally they have to advertise it in some way to allow people to apply/express interest. This can be an email around about the opposrtunity. They should then interview of sorts if multiple interests.

Its a bit of a show if I'm honest, the people they like will get the job regardless. Though you could contact your HR department and discuss it.