How are people’s vaccinator job applications going?

[JacobReesMogadishu]

We had a previous thread which I’ve lost. So after originally filling out the form to register my interest in Nov with NHSP and being told I’d hear back within 7 days I only got a link to fill out a proper appt a few days ago.

Done the application now and been told to wait to hear if I’m successful or not. I can really only weekends as I have a substantive 9-5 job to do but hopefully they will want all hands on deck and not turn a registered HCP who knows how to wield a needle away!

For Test and Trace, most of the online training was via E-lfh, and you could just skip to the end and do the assessment if you already had the knowledge base.

@Motorina that’s the training I’m doing. All ok with the vax stuff but for some reason the pages are sticking for hours despite refreshing etc etc. I’ve been stuck on the assessment page for preventing radicalisation for 3.5 hours this morning. It’s soul destroying.

I applied a week ago and so far have heard nothing. Not expecting to hear anything for weeks, let alone to start actually vaccinating anyone. Supposedly it’s fast track one as o already have a substantive post. I work in the NHS and fully expect the recruitment process to take months. It suits me as I am unlikely to be able to do much before spring (DH is frontline HCP and I am expecting kids to be out of school soon) so I thought I’d I applied now I might be holding a needle by March .

My Twitter feed is also full of people who want to help, many who are extremely experienced. I know so many people who volunteered and have heard nothing. Many are more than qualified with their mandatory training up to date. I absolutely despair of the UK’s ability to organise anything quickly.

Maybe too many people are doing it at once then. I would have something else on hand to do during the pauses.

Should also say that I wanted to apply in summer but at the time the information (in my local area) was that you have to be able to work any hours in a 24 hour period . Then they must have realised this was not achievable for many so they changed it to being more like a bank shift.

Yolanda, I absolutely sympathise and they are losing so many people because of things like this.

@JacobReesMogadishu

My Facebook feed is full of similar reports from colleagues, all registered HCPs, some recently retired and on the emergency register. Most are giving up. 🤷‍♀️

Also concerns about no guarantee of a vaccine for themselves and not wanting to put themselves at risk.

I work in the pharmacy department in a hospital - all our vaccinators who have wanted the vaccine have been able to have it.

I only work bank at the moment. An email was sent out a few weeks ago asking people who wished to become vaccinators to complete the online training (and there was a lot) then to email them to inform them that you've completed the training and they'd get you booked in for face to face training/supervision. I complete the (time consuming and intense) training well before Christmas and have emailed them twice now to ask how to go forward with getting started. All I've received back is an email saying that they aren't sure what they're doing yet however will get in touch to advise when they do know what's happening.

What a waste. A whole group of qualified nurses willing to take up vaccination work, having done the training and just being left out of the loop.

@AwaAnBileYerHeid
I'm shocked, so you need to complete all the training before you know you've got a job?

I'm CEV. I would be able to do this (or other helpful work for the national effort) but would need to be vaccinated and have immunity as far as possible first (I don't want to add to the burden in ICU right now and have young kids).

I could ask my GP surgery if they want help with vaccines (but could I be vaccinated first).

I have laid fairly low so far, as I figured they need to vaccinate over 80s and people on the front line first.

Anyone else got any experience or tips on this?

I applied for band 4 Vaccinator role on NHS jobs website back at the start of Dec and have heard nothing ! Applied again through NHS professionals website and they have sent me a link to do some theory work.

[quote Frazzled2207]@AwaAnBileYerHeid
I'm shocked, so you need to complete all the training before you know you've got a job?[/quote]
Yes. That seems to be the way with the nhs professionals posts. I had an email saying my application was being considered, followed very quickly by an email telling me to get cracking with online training. I’ve not had anything saying I’ve been successful. 🤷‍♀️

Even if I was going to do 30 hours plus of training I’m certainly not doing it if there’s a risk I might not get a job.

This is one small part
Session Introduction
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you should be able to:
Explain what COVID-19 is and be aware of the UK epidemiology
Explain the policy behind the COVID-19 vaccination programme
Describe how vaccines work and how they are developed and trialled
Identify the groups who are at high risk for COVID-19 infection and who should be prioritised to receive the COVID-19 vaccine
Communicate key facts in response to questions from patients and direct them to additional sources of information
State your responsibilities relating to accountability and delegation
Describe the process of consent and how this applies when giving vaccines
Describe the legal mechanisms by which vaccinators can supply and administer
COVID-19 vaccines
Recognise the differences between a prescription, a Patient Specific Direction (PSD), a Patient Group Direction (PGD) and a Protocol and understand which staff can use each of these
Describe the key principles of how to correctly store, prepare and administer COVID-19 vaccines
Prerequisites
Before administering COVID-19 vaccine, you should have:
Undertaken training in the management of anaphylaxis and Basic Life Support as specified by policy for your local area
Undertaken any additional statutory and mandatory training as required by your employer
Successfully completed the COVID-19 e-learning vaccine-specific sessions and assessments as these become available
Received practical training in COVID-19 vaccine preparation and administration if you are new to administering vaccines
Completed the COVID-19 vaccinator competency assessment tool
An appropriate legal framework to supply and administer COVID-19 vaccine in place; for example patient specific prescription, Patient Specific Direction (PSD), a Patient Group Direction (PGD) or a Protocol
Accessed and familiarised yourself with the following key documents: Green Book COVID-19 chapter and the PHE 'COVID-19 vaccination programme. Information for healthcare practitioners'

One of my friends has started the e-learning and sent me the above......that’s the session objectives for one of the e-learning packages.

I am a GP.. and I have had to do 17 hrs of extra training... Apparently my advanced life support certificate from this Yr was not good enough and I had to do generic resus training, recognising anyphylaxis training, repeated all my data handling, confidentiality, conflict resolution training.. Despite having all these in date but apparently not from the right website
Its an absolute joke... My area has done hardly any vaccination in community due to not enough docs and nurses to do it.
I work in a non clinical role in industry in the week and my employer gave me as much time as I want to go do vaccine clinics and they offered to pay me too. So I am free full time volunteer... Still not heard anything but yet more requests for more ridiculous training to be completed.

[quote HildegardNightingale]@Motorina that’s the training I’m doing. All ok with the vax stuff but for some reason the pages are sticking for hours despite refreshing etc etc. I’ve been stuck on the assessment page for preventing radicalisation for 3.5 hours this morning. It’s soul destroying.[/quote]
@HildegardNightingale sometimes e learning websites work better on one browser than another. E.g. it might work better if you make sure you are on the most up to date version of Chrome and on a PC or laptop rather than an ipad. Sorry if you have already tried this.

I really hope some journalist on here picks this thread up.

@scousemouse13
It was in the times this week... Lots of hcp writing in with same complaints we are all making.
Its ridiculous... We will never be able to vaccinate a million people a week at this rate.
Its is shambolically piece meal disorganised.
I read today India is geared up to vaccinate multiples of millions each week... Considering most of India does not have a robust health service or a western standard of living... If they can do it why can't we.

[quote Theredjellybean]@scousemouse13
It was in the times this week... Lots of hcp writing in with same complaints we are all making.
Its ridiculous... We will never be able to vaccinate a million people a week at this rate.
Its is shambolically piece meal disorganised.
I read today India is geared up to vaccinate multiples of millions each week... Considering most of India does not have a robust health service or a western standard of living... If they can do it why can't we.[/quote]
I bet they’re not having to do diversity e-learning before being allowed to inject someone!

I've not even got to the training stage- despite many many emails and sending all my stuff to NHS returners. Doctor working in a non-clinical field. Happy to work or volunteer and do ANYTHING. It's unbelievably frustrating.

Ironically I've worked fact/sense checking those endless online courses, but haven't got the certificates to show it!

If most individuals who are happy to vaccinate are already employed in substantive posts then why the hell can't their current record of mandatory training be used????
This kind of nonsense is exactly what is putting me off getting involved-I'm in a senior nursing post and work full time but would happily put in extra hours evenings and weekends to do immunisations. Work is stressful enough without having to jump through yet more hoops.

Just wanted to add I don’t think any of this is unusual in NHS recruitment but the pace that is required to get it up and running is much faster than they would usually go yet the same processes are being applied seemingly without modification.

The Daily Telegraph are running a bit of a campaign on this subject

It's behind a paywall but thisgives the gist.

Caron Roughton, a retired surgical nurse who left the NHS in September, was able to progress to the online training stage of the volunteer vaccination programme but said the questions set were "totally inappropriate" for the level of skill required.

"I have given thousands of injections over the years and I feel that I am here ready to give up my time to get the vaccination process under way," she said. "I understand that the NHS has to be responsible, but to turn their noses up to such a wealth of knowledge from all the excellent clinicians that have volunteered is an insult."

I applied via NHS professionals and after filling in the online application form was told I was not suitable. I haven’t done any nursing for 20 years but was prepared to do training etc. I’ve heard the same from other people.

It does seem that they only want people currently working, which will affect the amount of hours they have available. They're even making currently active professional jump through an incredible number of hoops.