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!

I have a friend booked in for a vaccinator shift with SJA this weekend do it will be interesting to see if that happens. Anecdotally someone on our call last week knew someone (!) who had done a shift as vaccinator.

@HarrietLong
That’s so disappointing

I suppose the good thing is with or without us the nhs are doing a phenomenal job vaccinating.

But very disappointing to those of us who were led to believe we could help but possibly won’t be able to. If I’m going to do it I definitely want to be useful not a spare part getting in the way

I think it depends on how long the vaccination centre has been open too. I've done a couple near me and at the start they overstaff and it can feel like too many people but once they get things slicker they get the numbers better.
There are still random days where numbers are down or it snows but I just talk to people who are waiting - some havent been out all year or are really nervous so it makes a huge difference to them.
Im still hopeful I will get to do more vaccinating once sja iron out the kinks

Spoke to 119. Have to wait for SJA ID to book vaccination, as that's proof of employment and the certificate isn't.

(Although I don't believe either is proof of employment, as I'm an unpaid volunteer and I did state this)

I just had to take an email confirming that I had been accepted as a volunteer, but I guess the ID card is better. No-one actually asked for it at the vaccination centre either.

@Missypuff30

Spoke to 119. Have to wait for SJA ID to book vaccination, as that's proof of employment and the certificate isn't.

(Although I don't believe either is proof of employment, as I'm an unpaid volunteer and I did state this)

The ludicrous thing is, I showed my ID and as I was wearing a mask (and hat!) she had no way of checking in any event that my face matched the picture on the ID - and didn't ask me to remove my mask.

Hope your ID arrives soon in any event (although agree with you that your ID card isn't proof of employment).

I am pleased to report that my shift today (in a different centre) was the total opposite! It is a smaller centre, run by a pharmacist, no NHS staff, and definitely relies on SJA volunteers. I observed the pharmacist do a few vaccinations, did ten under supervision, and then was signed off to carry on. And then..... got given my own vaccine from the left overs at the end of shift! It was really satisfying and worth all the training. Just need to try and book future shifts there!

@HarrietLong
that's great that you got to be useful...and got the vaccine too! Happy days.

That is great news @HarrietLong. DD has the basic life support training today and then will be all ready to take up shifts. (NHS) I will let you know how this pans out.

I’ve had an email to say that they have passed my details from the mass hub recruitment team to the primary care recruitment team. At least my name is still on a list somewhere. Maybe I will get some training one day or they will start the dbs check or something. It is good that so many people want to help.

I am hoping that I can do some volunteering in March (stewarding). My February shifts were cancelled due to vaccine supply issues I think.

@HarrietLong

I am pleased to report that my shift today (in a different centre) was the total opposite! It is a smaller centre, run by a pharmacist, no NHS staff, and definitely relies on SJA volunteers. I observed the pharmacist do a few vaccinations, did ten under supervision, and then was signed off to carry on. And then..... got given my own vaccine from the left overs at the end of shift! It was really satisfying and worth all the training. Just need to try and book future shifts there!

This is brilliant to hear!

DH has also had an email saying they are opening another centre much nearer to us that will be smaller and may have some vaccinator shifts available, so good news here too!

Have to report I’ve lost 3lbs in weight since starting my shifts last week. Have been very busy!
Hope everyone starts their shifts soon.

That is great @HildegardNightingale with the added bonus of losing some of the lockdown 'eleven'.

DD completed all her training today. However, she went and logged on to the roster and there is not a single shift from 24th Feb-1st March available. Sigh...Grrr!

I’m also really disappointed. Spent hours training and took
Time off work and from my two 2 young kids and there are no shifts at all. This is in london too!
Completely pointless waste of time.

If you are talking about SJA, the hub closest to me has a shift available in June! All others seem to have about 15 people signed up for each position, I can only assume people are signing up for multiple shifts in the hope that they get one. It's very disheartening.

@Olympicfan

That is great *@HildegardNightingale* with the added bonus of losing some of the lockdown 'eleven'.

DD completed all her training today. However, she went and logged on to the roster and there is not a single shift from 24th Feb-1st March available. Sigh...Grrr!

Hi @Olympicfan,your daughter is doing it through NHSP I think isn't she? I had my f2f training yesterday - BLS and training on how to draw up vaccine and inject an orange lol. I'm the same,the NHSP is showing no shifts available....ever. Even if I go into April/May time it's showing nothing. They did say yesterday that they tend to fill the jobs locally then whatever is left goes onto NHSP. They also said they were very quiet at this vaccination centre (only 1 out of 3 channels open) but that when the vaccines were available to the general public,that's when they'd need the extra staff.

It's all still very much a "Why bother training us/doing us a DBS/sending us polo shirts if you don't have the work" feeling towards NHSP. I presumed that once the f2f training was done,I'd be signed off and shifts would appear but clearly not.

I'm doing another job at the moment so couldn't do ant vaccinating now until after Easter. So I suppose time will tell if what they're saying about getting busier is true. It's all a bit ridiculous though,all you ever hear is how NHS is understaffed and overwhelmed,yet all the vaccine work is being taken by them! Wouldn't the qualified staff be better placed in hospitals?!

Update: DD checked the shift roster again at 3pm and there was one shift for tomorrow at our local hub for a HCA grade 3. She has taken it, so starts tomorrow!

Moral: keep checking the roster as it is updated daily (no specific time). Shame they don't have a notifications bell!!

great news Olympicfan! Hope it goes well for DD.

@Layladylay234 qualified staff are needed for consents and drawing up. Nearly all of us qualified are old retired nurses.

I did my SJA f2f training on Jan 16th and after a few admin hiccups (DBS, badge, GRS password) I did my first two vaccinator shifts this week (Feb 23&25). Really lucky on the first shift to get vaccinated, shadow a nurse vaccinating and then complete the “protocol” and vaccinate 12 citizens. Very friendly team, all went like clockwork. On the second shift there were loads of nurses and no opportunities to vaccinate for any SJA volunteers so we all did the pre-check forms and a bit of wiping down of chairs and marshalling. Talking to people in the pre-checks, calming any nerves, answering questions about the different vaccines, is really satisfying but so is the vaccinating! I honestly won’t mind which role I end up doing most. Good to have a bit of variety and I can see now that having one HCP processing consent for people who then go on to six vaccinators is bananas. Factor in the drawing down of the vaccine being restricted to HCPs and it’s totally bonkers to set the hubs out in anything like the diagram shown in the f2f training. Hey ho... I’m sure it’s all a work in progress. With second doses on the way and then Moderna and J&J thrown in to the mix the system is going to get a whole lot more complex.

DD did her first shift today.

When she arrived they asked her what she was trained for. She said as a Health Care Assistant and Vaccinator. The line manager said, "Well, in that case lets get you vaccinating!"

LM: "Have you done your competencies?"
DD "No"
LM: "Let's get those done first. And you have been vaccinated?"
DD:"No"
LM: " We can't have you vaccinating if you haven't had a vaccine yourself! Pop yourself down we will do that now then get you started!"

DD vaccinated over 60 people during her shift. She was very nervous doing the first one, which turned out to be a girl two years above her from her old school! There were 3 vaccinators: a retired dentist, a nurse and DD. They were a hub at a showground.

I picked DD up and felt really emotional seeing the people walk out with their leaflets in hand and stickers 'I have been vaccinated'. It was like I was witnessing history with the mass vaccination of a nation.

DD is a vaccinator!!! She has made a difference to 60 people today.

@Olympicfan
that's brilliant to hear. How fab for your daughter. You must be very proud .She's made a REAL difference to those 60 today and there will be many more to come.

That's lovely to hear @Olympicfan

Well I've just spent another 4.5 hours filling out forms for new starters, occ health, risk assessments, copying documents again etc. and emailing them back for the job that may never happen......

Glad your daughter has done her first shift @Olympicfan

Hope it's going well for others