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!

@MrsFionaCharming
how long did it take you? I have young kids and run a small business - I am more than willing to do the job and training if I get accepted but am wary of spending a lot of time doing training if they're not going to accept me.
SJA have rejected my volunteer application twice now with no indication why - it would appear to be a simple case of 'computer says no'.

Thanks for the reassurance! It’s not until later today so I have all day to get nervous 😩

@Frazzled2207 I did the SJA modules (including the NHS ones on their list) in a day. But I had already had the interview, I wouldn't be too keen to invest all that time on the off-chance.

@Frazzled2207 it probably took me about 20 minutes per module. So over 6 hours in total. And that’s considering most of it was routings hospital induction stuff so I skipped the learning and just did the tests.

Hi,did anyone on here apply for the none health care professional vaccinator role? I completed all the modules and then the background checks a few days ago. Thought they'd be contacting my references straight away or that it would be automatic but none of them have been contacted. Anyone a few steps ahead of me that can advise how long it took them to request a reference?

It took just under a week for my first reference to be contacted, not sure if the others have been yet.

@becks5109

I was approached by SJA as I am a first aider - applied online and got an online interview very quickly. Passed that and have completed my online training. Have my in person training this weekend. It's been great reading this thread and I was quite worried at one stage but good to see the comment that as it's only one injection and no drawing up/reconstituting etc. and easy to be trained to do, I'm feeling more confident. I work pretty much full time but they said it's only a couple of shift per month and I actually think if it goes ahead my workplace would give me extra time off to do this. I really want to feel as though I am doing something to help this dire situation. My MIL and her partner are both extremely vulnerable and despite boht being over 80 neither has yet been offered the vaccine. However, a friends mum who is not over 80 is getting hers this weekend so it does seem to be a bit of a lottery. It's good to hear that they are using up the wasted 6th pfizer doses where possible as I'd hate to think any of it was going to waste. We need to get as many jabs done as possibly as quickly as possible as it really seems the only way of of this awful situation now :(

Becks how long after you completed online training did you get the link to book your face to face session?

Anyone from Scotland? I am trying to find out the best place to apply to for Vaccinators in Scotland but I can't seem to find anything. I am already an occupational vaccinator for my company and a Band 5 HCP but I've not been in the NHS for many years as I work elsewhere now. I have free time coming up in January/Feb/March as I'm in between contracts so I want to get involved.

I applied on the NHS professionals website. I work in Optics. I spent a good 12 hrs doing e learning, assessments and uploading all the documentation.

I submitted it New Years Day. I only needed 1 referee, she messaged me earlier to say she had been contacted today.
I went straight to the assessments on most of it as had done similar training for my current job but did read all the info on the vaccination side of things.

Hi @Layladylay234 - my references have all been checked now, about 5 days after I completed all the training and screening info.

Now just waiting on next steps.

Is anyone ahead and how long does it take between references and face to face training?

I applied at the beginning of December. Not heard back. In the meantime did the training for LFT at son’s school only for them not to open, however they are doing weekly tests for all staff and pupils in school. I will do a couple of sessions a week once I’m vaccinated which will be soon. I’m a critical worker so now at the front of the queue. Because I’m seeing lots of patients I’m reluctant to go into school until I’ve had vaccination ( I know it’s not known whether it stops you spreading Covid but it probably does) so it’s less likely I take the virus into school.
I will probably just spend days off doing LTFs at school. It’s going to be months before they start vaccinating under 20s so regular testing will be the only way to to keep schools open for the rest of the year.
I spend my working days sticking needles into people not sure I need the stress of doing it on my days off.

Thanks all. My background check was finished on Weds night. So hopefully my references will be requested next week.

Would also be interested to hear from anyone who's had the f2f training after refs completed

I’ve just managed to finish 10 of the 18 modules that NHS Professionals have asked for (the easy non clinical ones like fire safety and manual handling - wouldn’t accept my NHS mandatory training which is up to date ). Just have resus, anaphylaxis, storage administering and legality of vaccination etc to do.

I’ve got no idea what sort of time scale it’ll be to complete the process and get jabbing.....applied mid November and I’ve done everything they have asked for within a couple of hours of being notified (apart from e-learning which is taking bloody ages)

Talk about jumping through hoops, has anyone here actually started shifts yet!?! Bonkers. Matt Hancock said on tv the other day that most of the training eg anti-radicalisation would no longer need to be done. Has that filtered through yet?

They need as many nurses and trained HCP in hospitals at the moment.

It is bonkers they are not getting the N-HCP, retired HCP and pharmacists doing the vaccinations. It is not rocket science.

I jumped through the hoops in 2 days over the Christmas break - just desperately want to get going! It was hard going but as a complete outsider I see the need to cover quite a bit of ground. Crazy requirements for retired HCPs!

Initially expressed interest in Nov, now I think I'm in the final stages (still need to do face to face training and assessment).

I started the online chat with NHSP yesterday to ask when next steps would likely be but they had no idea, couldn't advise! Frustrating as I'm ready to go!

I am all ready, done all training, got honorary contract signed, done shadow shift and had competencies signed off.
Spoke to service organising volunteers last week.. They said they are desperate.. I said great I am ready... Yet this Friday the session I was supposed to attend to get my own jab was cancelled as "hadn't got trained staff to do it"
I rang the service provider and asked why they hadn't called me to go do it... Answer "oh we hadn't got round to thinking about asking the volunteers"
Couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery

Am I correct in saying that you can apply to be a volunteer vaccinator through St John’s Ambulance? Even if you are non health care?

I’d really like to try to and do my bit if I can

I am a registered nurse and applied through a 'fast track' recruitment process at the beginning of December. Have sent off umpteen certificates, gone backwards and forwards trying to sort out a log in for training. I know NHS recruitment is notoriously slow and inept but this is ridiculous and I'm at the point of giving up its so much hassle.

13m vaccines by mid Feb

MabelMoo yes you can. However, by the look of their website they are not opening recruitment to the general public yet but you can register your interest. You don’t have to be in a health care job; some of the roles are marshalling and similar. It doesn’t look as if they are taking people on right this minute who are not already in St John’s but I am happy to be corrected if I’m wrong about that.

It’s horrific isn’t it vintagenurse. Similar to when they talked at the beginning of all of this of getting people back from retirement. The government gives the impression of ‘all hands on deck’.

The reality is very different; people are practically begging to help but the infrastructure to get them on board just isn’t there, nearly a year into the pandemic .

I’m ready to go, my role is band 6 clinical supervisor and I’m all booked for shifts in the first mass vaccination centre in our area, I was recruited/onboarded by the local trust rather than NHSP so it’s been a bit quicker and more straightforward I think. It is quite exciting as I’m starting at the hub in the first week of it opening. I’m just hoping my after school club holds up for it - they’re taking it week by week at the moment as to whether they open but if it doesn’t run I’ll have to cancel my shifts and I’ll be gutted as I really want to do this. It’s such a huge positive thing to be part of. I know NHSP are awful, I have another role through them and the onboarding was dreadful - but it’ll be worth it in the end.

@TooStressyTooMessy absolutely, this is showing up the inefficiencies and pointless red tape in NHS administration. I only have to do update training on vaccine management, I'm up to date with all my other training, so if they expect me to redo everything else, I will despair. At least I know I'm not the only person struggling with the recruitment process though!

Yes, if we weren’t constantly warned by my Trust not to go to the media I would have contacted them long ago. The delays in recruitment have been staggering especially when people want to help.

Really glad to hear that Dontrain. At least some places seem to be getting it right. I contacted my nearest Trust who are staffing the mass vaccination centres too (slightly complicated as it is a neighbouring Trust to the one I work for). Despite apparently being desperate for staff they currently are overwhelmed with applications and you just get an automated reply saying they have lots of applications and you need to wait .

Having done the initial application and video interview before Christmas, I still don’t seem to be anywhere near starting.

But I had a call today asking me to go and help in ITU instead (I’m in an awkward pre-registration period in my training, so wouldn’t normally be allowed to work). I submitted the required documents and am starting this week.

I don’t see how the training and requirements for vaccination can be so much more stringent than being in ITU!