How to get into NHS

[dekoLL]

I would like to work for NHS - many jobs (psychology related) are advertised internally, so I would need to already work for NHS to get them. I am willing to do ANY job, as long as it?s NHS. I've got experience (healthcare assist, support worker), education (Bsc (2.1), Msc-merit) and still can?t get any support worker or healthcare assistant job with them...

I know it?s hard to get into NHS, but why is that?? How it all works???

What is even more confusing, some jobs are advertised one day before closing date - this obviously means they've got somebody already for the post...and even 10-5 days before closing date...it?s really confusing...

Any info would be greatly appreciated

Have you tried this site. You may find that there is a lot of job freezes out there. Good luck

I ment to say : You may find that there is a lot of job freezes out there, so not much is being advertised at the moment.
Getting a temporary contract is a good way to get in, then you get to see the internal job sheets.

Do you have an emergency operations centre near to you?
I worked for the nhs for 10 years, really fancied answering 999 calls for the ambulance service - training is a doddle & very mimimal compaired to other areas.

I phoned our areas eoc & asked if they were recruiting & then went from there.

Once employed you have can then acsess the intrenet & see all new positions avaliable, as well as mingling & finding out what is avaliable within your area.

Good luck

bugger all jobs around at the moment
we are short staffed and not hiring

thanks all :)
ggirl lol
I'm sure there is a way in getting a job with NHS - is there anybody working for NHS and willing to tell me who they got in?

Have you searched the NHS jobs website?

Do you have a long term goal? I notice you mentioned Psychology. I think there are certain roles within the NHS that have high numbers of applicants because they are considered good experience as part of a long term career path. If its one of these you are after you may benefit from talking to someone in that particular field. But in other areas it can be really hard to recruit good candidates, so am not sure it is just an NHS thing.

Agree with others - lots of trusts not hiring at the moment, but there are sometimes exceptions.

When you apply you need be relevant to the post you're applying for. I know that sounds obvious but we have loads of people applying for lab support worker posts with no relevant experience and no attempt to explain why they want to work in a lab, how their previous experience could be relevant or indeed why they want the job.
There are often 50-100 or 100+ applicants so someone who hasn't tried to put down the above will be scored very low and won't even get an interview.
This is particularly important if your CV/history makes it pretty obvious that you're after the post as an 'in' to the NHS.
Look at it from the employer's point of view, if you spend a couple of months training someone and getting them competent and then they bugger off - and as ggirl says it's difficult for us to be allowed to recruit to vacant posts in the first place, then all of this adds up to being fairly cautious in who you appoint.

absolutely honestly, there's no magic way in, the reason jobs are advertised only for one day is that they get so many applicants (say 50 -100) for some of the jobs (e.g. bogstandard clerical jobs) in one day they can pull the job after one day. I suspect I got my job because it was only a few days per week, so less people would be interested. as ggirl says, there's a lot of freezes on recruitment, so not that many jobs. keep checking NHS jobs and good luck.

nhs jobs england/wales and scotland

asst psychology posts are wildly over subscribed (as this is required prior to apply for clinical).often grads work as hca (health care asst) to get experience.but do persevere try get in

many trusts aren't recruiting at mo.posts frozen

maybe apply for local nhs bank work too (as and when required basis )

big thanks to all!
Yes, I can see what you mean bela, im overqualifies for many positions that I apply, and therefore they will know well that I wont stay long...hard one really.
I will keep trying :o

I planned to be a clinical psychologist (having already gained a BSc psychology) and was looking for nhs psychology experience. I just rang up the clinical psychology dept at my local uni (linked to hospital) and offered to work for free on any research they had going.
They offered me a choice of a few temp jobs ( ended up helping with research for a geriatrician consultant) and they were all paid!
In the end decided against the clinical psychology route and did medicine as a graduate, is that something you would look at as you sound ideally qualified and motivated?