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Help i am struggling to complete this application form!

71 replies

Beauregard · 22/09/2007 20:06

Please
It is the part for additional info,it says explain your skills,abilities ,experience and achievements to date which make you a suitable candidate for this post.
I really cannot 'sell 'myselfand the form has to be returned by wed!
The job is for a Health care support assistant.

OP posts:
ScottishMummy · 22/09/2007 21:34

sleep on it
glass of wine
no worries

fihi · 22/09/2007 21:38

ditch it for a bit, watch sum cr*p on telly or something, come back to it l8r. Know what u mean, u end up 'blocked' over it and can't even think straight never mind write sense. I end up sort of figuring it out in my head like in the shower or doing the hoovering, and then writing much later. like i said b4, get a spare bit of paper (LATER!!) and do the "sodit write anything" thing, you'll be surprised... now go watch x factor, eh??

ScottishMummy · 22/09/2007 21:42

yep leave it be, have a bevvy, have a laugh, think about it after a sleep

Beauregard · 22/09/2007 21:42

Ok will do ,thanks both.

OP posts:
3andnomore · 22/09/2007 21:53

I had this the other day...a applicationform that wanted to know it all (honestly the process here in the UK is so effing difficult, sigh)....anyway, with a bit of help of my friends on a certain thread (10/10 thank you) and the help of my next door neighbour who is pretty brilliant, dispite overcoming a hip replacement surgery....I finally got inspired...and whilst possibly not perfect, it was me...so, either they want me or they don't...lol

UCM · 23/09/2007 01:12

Sorry Pelv, will come back tomorrow.

pinkteddy · 23/09/2007 12:27

Well - I have done some work on this, I hope you are going to be paid well for this job they seem to want a lot for a health care assistant role!

Anyway here goes:

It is essential that the postholder has:
? Understanding of the needs and rights of older people

I have a good understanding of the needs and rights of older people, I have done xyz training (understanding of any legislation here - this is not my area of expertise but must be something around NSF or social services stuff) - may be worth putting something here about work you have done with older people.

It is desirable that the postholder has:
? Assessment & Care Planning skills with older people

I worked at bla bla home as x. As part of my remit I regularly undertook assessments of older people. This involved xxxx. I would also refer to other members of the md team if xyz was required.

? To have worked in a residential or community care sefting - give examples of jobs you have done.

Skills and Abilities:

It is essential that the postholder has:
? Good motivational skills

I am self motivated and able to work on my own initiative. In my role of xx at yy organisation, I had to undertake x and y without supervision. I am committed to personal development and have undertaken ??

? Effective communication skills ? including the ability to listen and communicate orally and in writing

I have effective communications skills in my role of xx I had to eg: write referral letters, write assessments, write ? put here anything you had to write give a real example better still if it led to something or was a project. I have the ability to listen, I deal with clients/patients every day in my role of xx ? or better still if you can say you communicate with people at all levels eg: patients/relatives/carers/social workers managers etc.

? Good interpersonal skills

I have good interpersonal skills I am used to dealing with patients/clients and meeting their needs eg: xx
I am patient, efficient, - deliver xyz again give examples.

? Ability to promote independence to give residents choice
? Ability to work on own initiative and show empathy ?

Give examples of where you have worked on own initiative. Empathy ? they want to know that you can work with clients and be sympathetic to their needs.

? Ability to work effectively and contribute to a team .?

Just give examples of where you have worked in a successful team. Any team building training you have done.

? Ability to write and record essential information clearly and accurately ?

Give examples of record keeping in specific roles you have had.

Additional Factors:
? To be flexible in approach to the needs of the establishment
Probably want to know that you are willing to help out within the teamand perhaps work unsocial hours??

? Commitment to equal opportunities, anti discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice

I am committed to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice. I have a broad experience of equal opportunities and diversity both with the provision of services in the NHS and social services in my role of xx
Put any equal opps or diversity training you have had here.

? Be fully aware of the need to preserve the dignity of every individual and accept total confidentiality

Any confidentiality training ? also awareness of confidentiality issues give examples here.
? Commitment to training and professional development ?
What training you have had and how committed you are to continuing this.

? Must be able to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team ?

Examples of where you have worked in a md team and your understanding of what md team is.

Phew - I hope this is of some use!

pinkteddy · 23/09/2007 13:20

bumping for pelvic.

fihi · 23/09/2007 14:40

Hi PFNM!! hope u got a good sleep. how's it going this morning? clearer? Pink has done some amazing stuff for u- good1 pink!
pinkteddy - set up the PINKTEDDYCONSULTANCY and earn a fortune out of giving fab advice, eh? you should!
wrote this lot partly to say hi and partly to BUMP. will come back l8r, u said u would be back this evening c u (virtually) then...

flowerybeanbag · 23/09/2007 15:42

Back again, loving your work pinkteddy!

Only thing I would change is the headings. I wouldn't literally cut and paste the exact wording from the person spec. I would phrase them slightly differently/group them together/shorten slightly.

This is partly to make it more concise and readable, but also I think it shows that you have thought about each of the requirements and what they mean, rather than just copying and pasting.

I would use the following or something similar -

Understanding of needs and rights of older people

Empathy

Promoting independence and maintaining dignity and confidentiality

Assessment and care planning skills

Previous experience in residential or care setting

Motivational skills

Communication skills

Working on own initiative

Teamworking

Writing and recording information

Flexibility

Commitment to equal opportunities

Commitment to personal development

I think some of them can easily be combined, and you can cover it all under the same heading iyswim. For example I've used 'teamworking' as a heading, and I would say cover both contributing to a team and the multi-disciplinary bit under that.

As I say, if you can paraphrase them and group them together but still cover everything required, it is easier to read but also shows you have thought about and understood each requirement.
I don't know anything about health care jobs so you may feel different things go together better or whatever.

HTH anyway

pinkteddy · 23/09/2007 19:09

hmm pinkteddy consultancy - has a certain ring to it don't you think?!! I hope to goodness pelvicfloor has seen this after all our hard work flowerybeanbag!!

Beauregard · 23/09/2007 19:52

OMG
(((Pinkteddy!)))Thankyou so so so so much,that gives me a really good base to start from.I have written down some 'bullet points' of jobs that i have done or do as part of my present job.

And Flowerybeanbag,Hifi!
You are all fab, i love you all

OP posts:
Beauregard · 23/09/2007 19:53

I can start it now!
Hurray

OP posts:
flowerybeanbag · 23/09/2007 19:59

You'd better get the job now.....no pressure or anything...

Beauregard · 23/09/2007 20:04

lol

OP posts:
pinkteddy · 23/09/2007 20:24

Glad to be of help - please tell us how you get on - will keep this on my watch threads. You've just got to get through the interview now!

fihi · 23/09/2007 20:47

good luck with it. no more panic now let us know when you get the interview (x fingers etc)

stop deliriously skipping and start writing,woman

Beauregard · 23/09/2007 22:17

God my brain hurts ,my back hurts, my neck hurts but i finally have a rough draft!!!!!!!!!!
To be rearranged juggled and rewritten in the morning.

OP posts:
Beauregard · 23/09/2007 22:28

By the way i meant to ask all you brainboxes re the sick record ,i have to declare sick leave for the last 12 months but i am not sure what to put as i had a long period of sick leave folowing depression but only the tail end of the 12 weeks (approx 2 weeks)or so would be included in that 12 month period if you know what i mean.

OP posts:
Beauregard · 23/09/2007 22:30

I promise i will stop sucking your intelligence soon.
xx

OP posts:
pinkteddy · 23/09/2007 23:19

Was the sickness for an employer that you will be needing a reference for? If so you will probably have to be honest, but my instinct would be to be a bit vague about the reasons if you can. Flowerybeanbag might be better on this as she has the HR expertise! If no reference needed I would say something like approximately x days due to minor ailments! But up to you. HTH

fihi · 23/09/2007 23:37

I vote be vague. Well, it didn't start within the twelve month timescale they want, did it??

ditto if you feel desparately honest then cough up (oops bad choice of words) to it and create a likely explanation - flu, wasn't it?

We tend not to stress too much over the one 'genuine' looking sick leave, the applicants with the friday-itis are the ones we try to catch

flowerybeanbag · 24/09/2007 09:27

If you just put 10 days as a figure, without explaining what that was, that's actually fairly highish. If it was 10 days of Monday morning headaches or 'tummy bugs' etc that's not too good - one chunk of a 'proper' illness and an otherwise good attendance record is far preferable.

It will be more important for them to know that the 2 weeks chunk (and indeed the stuff before) was in one chunk for one reason.

On the form is it a box to fill in number of days or do you have space to write?

Other thing to remember is that if you put 2 weeks and neglect to mention that it was the tail end of a larger chunk, if they then ask for a reference and your previous employer says the whole chunk, that doesn't look too good..

If you have space to write rather than just fill in a number, I would put 2 weeks in one block at the beginning of the period, but I would ensure that before a reference is taken up, you have a word with your potential manager or whoever, and explain that it was part of a larger chunk of sickness, which you have been fully recovered from since then. Otherwise if they find that out from a reference they may not be too impressed. You don't have to tell them what it was for though, and your previous employer can't tell them either without your consent - that's sensitive information under the Data Protection Act, so if you just want to leave it as one block of sickness without giving the reason, you could do that, although there is a possibility there may be a medical questionnaire for you to fill in which may ask about things like that.

Beauregard · 24/09/2007 10:43

Hi thanks
The form has a space which asks you to list sick record for the last 12 months.
I presume i wont have to give a reason for the sick absence as it doesn't specify?
So if i just put something like..."14days following one absence?

OP posts:
flowerybeanbag · 24/09/2007 11:02

It's 10 days if it's 2 weeks and you work 5 days a week - just in case..

I would put '10 days in one block in [month], [year].

that way you convey that it was a long time ago and that it was a single chunk of illness.

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