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Original poster

NHS Recruitment

131 replies

Babyroobs · 09/03/2022 12:35

Anyone else just feel like giving up with NHS recruitment ?
I understand things are busy right now but it just seems like things are dragging on unnecessarily.
It is impossible to contact anyone at HR for days on end. Emails go unanswered for weeks, I'm left in limbo not having a start date, or knowing what days of the week I will be working so can't plan anything. The endless forms to complete which don't work online and there is no contact to ring and ask anyone. The endless delays. I am seriously just thinking of giving up working for them altogether.

OP posts:
jessy100 · 10/03/2022 14:55

@Tranquilitybaby If you've got it booked though, surely they will honour it!
@Babyroobs How frustrating for you. I have a week booked beginning of May. That's the one that absolutely cannot be moved. I may end up with a start date later than that,, so it won't be an issue!

Gingernaut · 10/03/2022 14:59

Switchboard operator here

Recruitment and HR in general are working from home in my place.

Every time someone asks for HR, my heart sinks and I have to try multiple mobile numbers which become unobtainable after the first ring out.

Roughly one call, per person, per day seems to be their limit.

I spend my whole job apologising to people.

desperatehousewife21 · 10/03/2022 16:38

The person who offered me the job last fri said I’d hear from recruitment and that if I didn’t to call her. I asked how long should I wait before calling and she said 2 weeks. I felt like she was very keen to get me started and don’t feel like she would let HR drag their feet. At least I have her contact to chase if things go slow. My current employment are stupidly slow at all things hr related so hoping they don’t delay it too with my reference etc

Hate this limbo / waiting around stage, just want to get started!

desperatehousewife21 · 10/03/2022 17:07

Also can I ask, those who have had job offers. Does the written confirmation get sent by post or email?

MrsMeg1 · 10/03/2022 17:45

My offer letter came by email. I also had about 3 calls throughout the process asking how I was finding it and could they do anything to help. Really can't fault them!

Tranquilitybaby · 10/03/2022 19:16

@desperatehousewife21

Also can I ask, those who have had job offers. Does the written confirmation get sent by post or email?
Email, several emails in fact. A lot of info is required
SailingNotSurfing · 10/03/2022 19:39

It took me from December one year, until the following March to change jobs, same band, same health board, same job description, DBS checked within 12 months. I STILL had to provide proof of identity, submit another application to DBS, have another Occy Health check-up (I have no health issues) - it was bloody ridiculous.

NeedAHoliday2021 · 10/03/2022 19:41

I’ve always had a pretty good experience although in my current hospital 50% of hr is off with covid this week so that’s making things tricky.

ChocolateDeficitDisorder · 10/03/2022 19:44

I took a fixed-term contract last year and ended up only being able to give 2 weeks notice as the formal offers didn't come out in time for the training to start - it was a Covid related job so my LA employer released me fortunately.

I'm starting a permanent post soon, got the formal offer and a start date so gave my 4-week notice in and then was told that my start date was delayed for one week. Fortunately current managers have let me delay my finish so I don't have a week without wages.

It's pretty poor.

CosmicComfort · 10/03/2022 19:48

NHS recruitment makes snails seem fast!

I was in post and got an internal promotion, still took forever and had to do the usual DBS, ID checks which took 2 flipping weeks to set up, Occ health took a while. In the end I actually started doing the job before it was all processed.

yellowbridgebang · 10/03/2022 19:55

@jessy100

Sorry to hijack. But can anyone who works for the nhs tell me what happens about pre booked holidays. I have three holidays booked between May and September Two are rolled over from last year. I know that I won't have worked up enough holidays to cover them, but I am hoping they will let me have the time off unpaid. One is movable but the other two definitely not.
@jessy100 if you declared your booked holidays and negotiated unpaid options to take them during the application and acceptance of the role process, it will be honoured.

If you bring it up after accepting / starting the job it will be a managers discretion and they can say no / not allow unpaid leave etc, particularly if it is at short notice.

LethargeMarg · 10/03/2022 19:57

One word of warning with nhs though in my experience it can be a good sign if it takes a while- if it's quick it's often that the team are really short staffed and desperate to get people in. It's usually a couple of months minimum from interview offer to start and that's if you keep nagging at them, you should definitely be discussing working days and holidays with your new manager though rather than hr

InRoseBlush · 10/03/2022 20:14

I've just changed jobs within the nhs and my only advice re recruitment is to try and get your future manager to stay on their backs. I had been patiently waiting after sending all my forms away thinking if there was any issues they would contact me because during the recruitment process for my old job recruitment got in contact to say they hadn't received one of my references and could I chase it up. So thinking no news is good news I waited about a month before contacting them and after receiving no response I managed to get in touch with my new manager who chased them up and told her they had been waiting weeks for one of my references!! If I hadn't managed to get in touch with my new manager god knows when they would have let me know there was a problem. After they sent my conditional offer I never had any contact from recruitment or HR until they emailed with my unconditional offer.

And the same thing has just happened to my boyfriend, after multiple emails had gone unanswered he managed to get contact details for the lady who will be his manager and she chased up recruitment who told her they hadn't received one of his references. The issue could have been resolved weeks ago if they had bothered replying to his emails!

So basically unless your new manager is keen to get you started and happy to pester recruitment for you, you will probably be waiting a while. It's a frustrating process, you have my sympathies!!

desperatehousewife21 · 15/03/2022 16:45

@Babyroobs how’s your job process going now? I’m still waiting for my written confirmation, it’s not been 2 weeks yet which is the amount my new manager told me to wait before contacting her.
I don’t even mind that’s it a bit of a wait, but I’d love to know a start date and when I can hand my notice in because I feel like I’m treading water in my current job.

Clockbookbeast · 15/03/2022 17:04

It's not just because of covid nhs hr has its own time zone. 10 years ago it took 5months to get me in post it's renowned for being slow. Congratulations on the job just keep contacting them let them know your still there!

MisplacedPumpkin · 15/03/2022 17:09

I interviewed for a NHS position in October - I wasn't given a start date until January and it was February by the time I was actually employed. It seems to take a long time - even though I was on the ball and provided everything (ID, DBS etc) right away.

My line manager was great and kept in touch throughout but it was HR/ Occupational Health that slowed things down I think.

Tranquilitybaby · 15/03/2022 17:28

I received my offer letter and info to complete for DBS checks etc v quickly, but I have some questions regarding unsocial hours pay that I think I should be entitled to working Saturdays and Sunday nights, but hasn’t been mentioned and no one can give me a straight answer.
So still no further down the line, but I don’t want to return forms until I actually know what I’ll be earning!

Anyone else working unsocial hours and can advise if it’s the same % added across the board in each band?

Starlightstarbright1 · 15/03/2022 17:34

I went through recruitment for nhs..was told process would take 3 months..
I was offered 2 other jobs i could start in a week. I obviously took one of the other jobs

Original poster
Babyroobs · 15/03/2022 17:40

@Starlightstarbright1

I went through recruitment for nhs..was told process would take 3 months.. I was offered 2 other jobs i could start in a week. I obviously took one of the other jobs
Yes I went for an interview last friday for a job which said they wanted someone quickly. Still waiting to hear but will take it if offered rather than waiting around months for the NHS ones.
OP posts:
Starlightstarbright1 · 15/03/2022 21:45

Fingers crossed for you op.

HeyBlaby · 15/03/2022 21:49

I moved from private nursing to NHS a few years ago, had worked for a few private companies and the whole onboarding was easy, NHS was abysmal, you have my sympathies.

CJat10 · 15/03/2022 21:59

NHS HR is just dire. Obsessed with bureaucratic procedure and non action.

You could have no staff to care for patients but still HR self righteously claiming bureaucratic process must be followed and prevent recruitment for weeks, months etc. I reckon it takes me 6 months from beginning to end with numerous emails chasing, begging, pleading. It's the one dept paralysing our trust's recovery

smileyforest · 15/03/2022 22:05

Three months so far here for Bank Imms Nurse !

Gone are the days you handed notice on when yiu accepted post and started new job within a month!!!

HobnobsChoice · 16/03/2022 04:05

@newbiename

I doubt there is a worse HR than the nhs and I've worked for a few trusts.
Local authority is pretty awful as well. One department does DBS checks and then a month later a different department asks to see all the same documents to confirm your identify and right to work. It's absolutely insane and I swear ridiculous ATS software makes it worse
Original poster
Babyroobs · 16/03/2022 15:48

Just an update. I've been offered another job with a quick start, so have cancelled one of the NHS jobs, the one that has been particularly slow and made no contact with me for weeks. Feel like things will move quickly with a non Nhs job !!

OP posts:
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