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Original poster

Offered NHS job four weeks ago - no start date yet!

17 replies

ExtraCreamy · 08/04/2022 19:27

Anyone else in the same boat? I accepted the job four weeks ago and had the new starter forms sent to me the following week. I returned them a couple of days later and haven't heard anything since! My references have been sent over as well, so now I'm just waiting on the unconditional offer so I can leave my current job and hopefully have a few weeks of downtime before I start.

I've heard NHS HR takes a while, but the waiting is so frustrating!

OP posts:
Hope90x · 08/04/2022 19:31

My advice - don't wait for HR, chase them.
If that doesn't work, contact your new manager and advise all has been done from your end.

They will no doubt be eager to get your started ASAP and are likely to have more success chasing it up on their end.

Honestly, people have waited months for HR to get back to them and things are often missed. Get checking in.

vdbfamily · 08/04/2022 19:34

Absolutely chase HR. They are usually overwhelmed and trends to deal with the ones they are pressured to deal with. Usually the DBS is biggest delay but even they are quite quick these days. Worth checking with them that they are definitely not waiting for anything from you.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 08/04/2022 19:37

@vdbfamily

Absolutely chase HR. They are usually overwhelmed and trends to deal with the ones they are pressured to deal with. Usually the DBS is biggest delay but even they are quite quick these days. Worth checking with them that they are definitely not waiting for anything from you.
It's random with DBS though. We sometimes get them back in 48 hours, sometimes it takes weeks, for no apparent reason. I think some police forces respond faster than others to DBS check requests, so where you have lived/do live can have an impact.

Definitely worth chasing, OP, but no need to worry.

Theupsidedownexists · 08/04/2022 19:41

Totally normal. I would contact HR (If you can get through) and the lead interviewer ( if you have details for them) to get them to chivvy along HR. It can take a while. Even internal jobs are slow!

Keiki · 08/04/2022 19:42

Ha. I've been waiting three months now, with chasing HR several times a week. Have got another job now cos it was getting so ridiculous.

Original poster
ExtraCreamy · 08/04/2022 20:05

Oh wow! I wondered if it might be a bit soon to be chasing, but I guess not! I did have to email them last week to change one of my referees, and he got an email back from them within an hour and sent it off straight away.

The only thing that might be causing an issue is that I haven't had an OH form through yet, I mentioned that when I emailed about my referee but they never actually replied to me. Looks like it's definitely worth dropping them another email thanks all! Hopefully I can quit my job on Monday! Grin

OP posts:
Tranquilitybaby · 08/04/2022 22:40

I’ve been waiting 6 weeks so far. Can you log onto TRAC to look at where your application is at? I’m tired of emailing HR and getting no reply to any of my questions.

Whattodo1987 · 08/04/2022 22:42

@Keiki

Ha. I've been waiting three months now, with chasing HR several times a week. Have got another job now cos it was getting so ridiculous.
Are you giving up on the NHS one altogether? Frustrating isn’t it
Original poster
ExtraCreamy · 08/04/2022 22:58

It's NHS Scotland so a different system, but yes, I've logged on and it says my 2nd stage application has been received. I'm hoping they'll get back to me early on Monday, after all they were pretty quick at contacting my other referee.

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 09/04/2022 15:48

I have a whole other thread going on NHS recruitment. my own recent experience has been awful.

Babyroobs · 09/04/2022 15:49

@Keiki

Ha. I've been waiting three months now, with chasing HR several times a week. Have got another job now cos it was getting so ridiculous.
Yes I gave up too and took a different job.
canthecardsbewrong2022 · 09/04/2022 21:35

I gave up by day 3 of starting in the NHS on fortunately a fixed term contract.

I was recruited on 17th September but didn't get round to starting until 2nd Nov (and only then I felt because payroll issues then meant I really wouldn't get any pay until Dec so my start date was err political) I walked into a horrible atmosphere. Nobody willing to show you anything and someone sighed within the first 15 minutes of being there, it was an eye opener as you just think why the check waiting time to end up treated as you are.

After all the time waiting to start I had bereavements so it made the NHS less attractive to want to work in, I don't know why I was so fixated to get a job there and rule the day) I quite wish I'd stayed where I was.

ifyouturnonthelight · 09/04/2022 21:47

@ExtraCreamy you won't have a start date for a long time, I got offered the job in April and started in September

upperdown · 09/04/2022 21:51

9 weeks from interview to starting for me. It was ridiculous and they wonder why they're struggling to attract and keep staff.

Also really awkward that they want a current reference before you've been offered the role. I had to take a chance and resign before formal offer.

misstalk · 09/04/2022 22:09

I got offered my job in the july and didn't start till the December it's a long wait.

Original poster
ExtraCreamy · 09/04/2022 22:21

Well that doesn't fill me with confidence. I wonder if it might be different across different boards/trusts, but that might be wishful thinking.....

OP posts:
Tumbleweed101 · 10/04/2022 12:08

It took my daughter ages to get a start date although we did wonder if it was pandemic related. She applied in 2020 after being made redundant after her work place closed down.

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