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Original poster

Feeling very miffed -anyone who works for NHS?

34 replies

Beauregard · 26/02/2008 19:50

I work for the NHS (support worker in the community)and am being made redundant the end of march.I applied for a similar position in a hospital setting and got an email today and i am feeling quite peeved.I have been invited to a written competency assessment next month and the result of that will decide if i get an interview.I know for a fact that one of my collegues has just been offered a position at the same hospital but on a different ward but doing the same job.She did not have to go and do this test just a very brief interview.She has much less experience than me and no more qualifications.
So how come i have to do this assessment?

OP posts:
Original poster
Beauregard · 26/02/2008 19:55

I mean ,if i am already working for the NHS why should i need to sit this assessment?

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Original poster
Beauregard · 26/02/2008 20:03

I am crying with anger now ffs

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brimfull · 26/02/2008 20:07

oh don't cry,maybe the manager of this job is a stickler for following the rules,maybe your friend wrote a letter that enabled them to assess her writing.
I wouldn't take it personally.

Are you worried about doing the assessment?

Original poster
Beauregard · 26/02/2008 20:22

She didn't apply in writing she did online the same as me.
The assessment would worry me as if it includes mathmatics then i am literally dyslexic with numbers(i would get diagnosed if i could afford to)
I have an NVQ ,this obviously is worth nothing
I must be pretty shite

Thanks for replying

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llareggub · 26/02/2008 20:23

Pelvicfloornomore, with regard to the proposed redundancy, is there anyone from HR or your manager talking to you about potential redeployment in order to avoid redundancy?

llareggub · 26/02/2008 20:24

You must tell them that you are dyslexic. They will take this into account when assessing you. What would help you complete the test? Don't panic!

brimfull · 26/02/2008 20:24

Just explain your worries to them,I'm sure it'll be fine.

scattyspice · 26/02/2008 20:25

NHS is cutting back left right and centre right now.

Original poster
Beauregard · 26/02/2008 20:25

There is no option other than to deploy to a site of the distance 30 miles each way.
I only work part time .

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twinsetandpearls · 26/02/2008 20:26

Do you have a union rep or someone you can talk to.

Sadly this is becoming fact of life in the public sector, the same has been happening to us.

LaDiDaDi · 26/02/2008 20:27

It's odd that your friend didn't have to do the wriiten assessment if you are going to be doing the same job in the same hospital. Is it a very different type of clinical area?

Do think that the job you have appliedd for is potentially more popular so this is a way of reducing the number of applicants?

I have to say that you always come across here very eloquently so I can't see that you would have a problem unless maths is a big part of the assessment and you really struggle with it.

llareggub · 26/02/2008 20:28

Would this post be a potential redeployment?

To be honest if this new post is different from the one you are currently doing then there would have to be some form of assessment to ensure that you have the appropriate skills to carry out the job effectively. They'd also need to be able to differentiate fairly between candidates. Without doing an assessment, how can they do this fairly?

twinsetandpearls · 26/02/2008 20:29

If I am right it would have to be a different post as they can't make her redundant if her job is still needed.

llareggub · 26/02/2008 20:29

Where I work any suitable alternative job would be a potential redeployment and employees at risk of redundancy would be given prior consideration. There would still be some form of assessment however.

Talk to your current line manager, HR or Trade Union.

Original poster
Beauregard · 26/02/2008 20:29

No point talking to union rep,there is nothing he can do.

The job i applied for is with a different NHS trust.

My collegue was only interviewed for 15 minutes and only asked 4 questions.It seems so wrong that i will have to go through this.

I am trying so hard to find a job and because i can only work part time and in the afternoons and evenings it puts people off.

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llareggub · 26/02/2008 20:33

It is fairly normal practice to do more than an interview. Traditional interviews are a poorer predictor of future performance in a job. Asking candidates to carry out more than one form of assessment increases the ability of the recruiter to assess future performance in post.

It will also give you the opportunity to show that you can do the job without having to waffle for England in an interview. Relax and go with the flow.

Redundancy is a highly stressful time and perhaps it might help to talk to someone about interviews and assessments. Is there anyone engaged by the Trust to provide outplacement services for people like you going through redundancy? Is there a staff counselling service?

Original poster
Beauregard · 26/02/2008 20:53

Yes thankyou i see your point but why should one applicant have to do it and not another?very unfair imo.
Maybe i should email them back asking why?

There is a supposed staff counselling service but wont be of any help to me.

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nooka · 26/02/2008 20:58

I'm afraid that different managers go with different approaches when recruiting. It is less effort to just have an interview, but you can find that you appoint someone with no skill in the area you need, so it is in general a good idea to do some sort of test, presentation etc. We usually combine them, so if you are shortlisted for interview you do a test at the same time, rather than having the one dependant on the other. HR tend to be quite supportive so long as you can show the tests relate to the job (eg for our complaints officer we got candidates to look at senarios; say what they would do, and draft a letter). It may feel really unfair that your colleague has got an "easier" deal than you, but I guess that's just bad luck, and it may be that your manager is using a better process. Good luck anyway!

llareggub · 26/02/2008 20:58

I sounds to me like there are 2 different posts being advertised by 2 different managers. It is very likely that each manager has a different approach when it comes to assessing candidates. Please don't look on this negatively, it will come across in the interview process. Good luck, I hope you get it.

llareggub · 26/02/2008 21:00

I guess it come across as being unfair but as nooka says it is much better practice do to more than one test in a selection process. The recruiting manager will have a much better idea of your strengths if you are appointed and will be able to work with you to develop you into the role.

Original poster
Beauregard · 26/02/2008 21:02

Thanks for replying

Not really sure if i want to go now though
My experience(16 years care) and relevant qualifications count for nothing.

Sorry for ranting

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Original poster
Beauregard · 26/02/2008 21:02

And yes i sound very childish i know but i am so fed up now.

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llareggub · 26/02/2008 21:14

No, you don't sound childish. You sound like most people do in similar situtions. Come and work for Social Services instead. Your skills would be snapped up!

Original poster
Beauregard · 26/02/2008 21:18

I wish i could work for social services but there are no jobs going near me that i know of.

I am even more angry now

I just spoke with a collegue and she told me that 2 other collegues have interviews for the same position as me but no competency assessment.

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Original poster
Beauregard · 26/02/2008 21:19

Oh and they have only been working in care for 4 years .

I am so annoyed ,i just dont understand this at all

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