How honest should I be about poor training at probation review?

[Romancingthestone]

Whilst I like the nhs environment and in general everyone I have come across has been friendly, but I already sense there isn’t a lot of acceptance over mistakes.

I started an admin job less than a month ago and my first being part time as opposed to full time so I wonder if that is a hindrance here? I’m in work 3 days a week, have 4 days off and then it is hard getting back into it each week.

Day 2 at the trust I was literally on a training course for a system I didn’t have chance to ever see prior to attending the half day session and therefore couldn’t ask questions, then when I got to the dept they use the system in a different way, the person training me is really hands off it is almost like you are shown once and then expected you should know, but you can’t make it up.

They openly admit they have a high staff turnover in dept I’m in but something happened today which is testing my limits. When I started I was quickly given a probation policy document and am due my first review meeting in about a months time? I just don’t know how honest I can be about the lack of shadowing/training?

That’s always the way though, you can’t use something until you’ve had training- it’s an age old catch 22!! And every area will have their ways of doing things, but there’s your chance to show you’re adaptability. They honestly might not have time to train you and a lot of jobs now are learn on your feet unfortunately. I’d be diplomatically honest but not totally candid if you are only on probation!!!

Be honest but frame it positively. Say lots of good things first, then say you feel you would be far more effective at work if a proper induction could be booked in for you. Give the example that you attended a course about a system before you had even seen it, then discovered that in your department the system was used in a different way to the training given.

Make a list of things you know you need a proper induction on, and ask that this is structured into your working week asap, so you can be more efficient.

Also ask if there is a system for handover to PT staff so you can get up to speed immediately on anything that happened in your absence.

It's bad management. But phrase it all as your willingness to be more efficient at your job, rather than as a complaint.

Thank you for the kind guidance xx