NHS Trusts To Ringfence Posts For Local Graduates?

This may be good news for Health graduates who have so far not found jobs.

We have had sight of a recent email sent to North West NHS Trusts encouraging them to make the NHS Jobs Newly Qualified Profile Pool the 'first port of call' when undertaking major recruitment exercises.

In other words, it may give you a head start to register on the pool if you have not already done so.

According to a more detailed advisory document, employers can contact registered candidates to advise them of a particular advert that is about to be placed on the system or ask them for more information.

The Profile Pool system requires candidates to answer the following:

• Have you received notification from the Exam Board that you have
  qualified as a nurse, midwife, allied healthcare professional or as a
  healthcare scientist? (Yes/No)

• Have you qualified from an English Higher Education Institution in the UK?
  (Yes/No)

• When did you qualify? ( 2010, 2011, 2012, Other)

• Do you have the right, under UK immigration rules, to live and work in the
  UK and without restriction? (Yes/No)

• Please select your profession? (from identified list but includes all nursing disciplines, midwifery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, radiography)

• Please select your area of specialty? (from identified list)

• Please specify which Higher Education Institution you completed your professional qualification? (Lists those Higher Education Institutions that the SHA commissioned and funded)

N.b. however that providing incorrect information will prevent the candidate from re-registering within the pool for a period of 12 weeks.

Also, candidates will still be expected to submit individual applications to specific vacancies.

Are These The Jobs of The Future?

Some careers advisers have a distinct penchant for digging out obscure pieces of careers information and labour market trends.  However, I doubt if many will have perused the full 260 odd pages of the "Skill Shortage Sensible" report produced by the Migration Advisory Committee of the Home Office.  It does however contain a handy (if still considerable) list of the occupations the Committee recommend for retention in the shortage occupation list for the UK and Scotland.

In other words, it is a good guide to job areas in which UK citizens as well as immigrants to the country may themselves find opportunities in the future and may repay some further study.  Of course some of the
jobs are very high level occupations that would not be immediately within the grasp of the average graduate - but we would hope that least some of those who have sought careers advice at the University of Cumbria will harbour longer-term ambitions.

It might come as little surprise that many of the items on the list contain the word engineering at some point and some of the key disciplines that get several mentions are:

• nuclear decommissioning and waste management (so good news here for the sons and daughters of West Cumbria)
• electricity distribution and transmission
• tunnelling and landfill
• 'all chemical engineers'
• aerospace manufacture
• oil and gas

The continuing need for oil and gas extraction also accounts for a further sub-family of anticipated shortage applications incuding geologists, hydrogeologists, geochemists, geophysicists and pipe welders as well as a wide number of engineering technical specialisms.

If you've spotted that you can't study many of these areas at the University of Cumbria, there is better news coming.  The shortage recommendation list includes a number of occupations relating to 2D/3D computer animation for film, televison and video games, including artists, modellers and production specialists as well as dancers and musicians.  

Health occupations are also well represented, notably:

• hospital doctors in haeomotology, emergency medicine, paediatrics, old age psychiatry, anaesthetics, intensive care, internal medicine and accident and emergency
• diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers
• operating theatre nurses
• social workers in children's and family services (interestingly in the light of current vacancy shortages locally)
• nuclear medicine and radiotherapy phycisists

Lastly, secondary teachers of biology, chemistry and physics as well as chefs also receive a mention.

Currently the shortage occupation list is reviewed every two years - the so-called sunset clause.

Get Sick At Home? Fascinating Facts About Childhood Illnesses

Many present and future University of Cumbria students express an interest in eventually working with children, but a recent article in the Scottish Daily Mail (01/12/12) suggests some alarming trends in childhood habits they might want to heed.

Based on an NHS Scotland report by Frank Furedi, the author of the book Paranoid Parenting, it shows big differences in the numbers of hospital referrals of children as a result of incidents in the home as opposed to outdoors.

Seemingly, there has been a big slump in numbers of children falling out of trees or off skateboards, while they are twice as likely to end up in casualty with repetitive strain injury after excessive computer gaming sessions.  Other injuries on the increase included falling out of bed, falling downstairs and injuries from using electrical appliances - mainly hair straighteners.

Meanwhile the number injured by fireworks has fallen by 41%, with further drops in injuries caused by ice skates, skis, roller skates and car accidents. The Mail also reports a survey showing that a third of children had never climbed a tree and one in ten cannot ride a bike, while the majority said they would rather play on a computer or watch TV than go outside.

This would seem to be vital information for our Health students, so that they know what injuries they are likely to be treating as well as for Trainee Teachers considering what new risk assessments they need to introduce. And perhaps the University of Cumbria can congratulate itself on its success in tempting so many away from the couch and the computer screen for long enough to sign up for our Sport and PE related courses!

I wonder though how the career choices of this "indoor generation" are being affected...

FAQ: Is there a certain way to write a CV depending on what job you are applying for?

This is going to be a 'yes and no' type of answer!

Broadly speaking, third year students and graduates can feel fairly safe if they adopt the traditional, two-page, reverse chronological, approach covering the key headings of Education, Employment, Interests and Achievements and References (one academic reference and one from the world of work) or the skills-based approach where you have a strong section on your employment-related skills instead of much detail on your past jobs.  If you don't understand the difference between these two approaches, you might like to do some initial research using the resources like those mentioned at the end of this post.

However, there are some mainly slight differences that do occur according to your career interest.

For example, Law CVs tend to be highly traditional.  The skills-based approach is not favoured and neither are off-the-wall presentational features. Unlike other areas, all exam results including GCSEs should be stated, including all degree modules and results.

On the other hand, imaginative approaches that break the 'normal' CV mould can work in some employment sectors although it should be remembered that they are always a 'high risk strategy' that can succeed spectacularly or fail totally.  For careers in the creative sector it is probably best to stay with a fairly standard approach, but ensure the CV conveys a sense of good visual presentation, and include a link to your online portfolio.

For those whose degrees are recognised professional qualifications (e.g. teachers, health professionals), some useful pointers are:

• Quote your professional registration or PIN number in your personal details (or say that it's awaited) to demonstrate your eligibility
• Offer some comments about parts of your course you found interesting or significant
• You must include details of your course placements including what you did or learned on them

Probably the only area where the approach to the CV is completely different is the wonderful world of Acting and Performance, where it is usual (unlike UK CVs in general) to include a photograph of yourself but to omit your school qualifications altogether. Details such as your physical appearance, the ages and accents you can portray would however be included.

This is the latest in our occasional series of Careers FAQs.  For more information about CV writing, see the links we have provided at http://delicious.com/skillzone/cv  or one of the numerous books on the subject in the University and public libraries. University of Cumbria students can also find more information on the Jobs&Careers tab on the Blackboard Virtual learning Environment.

Health Job Shortages

Although entry to many health sector jobs has become more difficult over the past few years, there are still areas where there are some shortages.  A listing produced recently suggested the following:

◦       Hospital Consultants in: neurophysiology; emergency medicine; genito-urinary medicine; haematology; neurology; occupational medicine; forensic psychiatry; general psychiatry; learning disabilities psychiatry; old age psychiatry.

◦       Hospital Doctors specialising in: anaesthetics; paediatrics; intensive care medicine; general internal medicine (acute); emergency medicine; general surgery; obstetrics and gynaecology; trauma and orthopaedic surgery.

◦       Nurses specialising in: operating theatres; neonatal intensive care.

◦       Radiographers.

◦       Nuclear medicine technologist; radiotherapy technologist.

◦       Cardiac physiologist; clinical neurophysiologist; clinical vascular scientist; respiratory physiologist; sleep physiologist.

Meanwhile a drive to recruit 2,400 more health visitors by 2015 is also underway.

Of course, this does not mean that your local NHS Trust will automatically have vacancies for all these positions!

CV Tips for Vocational Students

Here at the University of Cumbria, we have a large numbers of students on vocational courses – teachers, nurses, allied health professionals and the like, who often ask for help in compiling their CV as they apply for their first professional post.

Over time it has struck me that CVs for all the vocational students I encounter have several features in common. I would like to share them with you now, working through each of the key CV headings:


Personal Details

A key point for new entrants to a profession is, if possible to include your professional registration details with your basic contact information. This will be in the form of a registration or pin number supplied by the professional body you need to register with, such as the UK General Teaching Councils, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, etc. If you do not yet have the number at the time of application, you should say “Registration Number Awaited” or similar.

Incidentally, if you are not yet applying for professional posts but are trying to find placements half way through your course, it is a good idea to quote your CRB registration details here if you are looking for placements that involve contact with young people or vulnerable adults.


Summary Statements

A snappy summary, often written in brief phrases (rather than full sentences) below your contact details is worth considering for almost any CV but of particular value for vocational students. Include two or three adjectives that sum up your key skills as a practitioner and say something about what sort of post you are looking for. If you feel you can, you might wish to mention aspects of the career that particularly interest you, or in which you might want to specialise later.



Education

A common mistake here is simply to put the details of your vocational degree and possibly a grade forecast and leave it at that.

It is important with a vocational degree to add a bit of commentary about your degree as employers may well want to ask you about it at interview.

Angles you could consider here are:

* Listing key module titles (but keep it short!)
* Parts of the course that fascinated you or represented major leaps forward in your learning
* Aspects of the course that you know to be excellent in comparison to those offered elsewhere

You might want to have an extra entry or section to cover any additional in-service training or certificates you took as a result of doing the course.


Employment

It is vital to include some detail here on any course placements or periods of work experience you have undertaken, and some comment showing the activities you undertook and/or skills you acquired on each. If you have undertaken a large number of placements, you may want to consider a separate heading for them (e.g. “Placement Experience” as distinct from “Other Work Experience”).

If you have done a large number of short or variable duration placements with the same employer, don’t feel obliged to list them all individually. It’s OK to put the name of the organisation, the period during which you undertook placements there and the total time you were on placement there altogether (e.g. October 2008 – April 2011 : Total 14 weeks).


Interests and Achievements

There is a little ambiguity here as some employers (notably schools) want to hear details of outside interests that might have relevance in the workplace, whereas others merely want to see some evidence that you are a ‘rounded person’ who has interests outside the work arena. The only real way forward is to try and suss out what the expectations are likely to be, if possible.

This is also the ideal place to put your driving licence details, essential if the job you are applying for requires the use of a car.


References

For completing students generally and fledgling professionals in particular, the golden rule is to give one reference from the academic sphere (e.g. personal tutor or course leader) and one from the world of work. Most normally the world of work reference will come from a recent placement, but the key thing is that you pick the referee who will give you the most glowing endorsement.


Last of All

CVs are typical of virtually everything to do with careers. Advisers try to make things as ‘scientific’ as possible by formulating a set of rules for you to follow. Unfortunately the science can all break down when your CV is read by a human being rather than a robot, as there is no accounting for the unpredictability of human behaviour or the capacity of individuals to behave in an unscientific manner.

However, if you follow the tips above, you will be on the right lines – more or less.

For a series of websites on CVs bookmarked by University of Cumbria Careers Advisers, see http://delicious.com/skillzone/cv

NHS News

£1,000 Grants for Health Students

A new financial package means all health students are entitled to a £1,000 grant a year and can also apply for a means-test bursary and loan. For details see http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/Changes-to-financial-support-for-healthcare-students.shtml

The funding applies to both undergraduate and postgraduate study such as the 2 year accelerated nursing courses for graduates in related disciplines and ends the discrepancy of funding regimes for Nurse training, whereby degree students could not claim an NHS bursary.

NHS Jobs Website

Applicants for posts on www.jobs.nhs.ukshould bear in mind that they may need to apply before stated closing dates as adverts may be withdrawn early if sufficient applications have been received. Using the advanced search facility may be helpful when searching for less common jobs.

Source: AGCAS

New Year Health Sector News Snippets

Job Shortages for Newly Qualified Nurses in Scotland

Qualifying nurses in Scotland who cannot find work are entitled to a place on a scheme offering them a twelve months temporary contract. But the scheme is becoming overwhelmed as the number of requests for places has nearly quadrupled since last year, and is still rising.

Source: Glasgow Herald

New Nursing Section on NHS Careers

Careers information website NHS Careers have launched a new specialist section on careers in nursing It includes material on careers options and pathways, videos and real life stories.


Statutory Indemnity Insurance for Healthcare Professionals

All healthcare professionals will soon be required by law to purchase their own personal indemnity insurance if it has not been provided by their employer.

Source: Health Workforce Bulletin

Careers in the Voluntary Sector?

Skills for Health have recently produced a brochure promoting opportunities in the voluntary sector.

New VRQs in Health Sector

Further to a previous post (18/11/10), Skills for Health have issued more details about the new Vocationally Related Qualifications to be offered in the Health sector.

Specialised subject areas included are: Health Informatics (IT), Healthcare Support, Emergency Care Assistance, Optical Retail, Pharmacy Service, Allied Health Profession Support (n.b. excludes Radiography), Blood Donor Support, Dental Nursing, Maternity and Paediatric support, Pathology Support.

VRQs are different from NVQs, which they replace from 1st January 2011, in that they are based on learning outcomes rather than knowledge and performance criteria.