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.

Health Visitor Training - The Facts

The Nursing and Midwifery Council have recently published a document aimed at clearing up some misapprehensions about training to become a Health Visitor.

Some of the key points they stress are:

• You do not have to have practised for a minimum period as a nurse or midwife before you enter a health visitor programme. Qualified nurses and midwives can enter the programmes at any stage as long as they can demonstrate that they are able to study at the required educational level.

• It is not necessary to undertake a secondment or sponsorship for a full year as training routes are flexible.

• You do not have to be an adult nurse to enter a training programme. Any registered nurse or midwife is eligible to apply.

You may have seen a previous article on this blog about an anticipated major shortage of health visitors. You might also wish to note that, by a great stroke of fortune, the University of Cumbria is currently offering places on the BSc Hons Course in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) to start shortly at its Lancaster campus.

NHS Vacancies falling - except midwives

"Long-term vacancy rates have fallen slightly for most major NHS staff groups in England except for midwives and GPs, survey findings from The NHS Information Centre revealed last week."

One NHS commentator pointed out that unfilled midwifery vacancies could be a cause of concern in the light of a sharp increase in the birth rate and that the Government could be facing a shortage of 3,000 midwives*

Meanwhile, a Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS) has been agreed to help NHS employers meet current challenges (i.e. shed staff?)

* Note: little sign of this happening in Lancashire and Cumbria however - CT

Source: Health Workforce Bulletin