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Interview for own job in NHS

Mrs_J_3
Mrs_J_3 Posts: 107 Forumite
in Employment, jobseeking & training
My mum has to go for an interview to keep her job:cry:. She's an auxilliary nurse for the NHS and they are going to make several people redundant, and I don't want her to be one of them.

She's really scared, and although I can coach her on basic interview techniques I have no experience of the NHS. I was wondering if anyone had any advice for NHS interviews? I know this could be a how long is a piece of string type question, but she's good at what she does and is quite dedicated but unfortunately she's quite shy about telling people how good she is.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Comments

  • Vader123
    Vader123 Posts: 1,104 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Research

    1) The trusts financial position.
    2) The trusts performance standards (www.cqc.org.uk) how are they doing? What do they need to improve on? What do they do well?
    3) Have they a winter plan for bed pressures? If so, what is it?

    Stuff like that will make her stand out.

    Vader
  • cheshirekitty
    cheshirekitty Posts: 21 Forumite
    Your mum needs to make sure her KSF folder is up to date. She needs to make sure that her annual mandatory courses are up to date.

    If she has good sickness rates she needs to make sure the interviewers know about that. Sickness rates in the NHS are quite high (due to the lousy working conditions and stress, I suspect).

    Your mum could stress that she would like more training ie NVQ.

    I had to attend an interview in the NHS a few years ago to keep my job. It is an insult, especially when we are short staffed and being expected to work unpaid because of low staffing levels.

    I wish your mum good luck.
  • jayII
    jayII Posts: 40,693 Forumite
    She could also think of a few difficult situations where she has coped well, in case she is asked that and goes blank at the time.

    Times when the ward has been particularly short staffed, and or at times of crisis where her skills and experience have really made a difference, or where she has helped/taught junior colleagues.

    I would think of some situations, make notes, and possibly practice talking about them, if she is the kind of person who gets nervous and flustered.

    Good luck to your mum!
    [FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot] Fighting the biggest battle of my life. :( Started 30th January 2018.
    [/FONT]    [/FONT]
  • LittleVoice
    LittleVoice Posts: 8,974 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    cheshirekitty wrote: »
    If she has good sickness rates she needs to make sure the interviewers know about that. Sickness rates in the NHS are quite high (due to the lousy working conditions and stress, I suspect).

    Compared with the private sector it may also be due to the way it is calculated. (I've seen examples where time when someone is not scheduled to be working is counted as sick absence if the staff member is off sick before and after.) - Sorry a bit off optic.
  • Mrs_J_3
    Mrs_J_3 Posts: 107 Forumite
    Thanks everyone.

    She's really nervous about it, so I want to try and prepare her for the "difficult" questions. I've already told her I'll try to prepare a page or two of notes for her to take in so that if she does forget something she has a prompt. All I need for her to do now is to provide me with some info, but she's not had the same practice at interviews and appraisals as I have (I am the competency based interview queen) and pulling out good examples is not being easy. Still I have the benefit of time to get her ready without scaring her witless.

    Thanks again for your help and kind thoughts.
  • ohreally
    ohreally Posts: 7,525 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Unfortunately, the probability is the decision on who goes may already have been taken.
    Don’t be a can’t, be a can.
  • jim_walton
    jim_walton Posts: 129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    I know lots of examples at the hospital i work at and no one has lost their job, they have been offered different positions on protected pay for three years..It's just a pain going through the process. I know, my wife has been through it..
    Of course I’m no expert. 
  • Mrs_J_3
    Mrs_J_3 Posts: 107 Forumite
    Thanks everyone.

    I am delighted to announce that my mum is getting to stay where she is and is very relieved to say the least.
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