NHS: Colleague Promoted Without Interview

GothicStirling

I work in the catering department for an NHS hospital. I have just found out today that I colleague has been made a Band 2 without interview - we weren't even told that there was a vacancy for the position.

I've always been lead to believe that the NHS had to behave completely above board, and that this should have been put to vacancy to see how many people would have been interested in the position (at least five, could be more when it becomes common knowledge).

Not that I was pinning my hopes on progression in this department, but it does feel like a slap in the face. My line manager hired me knowing that I wanted a supervisory position, since I am an experienced catering manager. It would have been nice to have at least been given the opportunity to apply for the vacancy.

Undervalued

GothicStirling wrote: »

I work in the catering department for an NHS hospital. I have just found out today that I colleague has been made a Band 2 without interview - we weren't even told that there was a vacancy for the position.

I've always been lead to believe that the NHS had to behave completely above board, and that this should have been put to vacancy to see how many people would have been interested in the position (at least five, could be more when it becomes common knowledge).

Not that I was pinning my hopes on progression in this department, but it does feel like a slap in the face. My line manager hired me knowing that I wanted a supervisory position, since I am an experienced catering manager. It would have been nice to have at least been given the opportunity to apply for the vacancy.

Whilst an employer might have their own internal rules to that effect there is no legal requirement to do so. They cannot discriminate on legally protected grounds (race, gender, religion etc) but apart from that they can appoint who they please.

Clearly yours wan't the first name on the manager's list.

ohreally

GothicStirling wrote: »

I work in the catering department for an NHS hospital. I have just found out today that I colleague has been made a Band 2 without interview - we weren't even told that there was a vacancy for the position

How do you know their post wasn't re-evaluated (though to what may be unclear).

Manxman_in_exile

Are you sure you are employed by a NHS trust?


I don't know of one where catering has not been contracted out to the private sector,

Tiddlywinks

This is why belonging to a union is helpful as they can direct these questions to 'management' on your behalf.

polgara

Manxman - ours are still in house (for now)

xapprenticex

It happens, nothing you can do besides make a fuss and end up with no job when you get managed out.

If that person is like me they may have had interviews or chats regarding the role but 100% kept it to themselves in case someone heard, got upset and tried to mess it up. Not talking about you, just in general.

GothicStirling

Well, my line manager spent the whole day unable to look me in the eye.

I'm currently studying (night classes) to qualify as a counsellor. I was looking around for a better position ideally in the NHS (ideal position would be in the Bereavement Office) anyway, but after this I will step up my efforts.

Guest101

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

Are you sure you are employed by a NHS trust?


I don't know of one where catering has not been contracted out to the private sector,

My trust has in-house catering.

sew109

I have twice whilst in employment in the private sector been promoted above other colleagues in one case I had 18 months experience and the two I was promoted above were much older than me an each had 5 years plus experience. This was not discussed with anyone else and I did not mention it until it happened.

In each case the employer knew that I was the best person to do this so why waste everyone's time going through a process that they knew what the outcome would be ?

I have 8 people working for my own business now all at the same level sometime in the next 12 months I will have taken a few more on and I will need to promote one or maybe two people by seeing them work every week I know who is best suited I don't need to advertise this and I don't even need to interview so I wont.

Masomnia

As I understand it and based on what you've said they should have advertised the vacancy, so I can understand why you'd be cheesed off.

Ultimately though there's pretty much nothing you can do about it. You're probably better off this way than having gone through all the prep, got your hopes up, only to be rejected when the same person got the role anyway.

In your situation I'd look for a better role elsewhere.