Working within the NHS

Boodee · 4 March 2017 at 10:04PM

I am trying to gain new employment as a Health Care Assistant within the NHS most positions that are posted require recent experience in a hospital environment but try as I do I cannot even get an interview. I have tried applying for Ward Assistant, Housekeeper posts but no luck, The only interview I here attended for a Maternity Housekeeper I was unsuccessful the reason being so I was told I was over -qualified! But apparently I did really well at the interview. I'm a Support Worker at present with NVQ Levels 2 & 3 in Health and Social Care in the private Care Sector.
I'm 53 and worry if this is an issue.
Can anyone offer any advice ? Would love to hear off anyone who was/is same position as me.
If I'm honest it's started to get me down.🙁

clairec79 · 4 March 2017 at 10:08PM

Bank support work position first

Boodee · 4 March 2017 at 10:54PM

Thanks Claire going to try that too.☺

t0rt0ise · 7 March 2017 at 8:38AM

Your current job gives you experience and you need to say so on the application form. My bet is that you are selling yourself short on the form. You need to explain how you meet every requirement on the job specification or they will simply bin your application.

WolfSong2000 · 8 March 2017 at 10:20AM

See if any local NHS Trusts use NHS Professionals (NHSP). If so, get signed up with NHSP and you'll get a foot in the door/experience. HCA's are entry level positions, and some Trusts are now adding career development/training to encourage more people to sign up (there's a chronic shortage of HCA's local to me, for example).

Art_Deco · 8 March 2017 at 12:00PM

See if there are any positions for Bank nursing assistants, get your foot in the door for when any permanent positions come up,you could do this whilst also doing another type of job, thats how most of our new HCA started, you sound like you have the experience in care so that should be a bonus good luck.