Start date when DBS has happened.

phonemonkey

Hi,

I got an offer to work a 1 year fixed term contract within the health service. I would like to ask questions from anyone with knowledge of nhs, as dealing with the pending death of a family member who is end of life (I'm factoring in the new job means I probably won't be going to the funeral, add to that I'm pretty emotional and worried about keeping it in check) and the job offer turning into confirmed didn't happen at the point really expected so things are quite up in the air.

It was smooth sailing at first in what seemed a good sign, but then it turned out references were left until very last. I've already had the DBS come back clear and that is now over a week old - because the DBS is in as it were and a reference will have revealed I've already left my job which I know goes against all the advice, but my hands were tied - could they suddenly contact me and get me to start next day? or does inductions (could be my wrong assumption this happens) only happen once weekly? 

I would ask the HR department but obviously I got their back up asking if their had been a reference reply (which unbeknown to me at time hadn't really been issued) which I kind of feel has started all this so I'm not wanting to email in case it gets taken wrongly.

The potential line manager did say I could approach them if having problems in recruitment but I kind of don't want to get my name further noted as trouble by HR department.

Also I've been thinking ahead, and if in a year's time the role ceases and I'm out of a job, if I were to get another nhs role/internal transfer, would my referees who have been contacted now have to go though the same trouble of re-writing the references? 

Much thanks for reading. 

josephine82

I’ve worked in two different NHS Trusts and usually they don’t ask the candidate about a start date until all pre employment checks are complete. 

Can’t see any issue with checking in with your potential line manager. HR depts in NHS trusts are known to be a bit slow. Be good to give your line manager a heads up on when you are able to start so that they can just request this once everything is back. 

If you move within the NHS it depends on the Trust as to whether they ask for references. Mine were contacted when I moved from one trust to another. 

Hope that helps 

phonemonkey

Thank you for the insight. x
Scrub what I said before, my closest to a gran has decided tonight is the time for going upstairs so not much will matter for a little while.  Thank you again and treasure time.

General_Grant

Sorry to hear that @phonemonkey.
Take care of yourself.

phonemonkey

Hello

Sorry to drag this up, I don't know whether to regret thinking about this.

I've had a generic hr email message come through tonight about job at risk of withdrawal if the nhs don't receive the last reference that has been outstanding/causing the hold-up.

Does anyone know how long I've got before it goes to withdraw - is it days or hours, message doesn't say.

(I'm pretty sure I've passed the date of when I was vaguely intended to start)

Thank you
P x

josephine82

I’ve not seen this before. Did you contact the line manager? Have HR previously  informed you that your reference has failed to reply and asked you to chase up? 

Could just be an automatic thing if the vacancy status doesn’t change, maybe? 

I would be calling them to find out what’s happening. 

phonemonkey

Thanks, I will call them I am starting to think it's over, I'm just awfully worried it will look like I'm complaining against HR.

I truly expected the offer to go unconditional last week but that was before it became apparent references were not requested soonest, then it came to light one of the references had gone on maternity leave which it seemed the nhs just couldn't comprehend, despite their out of office message regarding M/L and what steps to take as alternative being very clear, at which point I was asked to step in and request along with chasing which I have been doing, just the maternity leave replacement at ex firm is not being swift on doing the reference, which is their calling and I've a further dreadful feeling today, nhs aren't going to accept the ex firm's way of how they are/were intending to complete a reference as it is.

It makes me wonder how others have coped when previous employer has died, business gone bust.

Much thanks again.

josephine82

I honestly wouldn’t worry about being seen to be complaining- just follow up in a friendly and positive way I.e you just want to know what’s happening. 

As a hiring manager I wouldn’t see that as an issue- actually I would be pleased that the person coming to work for me was on the ball and making sure everything was ticking along. 

Sandtree

phonemonkey said:

It makes me wonder how others have coped when previous employer has died, business gone bust.

As a fallback, ex colleagues etc

In financial services you typically have to have 6 years of references and any period of over 2 months between jobs you have to have evidence of what you were doing and how you afforded it. This resulted in a pain with one hire, a fairly young person only a few years into their career who had decided to go backpacking around India for 6 months after finishing uni.

Our HR department wanted receipts etc from each of the places she'd stayed and when she said she couldnt given them then they asked for the details so they could write to the hostels etc for confirmation... no sense of realism that a place in rural India that charges £0.10 a night is going to have maintained records for 4 years and will be willing to send international mail to confirm someone stayed there for 2 nights even if they did keep records.

Just be proactive/creative... if the reference was your ex-manager then try HR, try their old boss, explain the situation and offer an ex colleague if no manager or HR type persons available. 

phonemonkey

Oh I would supply whatever I could. Though wasn’t sure I should follow job centre advice to find the person personally. It was slightly frustrating as I’d had a shielding letter to cover the time but chose to go out to work.

I’m so happy to report in the end the Employer came through, I really thought a reference from them wouldn’t happen, just from my experience when I would answer their phones and one time a company requesting a reference got through on a service line and were pleading to get a reference for someone so I know how deeply lucky I’ve been.

Got lots of thank you for doing reference cards to write and need to try to understand the new role so going to take a break from the forum for a while.

Take care all.