Public sector (NHS) recruitment process - how to complain?

GaseousAgley

Is there a way to complain to the NHS about a decision to withdraw a conditional job offer (I'm currently not in employment and living on an income which is well below my basic living costs)?

I've tried complaining to the recruitment team that decided to withdraw the job offer and who are the subject of the complaint but I want to know if there is a way to complain to a person or body who/which can take an independent, objective view of the complaint in the hope that it might be handled fairly. I don't believe the recruitment team handling a complaint about their own process are being fair and objective at all.

Sncjw

So what was the condition of employment and why did they revoke the offer? 

General_Grant

GaseousAgley said:

Is there a way to complain to the NHS about a decision to withdraw a conditional job offer (I'm currently not in employment and living on an income which is well below my basic living costs)?

I've tried complaining to the recruitment team that decided to withdraw the job offer and who are the subject of the complaint but I want to know if there is a way to complain to a person or body who/which can take an independent, objective view of the complaint in the hope that it might be handled fairly. I don't believe the recruitment team handling a complaint about their own process are being fair and objective at all.

What conditions had to be met in order for the offer to be unconditional?

Did said requirements require something to be "satisfactory"?  If so that means satisfying the recruiting organisation's requirements.

oh_really

Be mindful of putting your name on their radar for the wrong reasons.

I suspect you may already be too late with regards to future opportunities.

Jillanddy

GaseousAgley said:

Is there a way to complain to the NHS about a decision to withdraw a conditional job offer (I'm currently not in employment and living on an income which is well below my basic living costs)?

I've tried complaining to the recruitment team that decided to withdraw the job offer and who are the subject of the complaint but I want to know if there is a way to complain to a person or body who/which can take an independent, objective view of the complaint in the hope that it might be handled fairly. I don't believe the recruitment team handling a complaint about their own process are being fair and objective at all.

How are your current income or living costs relevant?

You had a conditional job offer. Even if you had an unconditional offer,  they could still have withdrawn it.  All that complaining will achieve is possibly ensuring you never have any further offers. 

Who said they have to be fair or objective? 

That said,  it seems that you may know why they withdrew the offer,  but their view of fair and objective are different from yours.  In the end it is theirs that counts. 

Manxman_in_exile

If you really want to complain follow the published complaints procedure on the trust's website.  It'll probably tell you to go to PALS first even though they'll be no good to you - even if you were a patient - but follow the formal complaints process.

MalMonroe

GaseousAgley said:

Is there a way to complain to the NHS about a decision to withdraw a conditional job offer (I'm currently not in employment and living on an income which is well below my basic living costs)?

I've tried complaining to the recruitment team that decided to withdraw the job offer and who are the subject of the complaint but I want to know if there is a way to complain to a person or body who/which can take an independent, objective view of the complaint in the hope that it might be handled fairly. I don't believe the recruitment team handling a complaint about their own process are being fair and objective at all.

Three years ago I made a complaint about the NHS recruitment process. I first wrote to the Human Resources department of the hospital I'd attended for interview and was invited for discussion with two of their members of staff. Unfortunately that was not helpful and so I contacted Acas and started an Employment Tribunal case.

However, there are other things you can do before you reach that point, for example there's some very helpful information about how to complain about the NHS recruitment process in the link below -

https://nshcs.hee.nhs.uk/publications/national-recruitment-complaints-policy-and-procedures-2021/html/

Just because the NHS is a large public organisation doesn't mean they can get away with treating people as they have treated you. If more of us speak up, then hopefully their recruitment systems will become fairer and more transparent.

I wouldn't contact PALS as they are the organisation which deals with complaints from patients about services they have (or have not) received and not about HR matters.

MalMonroe

Jillanddy said:

GaseousAgley said:

Is there a way to complain to the NHS about a decision to withdraw a conditional job offer (I'm currently not in employment and living on an income which is well below my basic living costs)?

I've tried complaining to the recruitment team that decided to withdraw the job offer and who are the subject of the complaint but I want to know if there is a way to complain to a person or body who/which can take an independent, objective view of the complaint in the hope that it might be handled fairly. I don't believe the recruitment team handling a complaint about their own process are being fair and objective at all.

How are your current income or living costs relevant?

You had a conditional job offer. Even if you had an unconditional offer,  they could still have withdrawn it.  All that complaining will achieve is possibly ensuring you never have any further offers. 

Who said they have to be fair or objective? 

That said,  it seems that you may know why they withdrew the offer,  but their view of fair and objective are different from yours.  In the end it is theirs that counts. 

"Who said they have to be fair or objective?"  The law says they have to be fair and objective. (see: Equality Act 2010)

Complaining when a process is unfair is the only way any of us can ever hope to get things changed.

Historically, many laws have been changed because of people power.

Employers are not legally allowed to discriminate against any candidate if they have made a complaint in the past. That's just further discrimination.

People deserve to know why offers have been withdrawn, or why they haven't been offered a job. There's nothing wrong with asking.

MalMonroe

oh_really said:

Be mindful of putting your name on their radar for the wrong reasons.

I suspect you may already be too late with regards to future opportunities.

There's nothing wrong with putting your name on any radar for the right reasons. What's wrong with asking why you've been dumped? Nothing.

And there's no such thing as being 'too late' with regard to future opportunities.  When I made my complaint about the NHS recruitment process, I was told by an HR representative that their process was 'fair and transparent'. I found it anything but. And so did others I have spoken to since, although nobody ever seems to complain. Which means that unfair systems won't change. 

General_Grant

MalMonroe said:

GaseousAgley said:

Is there a way to complain to the NHS about a decision to withdraw a conditional job offer (I'm currently not in employment and living on an income which is well below my basic living costs)?

I've tried complaining to the recruitment team that decided to withdraw the job offer and who are the subject of the complaint but I want to know if there is a way to complain to a person or body who/which can take an independent, objective view of the complaint in the hope that it might be handled fairly. I don't believe the recruitment team handling a complaint about their own process are being fair and objective at all.

. . .

Just because the NHS is a large public organisation doesn't mean they can get away with treating people as they have treated you. . . .

What do you know of the treatment of the OP by the NHS recruiters?
Only that they made a conditional offer which has since been withdrawn.

Is it impossible to withdraw a conditional offer?  If so no offer would ever be conditional - but could still be withdrawn.

oh_really

MalMonroe said:

oh_really said:

Be mindful of putting your name on their radar for the wrong reasons.

I suspect you may already be too late with regards to future opportunities.

There's nothing wrong with putting your name on any radar for the right reasons. What's wrong with asking why you've been dumped? Nothing

The op wishes to pursue a complaint, entirely different from asking why the offer was withdrawn.

In another life I used to manage a dept before jumping ship. The op would be better keeping head down, no good will come from pursuing this venture.