NHS Band 3

enzolondon1

Is anyone currently work at this level in an administrative position? Is recent experience needed to apply for a band 3 position? Our assistant has entry level administrative at band 2 experience in private healthcare with phone work, typing, IT skills and wishes to apply for a band 3 nhs position. He understands he would start at the bottom of a band 3 but is concerned as he does not have the specific band 3 requirements e.g. minutes, spreadsheets, letter writing. He currently has none of these responsibilities. Would if be too much of a risk for him to apply for a band 3 position? I know how much things change in the nhs so if anyone can advise?

kiss_me_now9

You don't get what you don't apply for. 

What he needs to do is go through the person spec and match up all the criteria he can meet - and then justify/comment on what he doesn't yet meet and how he'd go about doing it. Future courses he's identified, outside of work learning etc. Bear in mind if there's essential criteria that he doesn't meet he's unlikely to get an interview (NHS jobs of all (almost all? not sure about medical recruitment) levels rank applicants based on their score from their application to get through to interview) unless they really like something else about him. It's a numbers game pre-interview stage and people have to meet a threshold to get offered an interview.

There's certainly ways you can highlight skills that may not be quite what the person spec asks for but are transferable - whilst he may not have a training course in minute taking, is he someone with a good ear for detail who regularly transcribes from an audio recording? Would you support him to take a quick spreadsheets course so that he can put that in his personal statement - "Whilst at present I have no formal qualifications in Excel I am attending XX course in March 2023 to expand this knowledge" etc. 

Private healthcare experience would definitely be transferrable and I'd bet if he really scrutinised the person spec he's probably got all the skills they want and some. 

Savvy_Sue

Also worth pointing out that experience gained outside the workplace is still experience. My spreadsheet, recruitment and minute taking was all voluntary work with the school PTA, but it still got me paid work!

Purplelady65

I work in the NHS and generally we do not have lots of applicants for Admin roles. The person spec is an ideal of what the recruiter is looking for so there will be some leeway if your colleague doesn’t meet all the criteria particularly if there aren’t many applicants for the role. I would encourage him to apply as there’s nothing to lose and potentially good interview experience and useful feedback or he may even be offered the job! 

MrsStepford

Suggest that he looks at www.e-lfh.org.uk and identifies courses whch could help him. That way he looks more clued up about free admin traning in the NHS, once he joins. 

If aged 19-23 and with a full Level 2 qualification, he could complete free online courses such as NCFE Level 2 Principles of Business Administration. (Those over 23 don't need prior qualifcations). There are other courses whch may be suitable on the business and healthcare paths. The student is allowed to take up to 7 courses in an academc year. Lots of colleges offer these courses. 

The AMSPAR approved Basic Introduction to Medical Terminology costs £70 www.amspar.org and there are certificates and diplomas in Medical Administration and Medical Terminology. Hopefully, AMSPAR could offer him some advice. The NHS should help with training costs. 

The Open University's OpenLearn programme offers free online courses with a statement of participation and sometimes a digital badge as well. Courses include hybrid working, working in diverse teams, leading change in healthcare - lots of free courses. Do at own pace. 

enzolondon1

Thank you all. He has signed up to do a course with Vision2learn. He does have level 4 qualifications in healthcare already I believe and medical terminology. Its more a case of some trusts being specific about the IT qualifications and experience they want with the IT. Seems a little unfair but he picks things up very easy so I am sure he would be fine once in post. I have explained the job adverts are generally the 'ideal' candidate and if he can show he has the experience, some of the skills and is keen to learn he will be fine
 

Andy_L

enzolondon1 said:

Is anyone currently work at this level in an administrative position? Is recent experience needed to apply for a band 3 position? Our assistant has entry level administrative at band 2 experience in private healthcare with phone work, typing, IT skills and wishes to apply for a band 3 nhs position. He understands he would start at the bottom of a band 3 but is concerned as he does not have the specific band 3 requirements e.g. minutes, spreadsheets, letter writing. He currently has none of these responsibilities. Would if be too much of a risk for him to apply for a band 3 position? I know how much things change in the nhs so if anyone can advise?

Whats the risk? Other than lost time filling in the application what does he risk? ETA: so he might as well take a punt on the application

The NHS is quite inconsistent in Banding at the lower levels so if he "shops around" on jobs.nhs.uk he may find a B3 job that is a better fit. Especially since B2 is being overtaken by NMW rates