Junior doctors and JSA

absfabs

LillyJ wrote: »

She was a regular auxillary nurse on a ward in her hospital at weekends until 2 months ago when she gave up for finals.

If she worked as an HCA until 2 months ago, surely this hospital can give her a reference and a copy of their CRB check, a lot of agencies will accept this rather than run a new one. Keep trying different ones!

Or go back to this hospital for a few weeks as an HCA.

LillyJ

absfabs wrote: »

If she worked as an HCA until 2 months ago, surely this hospital can give her a reference and a copy of their CRB check, a lot of agencies will accept this rather than run a new one. Keep trying different ones!

Or go back to this hospital for a few weeks as an HCA.

No that is the point, a CRB is only valid for a single employer now days. It just doesn't work that way.
She can't go back for a few weeks as they won't let her on the bank as her employment has lapsed and she needs a new CRB! We had this exact discussion as I thought she just wasn't trying hard enough, but she is!

Beleive me if it was as easy as it sounds she would be working a night shift tonight, but she just can't!

absfabs

I'm not saying it's easy. Just that some agencies are not as thorough as others. I have first hand experience of working without new CRB checks earlier this year.

If she can't find anything patient contact based, how about clerical temping with emphasis on medical knowledge, e.g. medical secretary/receptionist, maybe private sector rather than NHS? Does she need to state that she is only available for a couple of months?

Good luck to her!

LillyJ

I will mention it to her. I think though that she may have exhausted every channel, she has been to the uni job zone and to the job centre as well. There are also 30,000 students in the area taking up many of the summer jobs, and 2000 medical students on summer hols to compete with, a lot of whom are available till October. I suppose she could not mention that she was only available for a month, but that seems a bit cheeky, especially when most jobs have a period of notice.

She doesn't mind whether it is related to medicine or not, she would be over the moon if a pub in the area would take her on for a month, but they won't (due to the time period).
She thinks that she can get one day at minimum wage showing people round the uni but she is still to hear back from them. I know she has looked hard as I have had the update every night in long phone calls!
It seems that this is the sort of situation JSA should be used for - she is genuinely incomeless and job seeking (for the next month anyway). Surely people who have been on JSA and get a job starting in a month or 2 don't get their benefits stopped straight away?

Oh well, I suspect she will be round using my computer tomorrow night to make more babysitting notices to pin up!

LillyJ

jfdi wrote: »

She should be able to claim JSA (IB) from the day after her course officially finishes (or following Monday) until she starts work - just tell JCP she's only looking for temp work as she has a job lined up.

JCP are used to it & although they'll 'encourage' her to find a temp job they won't push too strenuously. That should also open up HB & CTB for her - & maybe SF Loan etc too if needed.

That sounds brill. She doesn't mind if they do push her for part time work to be honest, she is not exactly workshy! (as you might imagine of someone who has just spent 6 years qualifying as a doctor).
Should she go to the job centre to discuss that? We went there together to look but just looked at the computers and didn't talk to anyone. Her course officially ends on 30th June although she has finished already, so only a week to go.

Sorry I don't really understand the acronyms, What is JCP and SF?

Thanks for the reply, and does anyone know if the job centre is open on a Saturday?

Thanks.

ceebeeby

Hi Lilly,

Everything you say is right with regards to disclosure - if she's had a break in employment she would need a new one - although doesn't usually take 6 weeks to obtain.

Some suggestions:

Can she ask for HCA work at her current placement (where she'll have valid disclosure)
Does she know of any medical research audits going on that are looking for assistance (particularly around labs) - this is a usual summer job for mid grades pre-placement
Can she register on a locum agency as a mid-grade, I know that this time of year, hosps are desperate for mid-grade rota cover due to holidays etc. what specialty is she going into? If it's acute medicine, then she should have no probs.
Can she phone around local healthcare supply companies (look-up on website) explain situation, state looking for 6 weeks work, and circumstances - she might be surprised how keen they would be.
What about summer camps / playgroups requiring qualified first-aiders etc. (although disclosure might be an issue)

Failing that, it's back to manual labour for 6 weeks:

car-washing,
window cleaning
babysitting for hospital staff over summer hols period
ebaying

HTH and she gets herself sorted.

Ceebsx

LillyJ

jfdi wrote: »

HTH.

A
xx

Thanks! That makes things clearer.

LillyJ

ceebeeby wrote: »

Hi Lilly,

Everything you say is right with regards to disclosure - if she's had a break in employment she would need a new one - although doesn't usually take 6 weeks to obtain.

Some suggestions:

Can she ask for HCA work at her current placement (where she'll have valid disclosure)
Does she know of any medical research audits going on that are looking for assistance (particularly around labs) - this is a usual summer job for mid grades pre-placement
Can she register on a locum agency as a mid-grade, I know that this time of year, hosps are desperate for mid-grade rota cover due to holidays etc. what specialty is she going into? If it's acute medicine, then she should have no probs.
Can she phone around local healthcare supply companies (look-up on website) explain situation, state looking for 6 weeks work, and circumstances - she might be surprised how keen they would be.
What about summer camps / playgroups requiring qualified first-aiders etc. (although disclosure might be an issue)

Failing that, it's back to manual labour for 6 weeks:

car-washing,
window cleaning
babysitting for hospital staff over summer hols period
ebaying

HTH and she gets herself sorted.

Ceebsx

Unfortunately she has no current placement, she is between uni and starting as a house officer, so roles for mid grades are not applicable to her, she cannot join a locum agency until she has actually got some experience as a doctor.
Also most doctors (including her) aren't qualified first aiders, so that is out as well.
She will carry on with her babysitting and is going to put more leaflets up (she puts them in staff rooms in the hospital).

Thanks for your help.

oki_2

She could try GP surgeries and see if they want someone to summarise patients notes - I have known medical students do this.