How to apply

Recruitment process

Once you have searched our vacancies and found a job you'd like to apply for, read all the guidance on this page carefully. To apply for a job, you must complete an online application form.

This makes sure that everyone gives information in the same format and allows us to check your application in a standard way. We don't accept CVs, so please fill in the form as fully and accurately as possible.

We won't take into account any previous applications you have sent us or anything we already know about you.

Once you are confident that you meet the essential requirements of the person specification, set some time aside to complete the form.

Work permits

If you need sponsorship to work in the UK, please visit the Home Office website for information on sponsorship and visa status before you fill in the application form.

Disclosing information about you

We ask you to declare:

whether you are related to an existing member of staff
if you've ever been dismissed by a previous employer
if you have any criminal convictions, reprimands or cautions

This is to help assess your suitability for the role you have applied for. Other checks will be made so it's important that you answer these questions honestly.

If we formally offer you a job that involves working with or around patients we'll apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on you.

Completing the application form

The online application form will take you through several sections of your application. Try to complete all parts of the application form. If some sections of the form do not apply to you, enter N/A (not applicable) in the spaces provided.

Almost all communication during the recruitment process is by email and text through the TRAC website so it's important that you give a correct email address and mobile phone number if you have one.

Each job we advertise is based on a job description and person specification. The job description lists the main duties and responsibilities of the post. The person specification outlines the skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications that you'll need for the job.

Read the job description, personal specification and any other supporting information provided before you start to complete your application. This will help you to assess whether you have the qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience we are looking for.

We shortlist applicants against the job description and person specification, so give examples to demonstrate how your skills and experience are relevant to the job you are applying for and how and where you have used them.

Provide information on any relevant experience from your present or previous jobs. You can include skills and experience gained from community or voluntary work, work experience, leisure interests and activities in the home.

Tell us about your education and the training you have received.

Don't ignore the supporting information section of the form. It's an important part of the application, use this section to tell the recruiting manager how you meet the requirements listed on the person specification, by describing your knowledge, skills and experiences.

Pay scales

Each job with us is banded at a particular level of pay. The pay scales table on the NHS Employers website shows the current pay scales for each band.

References

The number of references we ask for will depend on your work history. You should remember that no one is legally obliged to provide a reference, unless there is a specific contractual agreement. It's a good idea to ask permission from the people you want to be your referees. Make sure you give accurate contact details for them and let them know if a reference request is being sent to them. This will avoid unnecessary delays to you starting your job.

You'll need to give us their names, a contact address, telephone number and work email address. Please note that most of our communication is done by email through TRAC jobs.

Your first referee should be your current employer if you are in work and the other should be from a previous employer covering the last three years, or if you have been studying your referee should be your course tutor or lecturer.

If you have not worked for some time or have never worked, use referees who can comment on your ability to do the job, like a teacher, course tutor or charity organiser.

Don't give the names of family members or friends.

Equal opportunities

The information you put on the employment monitoring form, which is towards the end of the online form, is used for reporting only. The recruitment team, hiring managers and interview panel can't see this information. This information helps us to see how effective our policies on promoting equal opportunities and valuing diversity are. It will never be used to decide who will be offered the job.

Disability

We're committed to increasing employment opportunities for disabled people and encouraging all people with a disability to apply for a job with us.

If you need special arrangements to get to the interview or selection test, please give us details in the space indicated on the form.

You may also be entitled to receive support from 'access to work' during the recruitment stages, for example if you require a communicator at an interview. For more information, phone 034 5268 8489 or visit the access to work page on gov.uk.

Submitting your application

Once you have completed the online application form, please remember to proofread it and check that you have answered each section as fully as possible.

Submit your application and keep a copy to help you prepare if we ask you to come for an interview.

We look forward to receiving your application

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