New candidate journey – step by step

Submit your application via our website, NHSJobs or HealthJobs.

Completing your application

Your application form is the first stage of any selection process as it provides us with key information about your skills and abilities and your suitability for the role. This information will help us decide whether to progress your application to shortlisting and interview.

It is important to take your time and complete your application form in as much detail as possible.

• Make sure you carefully read the person specification when completing the application form. You should adapt the contents of your application to the person specification, ensuring all information is accurate and honest.
• The supporting information section is your chance to tell us about yourself and for you to display your skills and knowledge for the role and why we should consider you. This section can include other information that has not been covered elsewhere on your application form.
• Never submit the same application form twice. Always adapt it to show how you meet the person specification of the post you are applying for.

Tips to keep in mind when completing your application:

• Provide details of all relevant education and any qualifications you hold (in reverse chronological order, so most recent first)
• Provide a full employment history (in reverse chronological order)
• Provide details of any gaps in employment in the relevant sections
• Provide references for all employment or training you have undertaken in the last three years

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 your application form.

Please make sure you provide accurate contact details for your referees and let them know if a reference request is being sent to them. This often speeds up the process and avoids unnecessary delays to you starting your job. Please note, we will not be able to accept non-professional email addresses for work related references, for example Hotmail or Gmail email domains. These email domains can only be used for character references.

Complete contact details are required – full name, a contact address, telephone number and email address. Please note that most of our communication is done by email. We are required to obtain references covering a minimum of three years and will contact people listed as referees on your application.

Your first referee should be your current employer if you are in work and the other should be from a previous employer/school/college. Your current employer referee should be your head of department, or if not available your human resources department.

If you have not worked for some time or have never worked, use referees who can comment on your ability to do the job, such as a teacher, course tutor or charity organiser. Don’t give the names of family members or friends.

The Trust has a duty to gather equality information on all applications received. The information you supply during this process is used for reporting only and is not made available at any point to the shortlisting or interview panel. This information, once captured, helps us to consider 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.

We are committed to increasing employment opportunities for disabled people and encourage all people with a disability to apply for a job with us.

As a disability confident employer, we offer a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who consider themselves to have a disability and who meet the minimum selection criteria (essential) at each stage of the selection process. You can indicate your wish to submit an application under the Trust’s guaranteed interview scheme in the personal information section of the online application form.

As a disability confident employer, we offer a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who consider themselves to have a disability and who meet the minimum selection criteria (essential) at each stage of the selection process.

If you are invited to interview, please inform us of any reasonable adjustments you require. This could be because you have a disability, including neurodiversity, or any other long term health issues and have special support needs in applying for a job, attending an interview or undertaking any tests as part of a selection process.

Reasonable adjustments during an interview may include:

• Adapting the environment, for example dimming down the lights.
• Allowing the candidate additional time to complete interviews, for example where there is an unseen test. This particularly applies to individuals with dyslexia or other learning difficulties.
• Accommodating the interview at a particular time, for example if applicants need to take medication or they have difficulty using public transport during rush hour.
• Bringing along an interpreter, for example for a candidate who communicates using sign language.

If you require reasonable adjustments to get to the interview or selection test, please provide us with your requirements in the space indicated on the application form.

You may also be entitled to receive support from Access to Work throughout the recruitment stages. For more information, contact Access to Work on 0345 268 8489.

If your skills, knowledge and experience match those we’re looking for (as indicated in the person specification), you will be shortlisted and invited to the next stage of the selection process (usually an interview). Please note this could take up to a week from the closing date for applications.

Shortlisting process

Our shortlisting process is based on how well you demonstrate that you meet the criteria for the role you are applying for.

When shortlisting candidates, we use the person specification to check for relevant skills, abilities and experience required for the role. Applicants who meet the criteria on the person specification will be the ones that are shortlisted for interview so please make sure you evidence as much of the person specification as possible.

Interview process

If your application has been shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an interview or assessment day (dependent upon the role).

You will receive an email invitation to an interview/assessment, this will include a link for you to book a suitable time to attend.

You will then receive an email confirmation which will include details of the interview panel and any additional tests that form part of the selection process, as well as information on when and where to attend on the day, and any forms of identification you will need to provide. It is important to take the right ID documents to your interview.

If the interviews are being held virtually, you will be provided with instructions on how to access the video platform (virtual interview is typically conducted on Microsoft Teams) usually 24 hours before your interview.

We use a variety of selection methods to help us choose the right person for the role. Depending on the role you have applied for, you may be required to undertake other forms of assessment as part of the selection process. For example, presentations, written exercise, role play or a short case study. For senior or specialist roles, you may be asked to take part in an assessment day. These help us assess your suitability for the role and any assessments you undertake will always be relevant to the job you have applied for.

Helpful tips for your interview

• Do your research about our Trust and the department you are being interviewed for. Read through the job description, person specification and your application form. The questions you are asked during your interview are likely to relate to these documents, so have a think about what you may be asked and prepare your answers in advance.
• During the interview make sure you make eye contact with your interviewers – this helps to address and engage with the interview panels. Be as clear and concise as you can, also be aware of your body language.
• Prepare a set of questions to ask the interviewers. You will be given the opportunity to ask questions. This will allow you to discuss the role in more detail, which will help you to assess whether the role is really for you.
• First impressions count – be professional and friendly, it makes you look approachable and enthusiastic. You can also make a good first impression by looking smart and being well-dressed. Even if your interview is held virtually, ensure you still look smart and treat it like a face-to-face interview.
• If you are invited to a face-to-face interview, plan your journey to avoid delays. If you are delayed for any reason, make sure you call ahead to let your interviewers know.

If you’re successful you will receive a phone call from the recruiting manager to offer you the job, followed by an email from the recruitment co-ordinator with your conditional offer.

You will also receive a phone call and email from the recruiting manager if you are not successful – this will be your opportunity to ask for feedback.

The successful applicant will receive a conditional offer of employment. This will confirm the details of your new role and explain the next steps of the recruitment process.

Your conditional employment offer is subject to NHS Employment Checks Standards.

In your conditional job offer email you will be invited to complete an identity check. The email you have received will outline the documents you need to provide.

We will start pre-employment checks during this stage. Should we require any documents or supporting information we will be in touch directly.

• • Identification – we will require three forms of ID, including proof of your right to work in the UK. We will advise the ID documents required, but these are generally one photo ID, two proofs of address (or vice versa) for example passport or two household bills. For your right to work, we will need your passport, e-visa share code, UK birth certificate or Biometric Residence Permit. Use this link to check you have the right documents.
  • Convictions – if applicable to the post, we will carry out a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check or use the update service where applicable.
  • Qualifications – if applicable to the post, we will ask for copies of your original qualification certification (equivalent experience will be taken into account).
  • Professional Registration – if applicable to the post, we will check any relevant registers.
  • References – we will request references covering 3 years’ work/educational history, including your current employer.
  • Occupational Health – we will carry out an occupational health check. You will be asked to complete an occupational health questionnaire which will be reviewed by our occupational health team. You will either be cleared as fit to work or have an appointment booked with the team. This will be dependent on the role you have applied for. There can be some delay in getting an appointment so it is important that you complete and submit the questionnaire as early as possible.

You will receive email reminders from us to prompt you to complete these steps as soon as possible, to enable you to start your new role.

If you need employment details as part of your hiring process, we encourage you to use the HMRC app, where you can get employment history and income (going back 5 years), National Insurance number and tax codes. You can also print and download this information, to share with us if needed.

Once your pre-employment checks are completed, we’ll arrange a start date and then book you onto our Trust electronic onboarding which will give you information about the Trust.

Congratulations! You’re now officially part of our team.

Your new line manager will be ready to welcome you to the trust on your first day and will complete a local induction in your new department.