Recruitment guidance

The recruitment guidance on this page can help you achieve application and interview success.

Before you apply

Values

As well as qualifications and experience, employers in health and care are looking to recruit people who have the right values to work in the sector.

Most organisations will have a set of values and principles they embody within their daily business and are looking for employees who embody these too.

Here are some links to our local employers' vision, values and mission statements. Most of the organisations are looking for staff who embody behaviours that show caring, inclusion, compassion, high professionalism, collaboration and teamwork. These values enable us to provide the best possible care to our patients.

Employers will be looking out for how you demonstrate these values in your job applications and your interview.

NHS values

Working in the NHS you will need to demonstrate the NHS Constitution values and work to them at all times.

Social care values

These values have been developed in co-production with people with lived experience of drawing on care and support.

They outline what people want from the workers who support them.

People skills

When you work in health and care; people, patients and communities are at the forefront of everything you do. Therefore, organisations are keen to employ people who have the right people skills.

People skills in health and care are essentially a combination of empathy, communication and other skills that help caregivers work well with others.

Below is a list of people skills that can help you to be successful in a career in health or care. You do not need all of these skills to apply, some can be developed through continuous personal development (CPD) once you are in employment.

  • communication
  • empathy
  • time management
  • problem solving
  • team work
  • leadership
  • adaptability
  • interpersonal skills
  • worth ethic
  • attention to detail.

How to develop people skills

  1. Be open to feedback
  2. Communicate often
  3. Emphasise teamwork
  4. Build positive relationships
  5. Get outside of your comfort zone
  6. Get ready to learn
  7. Adapt to workplace changes
  8. Observe others.

Qualifications

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to have a clinical degree or A-Levels to start your career in health or care. All that matters is that you develop the skills, values, behaviours, and knowledge that employers need.

No GCSEs? Don't worry

Most entry-level roles require you to have either a specific qualification or the equivalent experience. Many of us develop the soft skills required to be successful in employment through everyday life - whether caring for a family member, playing team sports, resolving conflicts, learning how to manage your schedule and prioritise your workload, through to running a household or studying.

Even if you do not have GCSEs, you can be successful in an application by showing skills and competence in the other areas required (understanding of confidentiality, ability to demonstrate NHS values, demonstrate your understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion.)  If you can demonstrate an ability to learn and a passion for the role, you can be supported to gain your maths and English Level 2 functional skills once you are in employment.

Alternatively, you can gain a qualification in functional skills for maths and English before you apply, or whilst you undertake a level 2 apprenticeship (which is equivalent to GCSE Grade 4/C standard.) This way, you can earn while you learn, develop skills and a qualification, and there will often be a job available once you complete your apprenticeship.

The care certificate

The care certificate aims to equip health and social care support workers, including healthcare assistants, assistant practitioners, and trainee nursing associates with the knowledge and skills which they need to provide safe and compassionate care.

To do this, individuals will need to complete the care certificate within the first 12-weeks of beginning the process and meet all of the 15 care certificate standards.

Skills for care

If you are interested in a care role, visit the Skills for Care website to learn how you can grow the right skills to deliver the highest quality care.

T-Levels

T-Levels in health, science, and other areas (such as digital, business and administration or catering and hospitality) are also a great option. They are equivalent to 3 A-Levels and you will spend time on placement so that you can experience a real healthcare environment and learn from those already working in the industry.

If you are ready to apply for a role now, this link shows some acceptable equivalents for required qualifications.

Writing your application

Once you have found a position you wish to apply for, you need to make sure your application does you justice and provides you with the best possible chance of getting an interview.

  • It is vital that you carefully read the job description and person specification, as your answers may be scored against the requirements listed here. For example: If the person specification lists 'insight into needs of patients and colleagues' as an essential criteria, use your written application to demonstrate how you have done this in a previous role, personal life or whilst studying.
  • Take your time over your application and make sure your answers demonstrate your skills and experience, as well as your values.
  • Be concise in your application and keep your responses relevant to the role and the question.
  • Complete every section and try not to leave areas blank unless they are not required.
  • Finally, re-read your application before submitting and check for spelling and grammar.

Tip: Although artificial programmes such as Chat GTP can provide useful insight and advice for job applications, we do not recommend that you use an automated programme to write your application. Employers want to know about you - your experiences, your personal voice, and how you will perform in a role.

Visit the nhs.uk website for guidance on how to submit an excellent written application, as well as what to include in your supporting information section, which is like a personal statement/cover letter.

Interview hints and tips

If your written application scores highly at shortlisting stage, you may be invited to interview. The purpose of interviews is:

  • For the employer - a chance to determine if you are a good fit for the role, and if you can verbally demonstrate some of the skills and values they are looking for.
  • For you - an opportunity for you to meet your potential employers and ask them questions, so that you can decide whether the role and the team is the right fit for you.

Interviews can be daunting and it is natural to feel nervous. There are several ways that you can prepare to make sure that you present yourself and your responses in the best way:

  • research role
  • understand the confidentially rules and NHS and social care values
  • equality, diversity and inclusion
  • prepare for interview questions.

Useful links

10 steps to employment

  1. Register for an account on trac.jobs for NHS roles or visit the Kent Care Professionals job board to find jobs in the care sector
  2. Search for suitable roles in your area and apply.
    TIP: On trac.jobs, once you have submitted one application, trac.jobs will save your application details (employment history, qualifications) so you do not have to enter them again if you wish to apply for another role. You will need to update your supporting information section for each application. 
  3. Your application will be longlisted and scored against the job description and person specification.
  4. If successful, you will be shortlisted and asked to attend a panel interview in person or virtually.
  5. You may have other recruitment stages such as being asked to provide a written assessment or give a presentation.
  6. If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment.
  7. The recruitment team will conduct pre-employment checks such as confirming identity, right to work, DBS (disclosure and barring service), professional regulations and qualifications check (if applicable), employment history and reference checks and a work health assessment.
  8. Once all checks have been completed, you will receive an unconditional offer of employment. At this stage, you can agree a start date with your new line manager.
  9. You will receive your contract of employment.
  10. Start date confirmation - once we have received all paperwork and a contract from  you will be booked on to induction and mandatory training programmes.

Once you start in your new role, your line manager will take you through an induction process. The purpose of an induction is to welcome you to the role and the team, ensure you have all of the knowledge you need to perform your duties, inform you of local policies and procedures and make you feel supported and comfortable.