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| FAQs for students |
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Accessing the Website
I am having problems accessing the website.
If you are having difficulties accessing the website, it could be one of a number of problems:
Your Browser
You should be using Microsoft Explorer, Netscape or Firefox to view the website. Other browsers may be incompatible. You will not be able to successfully access the site using the AOL browser.
Your Security Settings
If you are using Microsoft XP, there is a firewall included in your operating system. This firewall may block information being passed and will not allow the website to function properly. If you are experiencing problems accessing the site and have a Microsoft XP firewall running, disable the firewall while you are working on the site.
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Best practise guidelines for the recruitment of pre-registration trainee pharmacists in the NHS
The NHS Regional Pre-registration Training Managers have developed guidelines for the best practice for recruitment of pharmacy students into pre-registration training posts. These guidelines are in accordance with guidelines produced by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB). The guidelines outline the expectations of students and employers. Both parties are expected to comply with these guidelines.
Students best practice guidelines are that they will:
- Confirm with their nominated employment/character referees that they are a) willing and b) permitted by company policy to provide a reference before completing their application
- Properly research opportunities and organisations and concentrate on those organisations in which they have a genuine interest when making applications
- Be prompt, courteous and honest in all dealings with employers and notify them immediately if they decide not to proceed with their applications at any stage
- Be honest with employers about their preferred aspect of practice for pre-registration training, other applications made or existing offers of pre-registration employment
- When attending interviews at employer's premises, seek only repayment of reasonable expenses incurred
- Only accept offers of employment if conditions and terms of employment have been explained and are acceptable
- Clearly state at the time of acceptance if they wish to qualify their acceptance in any way (the possibility of further study represents such a qualification) and recognise that such a qualification may affect the terms of the offer
- Recognise that both the offer of a post and its acceptance (whether verbal or written) form a legally binding contract. Verbal and written acceptance must be honoured other than in the most exceptional circumstances i.e. those which are beyond their control or which they could justify as being professionally acceptable
- Once an offer has been accepted, decline all other offers and inform all other potential employers to whom they have applied that they have made a commitment elsewhere
See also the RPSGB letter on recruitment of pre-registration trainee pharmacists http://www.rpsgb.org/pdfs/preregrecruitguid10.pdf
Employers best practise guidelines are that they will:
- Make available material to give students an objective picture of their organisations and to provide information about specific pre-registration training opportunities
- Offer equality of opportunity and avoid in their literature or application forms for employment in the UK any reference that might be construed as unfair discrimination
- Inform students whether or not they are to be invited for interview
- Make clear to applicants whether and what expenses will be paid for attendance at interviews
- Agree referees with the candidate and not seek references from a person not so designated without the candidate's agreement
- Notify the result of an interview promptly to a student
- Indicate clearly to the candidate and to the referee whether or not the offer is conditional on the reference
- Explain clearly the terms and conditions of service in offer letters and state the condition(s) on which an offer is made
- Recognise that both the offer of a post and its acceptance form a contract unless conditions are attached to either make clear to the applicant that an offer of employment is subject to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society approving the programme of training and/or the premises and/or the tutor
- Not pressure students to give a formal acceptance to an offer prior to the date set by the RPSGB. See also the RPSGB letter on recruitment of pre-registration trainee pharmacists http://www.rpsgb.org/pdfs/preregrecruitguid10.pdf and NHS Regional Pre-registration Training Managers have developed guidelines
- When students have other possibilities to consider, inform them if the offer can be held open and for how long
- Not give an impression that any commitment to work after the pre-registration period is enforceable in law
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Registering with Pharmalife
How do I register with Pharmalife?
The first thing you need to do to start your pre-registration applications is to register with Pharmalife. To register, simply click upon the Register button found in the top part of the screen.
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Academic Reference (MPharm students)
Remember, you need to have entered your academic referee's details by the deadlines which are 30th June 2010 for the first round and 22nd October 2010 for the second round.
Who is my academic referee?
Your academic referee is your pharmacy university tutor or other academic at your school of pharmacy who is familiar with your work.
I want to change my academic referee but cannot.
If you are unable to update your academic referee’s details on this page that means that we have already requested a reference from this academic referee. Unfortunately, you are not able to change your referee. If you feel that you have outstanding circumstances, please email us your request at prereg@pharmalife.co.uk. If you made a typo in the address details, do not worry because we are going to contact your referee electronically via email, not through the post. If you made a typo in the email address details, please inform us as soon as possible.
When I view my application I cannot see my academic referee's details.
You cannot see your academic referee’s details on your application or your academic reference. Under Data Protection laws you have a right to see your academic reference upon request. In order to view your reference, please request a copy from your academic referee.
Checking the Academic Referee status on the home page
You will be able to track your academic referee status on the home page when you log on to the website
Why did my Academic Referee status on the home page not change from 'Incomplete'?
To change the status of your Academic Referee Details from Incomplete to Complete you need to enter your academic referee details by clicking upon Academic Referee in the left-hand bar. Enter your academic referee's details (including a correct email address) and click upon the Save Details button. It will take one working day to change your status from Incomplete to Complete (so long as you entered your details before the deadline of 30 June 2010 1st round; 22nd October 2010 2nd round). Once your status has changed to Complete we have contacted your referee electronically for a reference. Please make sure that you enter the correct email address for your academic referee. They will not receive a reference request if you enter incorrect email details.
Why is my Academic Referee status on the home page 'Late'?
If your Academic Referee Details status is 'Late' it means that you have entered your academic referee's contact details but have done so past the deadline (30 June 2010 1st round; 22nd October 2010 2nd round). . There may not be enough time for us to contact your referee and obtain a reference prior to the deadline for forwarding your application to your selected hospitals. Therefore we may have to forward your application without an academic reference. Hospitals are unlikely to look favourably upon students who don't meet deadlines so make sure you submit your Academic Referee Details on time.
Why is my Academic Reference status 'Incomplete'?
If your Academic Reference is assigned an 'Incomplete' status, yet your Academic Referee Details is assigned a status of 'Complete', we are waiting for your academic referee to complete your reference. We will remind your academic referee of an outstanding reference once, however, it would be best for you to follow up with your referee as to why he/she has not completed the reference. If you entered the wrong email details your academic referee will not have received a reference request from us therefore we recommend that you check this first before following up with your academic referee. If your referee has lost the email requesting the reference, please send us an email on prereg@pharmalife.co.uk and we will resend the reference request.
Why is my Academic Referee status 'Pending'?
If your Academic Referee Details status is 'Pending' it means that you have successfully entered your academic referee's contact details and we are in the process of requesting a reference from your academic referee if you have not missed the deadline. Please allow one working day for your status to change after you have submitted your academic details.
Academic Reference Exemption for OSPAP Students
We usually ask for an academic referee from a UK School of Pharmacy tutor but the OSPAP course starts after the first round of recruitment and only shortly before the second round of recruitment. OSPAP students DO NOT need to provide a UK academic reference as part of their application as they will have already provided the pharmacy regulator with the following documents prior to commencing the OSPAP course:
- A letter of registration and good standing from the regulator in your own country
- An academic transcript
- Two references - one from your most recent employer, and one from either your academic tutor in their own country or another professional e.g. employer
When you select your status on registration please make sure that you select the 'overseas pharmacist on a conversion course' option or you will be asked to submit UK academic referee details. We will provide information for the employers on your application form so that they are aware that you are an applicant from the OSPAP course and that you DO NOT need to provide academic referee details. Applicants Are able to track their academic referee status on the home page when they log on to the website. Your online academic referee status will be displayed as ‘Exempt’.
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Curriculum Vitae (CV)
The CV is the part of the application where you provide details about yourself including contact details, education and previous experience
CONTACT DETAILS
Which email address should I use?
It is very important that you enter a reliable email address that you can check throughout the summer in the Email Address field. Hotmail is not the best email account to use because oftentimes emails are bounced back because mailboxes are full or Hotmail thinks that the message is spam. If your email address is not reliable, you will miss important information regarding the application process.
Which address should I use?
It is very important that you enter a reliable address where you can be reached in September 2010 for the 1st round of recruitment and October / November 2010 for the 2nd round of recruitment. Hospitals will contact you in varying ways, some will phone, some email and some send information via post. Make sure that they have an accurate address to send information to you.
QUALIFICATIONS
I am an overseas student and have different educational details.
If your educational details do not exactly match the format of the UK system, please do the best that you can in the provided space.
What is Other Qualifications?
If you have other degrees or qualifications that you feel are relevant and important to your application, please click on the Other Qualifications button and complete the information as appropriate.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
You can use this section of the application form to describe previous employment and / or work experience. THIS MAY BE PHARMACY AND / OR NON-PHARMACY RELATED and may include: previous employment, Vacation placements, university placements and voluntary work.
How do I add details of my previous experience?
Simply click upon the "Add another Employment or Work Experience" button. A new window will pop up where you can add details of employment or work experience. If for some reason you do not see the new window, it may be hidden behind another window that you have open. To find it, simply minimize the windows that you have open until the employment details window appears.
How do I delete details of my previous experience?
To delete details of employment or work experience, simply click upon the Delete button for the position that you would like to delete. Be careful, once you delete a position you will not be able to retrieve it.
How do I re-order my previous experiences?
Employment/Work Experience is automatically placed in date order (according to the From and To dates that you have entered). You are unable to change this order.
How do I update details of my previous experience?
To update Employment/Work Experience details, simply click upon the name of the Company/ Organisation where you were employed or undertook work experience. This is a link that will open the details page for this position.
EMPLOYMENT OR CHARACTER REFERENCE
Who should I enter as my employment or character referee?
Your employment or character referee should be someone in a position of responsibility who can comment on your work experience, competence, personal qualities and suitability for the post. Preferably this will be an employer. Alternatively, it could be an instructor or a supervisor from an extra-curricular organisation.
As OSPAP applicants are exempt from providing a UK academic reference they will need to provide two employment / character references because the NHS requires a minimum of two references prior to making an employment offer. OSPAP applicants may choose to use a university tutor as their employment /character referee.
Please note that personal references such as friends and relatives are not acceptable unless they have employed you. Before completing your application you should confirm with your nominated referees that they are a) willing and b) permitted by company policy to provide a reference.
When will you contact my employment/character referee?
Pharmalife does not contact your employment/character referee because NHS employers are advised not to use employment references as part of the short-listing process. Your employment/character referee will only be contacted by your hospital choices if they are considering offering you a post. The contact details of your employment/character referee will be displayed in your application to enable the hospitals to contact them if necessary.
Criminal convictions
You will be asked to declare if you have any “spent” or “unspent” criminal convictions or bind-overs, or any cautions, warnings or reprimands. As the post you are applying for involves access to patients in the course of normal duties it will be exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Therefore you are NOT entitled to withhold any information about convictions, cautions, warnings and reprimands which for other purposes are "spent" under the provisions of the Act. If you are successful with this application, any failure to disclose such information could result in withdrawal of the employment offer. Any offer of employment is subject to a satisfactory disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). There are 2 levels of CRB disclosure, Standard Disclosure and Enhanced Disclosure. NHS Employers has advised us that the Standard Disclosure is the suitable level for pharmacists including pre-registration trainees, however some employers choose to undertake Enhanced CRB checks.
Your employer will undertake the Criminal Records Bureau check after offering you a place. If you have any reason to think this may cause a problem, please discuss it with potential employers at interview. Offers of employment will be withdrawn if the CRB check is unsatisfactory. If you fail to reveal information relating to any convictions the employer may withdraw of an offer of employment.
Further information on CRB checks can be obtained from the following website http://www.crb.gov.uk
Disabled applicants
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) defines a disabled person as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Since December 2006, there has been a legal duty on all public sector organisations to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people and significant public authorities have had to publish a 'Disability Equality Scheme'. Each NHS organisation should have one of these. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has responsibility for enforcing the Disability Equality Duty and they can take legal action against public sector organisations that have not done as they are required.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
The Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) is a commitment is to guarantee an interview to anyone with a disability (as defined in the Disability Discrimination Act) who meets the minimum criteria for the job. All disabled applicants through NHS jobs are offered the Guaranteed Interview Scheme and the National Recruitment Scheme offers this in line with NHS jobs / NHS employers. Each hospital entry on the website contains an attached Person Specification for the post of pre-registration trainee pharmacist at that hospital. This Person Specification states the criteria against which applications will be short-listed. Some Person Specifications have essential and desirable criteria listed and the minimum criteria are that listed in the essential part of the Person Specification.
Disabled students wishing to apply under the GIS will need to will need to tick the 'yes' box on the online CV in answer to the GIS question. They will also need to provide evidence in their application of how they meet the essential criteria listed on the Person Specification for the hospital they are applying to. There is no obligation for a disabled student to apply under the GIS if they do not wish to.
Students may want to discuss their application with their University tutor or the Disability Co-ordinator at their university for further assistance. It might also be worthwhile checking with the HR departments of the hospitals the student is applying to in order to see how the GIS operates at that hospital.
Equality monitoring
The final part of the CV is an equality monitoring form. The information in this section of the CV is separated from the information given to the hospitals for short-listing. Anonymous equality monitoring reports are sent to the hospitals.
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Choosing a Hospital
How do I choose a hospital to apply to?
You need to create a first draft of your CV before you can choose a hospital. To choose a hospital, find the hospital that you would like to start an application for. When viewing the hospital details page (the page with the hospital name in an orange font at the top of the page), click upon the Create Draft Application button at the bottom of the page. This button will not appear if you have not entered a first draft of your CV.
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Profiles
The profile section of the application is where you answer questions about your experiences and qualities e.g. organisational skills, working effectively with others, professionalism, social/recreational interests or hobbies. The final section of the profile asks for further supporting information. You will be asked to provide a brief statement in support of your application, stating the reasons for your interest in working in hospital pharmacy and your chosen hospital(s). Include any relevant information, experience and achievements NOT covered elsewhere in the form.
The NHS Jobs website has useful information for those seeking employment in the NHS – see the following links for useful resources to help you write your profile
How do I add a Profile?
To add a profile, you must first select a hospital to apply to by clicking upon Choose a Hospital from the left-hand bar. Once you have chosen a hospital, you will see it listed in the Draft Applications box on Your Applications page. To add a profile, click upon ‘Add’ under the profile column. You have the choice of writing the same profile for all of your hospitals or tailoring your 4 applications to the different hospitals you are applying to. You can create and store as many draft applications as you like and these will not be submitted until you select your hospital choices.
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Submitting Your Applications
You need to finish your CV, select your hospitals write your profiles and submit your applications by midnight on 31 August 2010 for the first round of recruitment and by 29 October 2010 for the 2nd round of recruitment.
How many applications can I submit?
You may submit up to 4 applications. You can create as many draft applications as you like, but you will only be allowed to submit 4 applications in total. You will not be able to change your mind once you have submitted an application.
How do I submit applications?
To submit your applications, go to Your Applications page and click upon the Submit button for the hospital that you want to submit an application to. At this stage of the application process a small box will pop up and ask you to assign a rank (or No Rank) for your hospitals. You do not have to assign a rank to an application. You may decide to rank all applications, rank some or rank none. If you do not wish to assign a rank, when you submit your application, choose 'No Rank' from the ranking list. See further information on ranking below. After you have chosen a rank and clicked on 'OK', you have successfully submitted your applications.
Further information on ranking
Deciding on how to rank hospitals or whether to rank at all are tricky decisions to make. We can only offer the following general advice. Some hospitals, especially those that are very popular and have the * symbol in the National Recruitment Scheme booklet and on this site, use the ranking system to assess your keenness on working for them. Some hospitals, especially the smaller ones, may not take notice of the ranking but it is NOT possible for us to advise you on which hospitals do and which do not. If you are really keen to work in one or two of your chosen hospitals, you are encouraged to use the ranking system and your profile to indicate that to the hospital. In any case, it is a good idea to indicate to a hospital, in your profile, why you have applied to them. Every hospital that you apply to will be able to see the other hospitals that you applied to and the rank you assigned to each hospital.
How do I know if I have successfully submitted my applications?
Once you have submitted an application, you will automatically receive a confirmation email and the hospital will move from the Draft Application box to the Submitted Applications box on the Your Application page. Additionally, if you go to the home page, you can see how many applications have been submitted in total in the status box.
I submitted my applications but the number is not updated.
If you believe that you have submitted your applications, but the number of applications on the home page has not been updated, it may be your computer's cache (basically your computer doesn't refresh your screen for efficiency reasons). To clear your computer's cache, in MS Explorer go to Tools, Internet Options, on the General tab in the Temporary Internet Files box click upon the Delete Files button to clear your cache. In Netscape go to Edit, Preferences, Advanced, Cache, click on Clear Memory Cache and then click on Clear Disk Cache.
If clearing the cache does not solve your problem, it is likely that you have not submitted your applications. Please try again. If the problem persists, please contact us on prereg@pharmalife.co.uk
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After your application
Waiting to Hear if you have been offered an interview
For the 1st round of applications, you should hear from the hospitals during September 2010. For the 2nd round of applications, you should hear from the hospitals during November 2010. Do NOT contact Pharmalife or hospital Human Resources (Personnel) departments to find out if you will be offered an interview. Neither has access to this information.
You can check you application status for each of your chosen hospitals when you log on to the website. you will be assigned one of three codes:
- 1. 'Under consideration' - this means that the hospital has not yet decided whether to invite you for interview or not.
- 2. 'Invited for interview' - this code is used if you have been short-listed for an interview. You will also receive an email to confirm this. In addition the hospital will contact you directly (by phone, email or letter) to provide details of the date, time and location of the interview
- 3. 'Not invited for interview' - this code is used if you have NOT been short-listed for an interview. You will also receive an email to confirm this.
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Preparing for Your Interview
Congratulations! If you have got an interview it means the employer likes what they see on paper and they want to meet you to find out more. This is a time to be well prepared and confident.The following sections will help you prepare for your interviews.
BEFORE INTERVIEW
- If invited for an interview, always let the hospital know whether you will attend or not. If you are unable to attend an interview or choose not to the hospital can invite someone else.
- Plan what you will wear to the interview. Make sure appearance is neat and professional first impressions always count! It is easier to relax if you are also comfortable in your clothes.
- Find out who to report to, where you are going, and how to get there.
- Check travelling arrangements before the day of the interview and allow plenty of time for the journey. If travelling by public transport ensure you have enough money to pay for a cab in case there are transport delays. If you are driving, check the availability of parking.
- Always have contact numbers of the department or the person in charge of the interviews with you in case you are delayed.
- Review the job description, person specification and any other information about the hospital / organisation you have received. The job description gives an explanation of the main purpose of the role and outlines key duties and responsibilities. The person specification lists the qualifications, skills, qualities and attributes required for the job. You will be assessed on:
- Criteria based on the job description and person specification
- The evidence you provide for this
- The presentation of what you have to offer
- Your knowledge of the area of work
- Your rationale and motivation for applying
- Review your application form. If you have written a different supporting statement for each hospital make sure you are reviewing the correct one! Think about what you might be asked and how you would respond
- Prepare a list of questions to ask at the interview
- Ensure that your employment or character referee is aware that they have been named and may be contacted
Prepare yourself in order to show the interviewer what you have to offer
The NHS Jobs website has useful information on preparing for an interview www.jobs.nhs.uk/advice/interview_congrats.html
AT THE INTERVIEW
The NHS Jobs website has useful information on interview technique see http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/advice/interview_manage.html and http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/advice/interview_diff.html
The employer aims to:
- Assess whether you meet their requirements
- Obtain EVIDENCE of your skills and suitability
- Determine if you will fit in with their culture and ethos
You aim to:
- Explain clearly why you want that particular post
- Persuade the interview panel that you have the skills/qualities for the position they are offering
- Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job & hospital
- Demonstrate your knowledge of the job role and sector
Remember this is your opportunity to sell yourself to the prospective employer. They will want to know what makes you 'tick' and get a feel for how you will fit into their department. Questioning will be geared towards the interview panel making a judgement about you compared to other candidates.
- Most pre-registration interviews are relatively short so you will need to make a good impression quite quickly
- Remember the interviewers want you to do well; they want you to prove that you are worth employing!
- Some interviewers start by going through your application form and as this process is a major part of the interview you will be well prepared for it anyway
- The interviewer will probe your apparent strengths and weaknesses. Be honest. But also market your skills. Tell them about recent successes, areas that you have improved upon and how
- If you really want the job, sound as if you do and show that you are reasonably informed about the organisation. Be enthusiastic about what you have done in the past, or what you would do in this job if you were offered it
- As with an examination, answer the question you are asked; try to see what is behind it so that you can give an accurate reply. It is acceptable to pause to think through what you want to say before answering. Ensure you back up your answers with your reasoning or examples
- If the interviewer asks you a question you do not quite understand, ask them to clarify it. It is far better to ask (even if you feel a little awkward having to do so) than to hurry on nervously and answer the wrong question
- Talk freely but do not appear over-confident or say more than you mean because of nerves. When you do not know the answer to a question, say so. It is important not to try to sound too clever in your anxiety to impress the interviewer.
- The interviewer will help you to settle down for a mutually beneficial discussion both about the vacancy and about you and what you have to offer. If the interview seems to be going well, you seem on friendly terms with the interviewer(s), they have spoken frankly to you about the organisation, this is all excellent, but remember that this is still an interview and that it is wise not to be over-relaxed
- An interviewer may well ask you if you are applying for other jobs. There is no need to pretend that you are not. You can say quite legitimately that you want to have as many options open as possible. If you like the sound of the job, certainly emphasise this
- In a panel interview always look at the person who is asking the questions at that time and direct the answers to the questioner, and glance at other members of the panel as you answer
- Be careful of your body language and manners. Words count for 7% of your communication, tone of voice 38% and non verbal communication (body language) a huge 55%
- Everyone gets nervous and employers are sympathetic to this. You will come across well if you appear calm despite your nerves
COMMON TOPICS FOR INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Employers are looking for:
- Enthusiasm for working in the hospital environment
- Ability to communicate well
- A team player who can fit well into the department
- Ability to prioritise tasks effectively and recognise own limitations
- Someone who is eager to learn and who adapts well to new situations
- Someone who will take responsibility for their own learning and show initiative
Interviewers may ask you questions about the following topics:
- Examples of how you have worked in a team in the past e.g. during work experience, at university or during extra curricular activities
- A recent pharmacy news item that has caught your attention
- Recent pharmacy policies and guidance e.g. NICE guidelines, NPSA alerts etc
- New drugs that you might have read about
- Your motivations for choosing a career in pharmacy / hospital pharmacy
- Your reasons for applying to this particular hospital
- Any work experience that you may have had and what you learnt from it
- Skills learnt through extra curricular activities
- Accomplishments and successes that you are proud of
- How you deal with problems. Sometimes scenarios are used for these questions e.g. a scenario of a problem or ethical dilemma and how you might deal with it
- Your strengths and weaknesses
AT THE END OF THE INTERVIEW
- This is the time to refer to the list of questions you prepared beforehand and if they have not been answered, ask them
- Aim to end on a positive note!
- Think:
- Would I really like to work for the hospital / organisation and the person / people who interviewed me
- Are they my sort of people?
- Do they think the same way as I do? How much of a problem is it if they don't? (They may complement you).
- Have they got the same values and priorities?
- Find out what you can about the department and its services as a whole and how you fit in
- Follow-up. Make sure you know when and how you might hear the outcome of the interview. Ensure that your contact details are up to date and you are available to respond to an offer
INTERVIEW MISTAKES
- Poor or inappropriate personal appearance, grooming or hygiene
- Not asking any questions or asking inappropriate questions
- Interrupting the interview to ask questions. This can be irritating to the interviewer. Save your questions until after the interviewer has finished
- Lack of interest or enthusiasm
- Lack of knowledge about hospital pharmacy or the pre-registration year
- Lack of basic knowledge of the hospital / training bases
- Lack of familiarity with what was written in the application form
- Unexplained lateness
- Poor eye contact
- Fidgeting, fiddling with hair and clothing etc. all gives a poor impression of someone not composed or quite in control of themselves
- Never smiling
- Asking for holidays before being offered the job
- Telling the interviewers too forcibly what an asset you will be as if the panel were buying a commodity and disregarding what the employer has to offer you or, conversely, not showing what you can offer the employer
- Making derogatory remarks about the panel, other hospitals or previous employers
- Poor etiquette - The employment or character referee may be contacted if the panel are interested in taking your application further. The panel will not look favourably on you if your referee is unaware that they have been named as your referee
After the interviews
- Do you need any further information to decide whether or not you want the job?
- Record your impressions
- Consider how the interview went - how could you have done better?
- If you are not offered the post ring up the interviewer for feedback and advice for future interviews
- If accepted, decide quickly. However, don't feel guilty about asking for a day or two to think about it if you need it! Make sure you follow the students best practice guidelines for recruitment
- If you are offered the post, check your offer letter very carefully. At this stage it is likely to be a conditional letter so you must ensure that you understand the terms and conditions of the offer. If you are unsure about anything, then ask
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Guidance on what to do if you are offered a pre-registration training position
The NHS timetable for recruitment of pre-registration trainee pharmacists in England and Wales may differ from recruitment timetables in community pharmacy. This could cause a dilemma for you if you are offered a pre-registration training place before being able to attend interviews with other organisations. You may wonder if you should you accept the post offered or not? What if it’s not your 1st choice of hospital? What if you turn it down but then don’t receive another offer? To help students, the NHS Regional Pre-registration Training Managers made the following agreement on accepting or rejecting offers:
When do I have to make my decision on whether to accept or reject an offer?
- You must notify the employer of your decision to accept or refuse of an offer of a pre-registration training position on, or preferably before, 1st October 2010
- Employers should not pressurise you to accept an offer prior to 1st October 2010 as this is in neither your best interests nor the employer's. However if you are happy with the offer you can accept it prior to 1st October 2010 and refuse all other offers immediately
- If an offer is made after 1st October 2010, the employer may ask you to give them a definite decision within 24 hours of them making you the offer
What do I do if I receive an offer but it isn't from my preferred employer?
Holding onto an offer is defined as neither accepting the offer nor refusing it. You may hold onto one offer whilst you are awaiting the outcome of an interview with a preferred employer but should reject one offer if you are made a second offer, so you only ever keep one ‘in hand’. This process can continue until you have heard from all your options, then you should make your final decision. You should inform the employer if you do not wish to accept the offer as soon as possible so that the position can be offered to somebody else.
What do I do if I receive two or more offers?
If you receive two or more offers, think very carefully before accepting one of them. By accepting an offer either verbally or in writing, you are entering into a legally binding contract. Once you accept an offer you are expected to honour your acceptance
You should not hold onto more than one offer at any time whilst making a decision. If you hold onto multiple offers you deprive other students of receiving an offer of employment
Please note – The NHS honours this agreement and we expect students to do so too. Standards of honesty and trust are expected of all pharmacy students as described in the Student Code of Conduct
If you are being pressurised or are aware of anyone pressuring students to give formal acceptance prior to 1st October 2010 please inform Helen Middleton, Lead for the NHS National Recruitment Scheme for pre-registration trainee pharmacists (England & Wales) helen.middleton@chelwest.nhs.uk 020 7763 6585
Employment offers / contracts
Employers are expected to ensure that any written offers of employment and contracts of employment clearly specify the terms and conditions of the employment offer / contract. Please note that the 2010 intake guidelines written by the RPSGB recommend that students only accept offers of employment if conditions are acceptable and ensure that terms of employment are provided in writing. Offer letters and contracts are issued by NHS Human Resources Departments and sometimes this is a lengthy process. If the hospital is only able to make you a verbal offer, they must be explain this to you and explain the reasons why. They should also notify you of when you will receive a written offer or contract. Regardless of whether the offer is made verbally or in writing the conditions of the offer should be clearly explained to you. These conditions should include the following:
- Satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check
- Occupational Health clearance
- Obtaining the MPharm or passing the OSPAP course
- Whether the employment offer is deferred or withdrawn if the candidate fails the MPharm or OSPAP course
- Whether the employment offer is deferred or withdrawn if the candidate defers sitting the MPharm or OSPAP exam
- For non UK / EEA applicants: Specify the permission necessary for the individual to work in the UK and who is responsible for obtaining this permission
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Overseas applicants - Permission to work in the UK
Assessment of a candidate’s right to work in the UK and immigration sponsorship should be addressed at the end of the short-listing and selection process. It should not be used to exclude them from short-listing or selection.
N.B. This information is correct at the time of publication (02 June 2009) but may change if policies produced by the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) are updated and revised.
If you are not a United Kingdom (UK) or European Economic Area (EEA) citizen and do not have any evidence of entitlement to enter and work permanently in the UK i.e. settled status you will require permission to work in the UK. This will be different from the permission that enabled you to study at university in the UK.
What options are there for obtaining permission to work in the UK for overseas applicants?
There are a number of different routes by which you can obtain permission to work in the UK as part of the new Points Based System (PBS) which was introduced in 2008.
The PBS combines more than 80 previous work and study routes in to the United Kingdom into five tiers. Points are awarded on workers' skills to reflect aptitude, experience, age and also the demand for those skills in any given sector, to allow the UK to respond flexibly to changes in the labour market.
At the time of writing, we expect the most common categories of permission to work in the UK for pre-registration trainee pharmacists to be:
| Category |
Who can use it
|
| Tier 1 - Post-study work |
MPharm graduates |
| Tier 2 - General (sponsored skilled workers) |
MPharm and OSPAP graduates |
Please note there are a number of other immigration categories that may enable a non UK/EEA applicant to work in the UK and if you are eligible for a different category it is your responsibility to inform the potential employer. Please refer to the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) website
http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/
Information on using Tier 1 - Post study work or Tier 2 - General for permission to stay in the UK is outlined below. Permission must be obtained prior to starting pre-registration training.
Tier 1 - Post-study work
This category may be used by MPharm graduates. OSPAP graduates are no longer eligible for Tier 1 - Post-study work (since 31 March 2009)
The Post-Study work category of Tier 1 was introduced on 30 June 2008 as part of the new points based system. It aims to retain international graduates who have studied in the UK and provides a bridge between studying and a permanent job. The Tier 1 - Post-study work category enables you to work and remain in the UK without having a sponsor for up to 24 months after completion of your degree in a UK Higher Education Institution. What this means in practice is that the permission to work in the UK is not linked to any one employer and the Tier 1 permit can be used after the end of pre-registration training. Once you have a permanent job (e.g. after you qualify as a pharmacist) you are expected to switch into another tier of the points-based system.
It is not possible to apply for Tier 1 - Post-study work until after you have been awarded a UK degree. If you choose this option, it is your responsibility to apply for a grant of leave under Tier 1 - Post-study work and you will need to do this before starting your pre-registration training. Further information can be found on http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/poststudy/
Completing an application for a grant of leave under Tier 1 - Post-study work
You can download a copy of the application form from http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/poststudy/applying/initial/. You should read the Tier 1 - Post-study work guidance before completing your application form which can be downloaded from: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/poststudy/applying/initial/
Please note that the MPharm is an integrated master's degree. This means that while entry is at undergraduate level, the level of the final award is at postgraduate level. Select the category of your qualification as 'postgraduate degree', when answering questions about your qualification on the application form.
You will also need to provide the following evidence with your application form:
-
Proof of your qualification: Under normal circumstances you would be expected to submit your original degree certificate as proof of qualification. However as you will not have graduated at the time of applying for Tier 1 - Post-study work, you will not be in possession of your certificate. Therefore you will need to provide an original letter from your UK academic institution (not a photocopy). This original letter must:
- be on official letter-headed paper of the UK institution at which you studied and bear the official stamp of that institution
- have been issued by an authorised official of the institution
- must include the following information:
-
- the applicants name
- title of the qualification and name of the course
- start and end dates of the applicant's period/s of study and/or research for this qualification at the UK institution
- the date of awarding of the qualification
- details of the body awarding the qualification
- confirmation that the certificate of the qualification will be issued and the date that it will be issued
- Please note that original documents are required as evidence and photocopies are NOT allowed.
- Proof of funds to support yourself: documentation from your bank or building society covering the three month period immediately before your application. These documents must demonstrate that there has always been at least £800 in you account over this 3 month time period. Please refer to the Tier 1 - Post-study work guidance for more details of suitable documents to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds.
Tier 2 - General
This category may be used by MPharm graduates and OSPAP graduates.
Tier 2 - General is aimed at enabling UK employers to employ skilled workers from outside the EEA to fill a vacancy that cannot be filled by a resident worker or to fill vacancies for shortage occupations. Tier 2 permits are specific to both the employer and the post and are therefore a permit issued to cover pre-registration training is not valid after the pre-registration year.
The employer will only be able to use Tier 2 if they have a sponsorship license showing that they have been checked out and confirmed as genuine by the BIA. Once an organisation has been granted a sponsorship licence they will be given a password to access the system which is web based. The employer can apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for you no sooner than 3 months before you are due to start your pre-registration training. After being granted a CoS, you will also need to apply for a grant of leave under Tier 2 - General (see below).
Applying for a grant of leave under Tier 2 – General
In addition to obtaining a CoS you will need to apply for a grant of leave under Tier 2 - General. You must achieve the required number of points and be able to supply documents including the CoS reference number to support your application. It is your responsibility to obtain a grant of leave under Tier 2 - General and if you fail to do this the CoS will be invalidated. It is not possible to start your pre-registration training until you have both a CoS and a grant for leave under Tier 2 - General. Please note the fee for the grant of leave under the Tier 2 - General should be paid by you NOT the employer. Further information can be found on the BIA website http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/part1/
Completing an application for a grant of leave under Tier 2 - General
You should read the 'Tier 2 - of the Points Based System - Policy Guidance' before completing your application form. This can be downloaded from http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/.
The application form can be downloaded from http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/ N.B. You will need a CoS before you can make the application. You will also need to submit evidence to support your application:
-
Proof of your qualification: would only be necessary if Pharmacist (including pre-registration trainee pharmacist) was removed from the Shortage Occupation list
-
Proof of funds to support yourself: documentation from your bank or building society covering the three month period immediately before your application. These documents must demonstrate that there has always been at least £800 in you account over this 3 month time period. Please refer to the Tier 2 - General guidance for more details of suitable documents to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds.
I’m worried that my application may not be processed in time to start my pre-registration training – can I speed things up in any way?
Postal applications for both Tier 1 - Post-study work and Tier 2 – General take approximately 6 weeks to process. You cannot start your pre-registration training until you have obtained a grant of leave to remain in the UK. If you need to provide proof of qualifications as evidence for your application, you will need to be organised and obtain your academic transcript as soon as you know that you have been awarded your qualification. We would suggest that you inform your university in advance that you need an academic transcript as this may speed up the process at the university. You may also want to consider using one of the public enquiry offices (PEO) where you can make your application in person. (This new service was introduced in March 2009). To use a PEO you will need to make an appointment in advance. The PEO option is more expensive but may mean that you get your permission to work in the UK quicker than postal applications. For further information on using a PEO to make you application see
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/contact/applyinginperson/beforeyouarrive/
How do I decide which immigration route to take?
MPharm graduates may use either Tier 1 - Post-study work or Tier 2 – General. OSPAP graduates are no longer eligible for Tier 1 - Post-study work (since 31 March 2009)
In deciding which immigration route to use a number of factors need to be considered and we recommend that after careful consideration of these factors the decision is made jointly between the you and the employer.
The information in the table below provides additional information to help you and your employer decide on which type of permission to use. The decision should be made jointly between you and the employer after careful consideration of all factors.
|
Tier 1 - Post-study work |
Tier 2 - General |
| Eligibility |
MPharm graduates |
MPharm graduates and OSPAP graduates |
| Points |
Information on how points are awarded are on the BIA website http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/poststudy/eligibility/ |
Information on how points are awarded are on the BIA website http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier2/general/eligibility/ |
| Evidence of funds |
You will need to provide evidence that you have access to £800 of available funds (you need this amount as a minimum in your bank account for 3 months prior to your application) |
You will need to provide evidence that you have access to £800 of available funds (you need this amount as a minimum in your bank account for 3 months prior to your application)
|
| Cost to graduate (2009/10) |
£500 - postal
£700 - at a public enquiry office (PEO) (N.B. if you wish to use this option you must make an appointment in advance) For more information on using a PEO see http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/contact/applyinginperson/beforeyouarrive/ |
£465 - postal
£665 - at a public enquiry office (PEO) (N.B. if you wish to use this option you must make an appointment in advance) For more information on using a PEO see http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/contact/applyinginperson/beforeyouarrive/ |
| Cost to employer |
None |
£170 for Certificate of sponsorship (CoS)
In addition if the employer does not already have a sponsors license they will need to apply for one at a cost of £1000. The sponsors license enables the employer to sponsor a number of non-resident workers and this number is agreed with the BIA |
| Paperwork for employer |
None |
Online application for CoS +/- application for sponsors license |
| Paperwork for applicant |
Application for a grant of leave under Tier 1 - Post-study work plus submission of evidence |
Application for a grant of leave under Tier 2 (General /Intra Company Transfers) plus submission of evidence |
| Paperwork for the university |
Proof of qualification |
Proof of qualification would only be necessary if Pharmacist (including pre-registration trainee pharmacist) was removed from the Shortage Occupation list |
| When to apply? |
It is not possible to apply for the Tier 1 - Post-study work category until you have been awarded your degree. |
The employer should apply for the CoS no more than 3 months before you are due to start your pre-registration training. Please note that in addition to the CoS you will need to apply for a grant of leave under Tier 2 - General. |
| Who is responsible for applying? |
You are responsible for applying |
Your employer is responsible for applying for the CoS.
In addition you will need a grant of leave under tier 2 - General and you are responsible for applying for this once your CoS has been granted |
| Settlement or indefinite leave to remain |
Time spent in the Tier 1 - Post-study worker category does NOT count towards the period you need to spend in the United Kingdom before being eligible to live permanently in the United Kingdom (known as 'settlement' or 'indefinite leave to remain'). |
Time spent in the Tier 2 category counts towards the period you need to spend in the United Kingdom before being eligible to live permanently in the United Kingdom (known as 'settlement' or 'indefinite leave to remain'). |
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Factors that could delay the start of pre-registration training
Failed MPharm and OSPAP examinations
What happens if I have been offered a pre-registration training place but fail my MPharm or OSPAP examinations?
You will not be able to enter the pre-registration training scheme unless you have passed your MPharm or Overseas Pharmacist Assessment Programme (OSPAP) examinations or successfully completed all parts of the MPharm that precede pre-registration if you are on a sandwich course.
This may result in you not being able to sit the registration assessment until September and if you fail this assessment you will not be able to re-sit the registration assessment until the following year. See FAQ below on eligibility to sit the registration assessment.
Both you and your tutor are responsible for notifying the pre-registration division at the regulatory body in writing (or by e-mail) of delays to the start date of the training and any other changes in training details.
Will a late start date affect my eligibility to sit the registration assessment?
There are 2 sittings of the registration assessment (formerly known as registration examination) each year in June and September. Eligibility for entry to either sitting of the registration assessments is subject to the submission of a satisfactory progress report by the pre-registration tutor at the 39 week stage and having completed a minimum of 45 weeks of pre-registration training by the registration assessment date. It is therefore possible to calculate the date by which trainees must have commenced training in order to be eligible for sitting the registration assessment.
| Cut off dates for starting pre-registration training in 2010 to sit the 2011 registration assessment | Dates of registration assessment in 2010 |
| On / before 13th August 2010 | 24th June 2011 (deadline for receipt of assessment entries = 13th May 2011) |
| On / before 12th November 2010 | 23rd September 2011 (deadline for receipt of assessment entries = 12th August 2011) |
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