Working within the NHS

Nicola Carne

Occupational Therapist

NHS since 1993

Introduction

Careers within the NHS Job Hunting Career Development The NHS – A rewarding Place to Work Benefits of Working in the NHS Pay & Conditions Pay Rates My NHS Professional Experience Why I like Working for the NHS Questions

Introduction

The NHS is made up of individuals from many different backgrounds and professional experience and expertise.

What ever you fancy, what ever your talents …………

Nurses Doctors Consultants Psychiatrists Radiographs

Psychologists Physiotherapists Occupational Therapists

Speech and Language Therapists Dentists Health visitors

Support workers Administrators House Keeping Estates IT

……………… There will always be a job within the NHS suitable to your needs.

Careers within NHS

Job HuntingEach trust is responsible for its own recruitment of staff. The vast majority of employers now advertise their job vacancies on NHS Jobs, the online recruitment website for jobs in the NHS.

As an applicant, you can search and apply on-line for vacancies that match your own preferences. You can also register with the site and be notified by email, when matching vacancies arise.

Career DevelopmentThe NHS is committed to offering development and learning opportunities for all full-time and part-time staff. No matter where you start within the NHS you'll have access to extra training and be given every opportunity to progress within the organisation.

You will receive an annual personal development review (IPR – Appraisal) and development plan to support your career progression and, as part of the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF), within Agenda for Change, you will be encouraged to extend your range of skills and knowledge and take on new responsibilities

The NHS - A Rewarding Place to Work

There are few careers that are as rewarding as one in the NHS, or that give you the opportunity to work with such a variety of people.

The NHS actively recruit people of all ages, backgrounds and levels of experience. This helps the NHS to understand the different needs of the patients and provide the best possible service.

Whichever area you join, you become part of a talented, passionate team of people, committed to providing the best care and treatment to patients.

You will also enjoy one of the most competitive and flexible benefits packages offered by any employer in the UK

Benefits of Working in the NHS

Everyone who joins the NHS is guaranteed a salary that matches their ability and responsibilities, and given every opportunity to increase it through training and development.

On top of your basic salary, you will receive at least 27 days' holiday each year, plus a range of other benefits including occupational health and counselling services.

Other benefits include training, automatic membership of the NHS Pension Scheme (unless you choose to opt out) and study leave for sponsored courses.

The NHS Pension Scheme is still one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK. Every new employee automatically becomes a member and you will get an excellent package of pension benefits

Pay & ConditionsThe national pay system for the NHS - Agenda for Change (AfC) - is for all directly employed staff except doctors and the most senior managers. The pay system offers real benefits including:

•a standard working week of 37.5 hours

•harmonised holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus eight general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after five years' service and 33 days after ten years’ service.

•pay enhancements to reward out of hours, shift and overtime working

•better career and salary progression based on the application of knowledge and skills

•annual personal development review to support career aspirations.

Pay Rates (1st April 2014)

The following is a guide only to Agenda for Change pay rates. However, you should always check with the employer to confirm the pay rate for any post for which you are applying. Band 5Point 16    £21,478Point 17    £22,016 Band 6 = £25,783 to £34,530Point 18    £22,903Point 19    £23,825Point 20    £24,799 Band 7 = £30,764 to £40,558Point 21    £25,783Point 22    £26,822Point 23    £27,901 Band 8a = £39,239 to £47,088

My NHS Professional ExperienceSeptember 1993 - November 1996 = FRIMLEY PARK HOSPITAL NHS TRUST – Occupational Therapist Basic Grade to Senior 1  Within this employment, I gained experience and knowledge in: acute elderly care, acute adult psychiatry and acute orthopaedics, through a rotational scheme of six months in each area. I also gained promotion from a basic grade to senior 11 within fifteen months and from senior 11 to senior 1 – team leader in orthopaedics within nine months

January 1997- May 1997 = INTERIM THERAPY SERVICES – Florida USA - Occupational Therapist  Within this employment, I gained experience in rehabilitation with clients who were placed in a nursing home suffering from a variety of conditions. I gained insight into the American health system and learnt the American culture and language.

My NHS Professional ExperienceJune 1997- December 2003 = NORTH HAMPSHIRE HOSPITAL NHS TRUST

Occupational Therapist Senior II to Senior 1 Within this employment, I have gained experience and knowledge in: surgical Inpatients, in and out patient’s rheumatology and general orthopaedics, as a senior 11. I was then promoted to a senior 1 after 10 months, where I have settled into trauma and elective orthopaedics. In my last year I developed the OT service within A&E and MAU. I also had basic experience of deputizing for the head OT.

January 2004- To Date = QUEEN ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL Occupational Therapy Senior 1 to Deputy Service Manager to Service Manager Within this employment, I am gaining knowledge and experience of deputizing for my manager. I began as senior I for Orthopaedics, then moved into A&E to progress the team forward and develop the service. I then acted up for 3 months into the Deputy Service Manager post. In November 2007 became the Deputy Service Manager and in June 2010 Service Manager

Why I like Working for the NHS?REWARDING CHALLENGING GOOD PAY EXCITING HARD WORK

ONE BIG FAMILY AMAZING VARIED GOOD EXPERIENCE LONG HOURS

CONSTANT CHANGE GOOD BENEFITS CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT FUN

INTERESTING PEOPLE GOOD OPPORTUNITIES VARIETY OF ROLES

GOOD DIRECTION SATISFYING PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT ENJOYABLE

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GOOD JOB SATISFICATION LEARN NEW SKILLS

MEET NEW PEOPLE PROBLEM SOLVING ADVOCATING SKILLS

NO TWO PEOPLE ARE THE SAME NO TWO CASES ARE THE SAME ENJOYABLE

CONSTANT LEARNING CLINICALLY REASONING ALL THE TIME SUPPORTIVE

SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE ENCOURAGING RELIABLE EMPLOYER – JOB SECURITY

WORKING WITHIN THE NHS

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

ANY QUESTIONS