Selection process

Shortlisting

In most cases, once a job vacancy has been advertised and reached the closing date, we will shortlist candidates using the person specification. The shortlisting process may take a few days if there are many applicants.
As soon as a decision has been reached, we will contact shortlisted applicants to arrange interviews. Normally, you would expect to hear from us within two weeks of the closing date if you are to be interviewed.
Please allow four weeks or more before contacting us if you want to know the reasons why you have not been shortlisted, unfortunately due to the high volume of applications we receive we are unable to provide specific feedback
In some cases, we will need to seek references prior to interview, in others we will only seek these following a conditional offer (see Job Offers below) but we require at least two references from previous employers prior to appointing.
We will also ask you to take part in a pre-employment health screen process which may be simply completing a form or may need further information to make sure you are fit to undertake the duties of the job.

Interviews are normally conducted by a panel which will include the line manager, and perhaps more senior members of a College or Service.
Candidates will often be asked to give a presentation on a relevant topic as part of the interview process, which will be explained in the invitation to interview letter.
In some cases, there may be second interview. Some interviews may need to be conducted by telephone.
In all cases, we do our best to ensure that all candidates are given fair and appropriate opportunities to demonstrate their abilities to do the job.

Once the interviews are complete, we will select a preferred candidate and either issue an unconditional or conditional offer of employment. A conditional offer would be issued when employment checks were outstanding; for example satisfactory references, medical etc.
We will ask you to accept the offer by signing and returning the offer letter. If you are relocating from another country, we will start the process of requesting a work permit on your behalf, although you may still need to obtain a Visa or other permit to remain in the UK.
UK citizens and members of the European Union will need to have provided evidence, eg a passport, of their right to work in the UK.
Bulgarian and Romanian nationals wanting to work in the UK will need to obtain authorisation to work before taking up employment. This will usually take the form of an Accession Worker card. For certain categories of employment the Bulgarian or Romanian national will be able to apply to the home office for this card without the need for an employer to apply for a work permit. The list of categories include: postgraduate doctors, dentists, trainee general practitioners, teachers, language assistants and qualified nurses coming for a period of supervised practice; for a full list please go to the UK Border Agency page for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals. If the employment does not fall into one of these categories the employer must apply for a work permit and the worker must then apply for an Accession Worker card.