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NHS Clinical Scientist Recruitment

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Original post by sbarron
Once the hospitals have short listed they send the list to the south west SHA who are organising the national assessment centre (btw this means most interviews are held in Brimingham ive been told)--- they are checking for consistency and if you shortlisted for more than 4 you will be penalised!!!

Now i dont know if this means you would get taken off all shortlists or just taken off some to make it 4 but i currently work in a radiotherapy department and my HoD has involvement with MSC and i told him none of the adverts say the 4 limit and he said dont apply for more becasue theyre will be conscequences!!

Now i doubt i'll get shortlisted for all 4 i apply to so i (like u) keep thinking would they know if i applied to more... but i wont be risking it as we might get shortlisted for all of them!


What I don't understand is the way the consortiums now seem to be split up, and you can only apply to posts at individual hospitals - for instance, in the old scheme, I think you would have applied to the Reading-Oxford-Northampton consortium (and that, importantly, would have counted as 1 application out of your 4), whereas now, it seems that if you were to apply to all the hospitals in that consortium, that would count as 3 seperate applications, leaving you only 1 more application!

Am I right in this thinking, or perhaps you *can* apply to all 3 seperately and this would count as 1 application - I sincerely doubt it tho tbh.

Cheers folks.
Reply 1201
Found a good link if anyone is interested further:

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/Default.aspx?Id=234
Reply 1202
Original post by chris300
NO! This isn't a helpful answer...I just wanna complain too!
I'm worried they might not even be up. I got an email back from someone informing me of the visit day though so I assume they'll be up?

I want the Immunology posts in London btw. PUT THEM UP :angry:


Yeah i've heard about the lab visit, i'm going next week :-)
Reply 1203


I saw this post but it seems to specialise in Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, not Clinical chemistry :-(
Original post by girlwithsharpteeth
Looks like there's a few up now - I just searched for "trainee" on the NHS jobs website and loads of positions are now up for graduates, including a bunch for neurophysiology and audiology.


I was hoping to find some pure neurophysiology posts, however after speaking to some neurology departments it seems this specific field is no longer included in the training scheme, trainee posts are run and advertised independently.

Thanks for letting me know about the new posts anyhow, and good luck with the job hunt.
I was looking for the purely Immunology posts, the information about the positions that you can download says there will be several around london.

Immunogenetics and histocompatibility is a different thing :/
Reply 1206
Hi everyone, hope your applications are going well.

I have a concern about the 'supporting statement' bit. I'm applying for the maximum 4 posts, but wasn't planning on changing the supporting statement every time because I'm pretty happy with what I wrote for the first one. Obviously I'm changing the specific bits, such as why I want to work at each centre, but the rest I have left as it is.

They do suggest writing a fresh statement for each job you apply for though...

What have you all done?

Thanks :smile:
Original post by Panthea
Hi everyone, hope your applications are going well.

I have a concern about the 'supporting statement' bit. I'm applying for the maximum 4 posts, but wasn't planning on changing the supporting statement every time because I'm pretty happy with what I wrote for the first one. Obviously I'm changing the specific bits, such as why I want to work at each centre, but the rest I have left as it is.

They do suggest writing a fresh statement for each job you apply for though...

What have you all done?

Thanks :smile:


I still have to write mine. I can't believe you have finished it all ready. That was quick. I will probably start on it tommorow.

You are applying for audiology posts, is that right? Me, too. But, mainly in Scotland.

What type of things did you mention in your supporting statement?

Also, are you working at the moment and what was your degree in? I have a degree in medicinal chemistry.
(edited 13 years ago)
Reply 1208
Original post by firestar101
I still have to write mine. I can't believe you have finished it all ready. That was quick. I will probably start on it tommorow.

You are applying for audiology posts, is that right? Me, too. But, mainly in Scotland.

What type of things did you mention in your supporting statement?

Also, are you working at the moment and what was your degree in? I have a degree in medicinal chemistry.


Hmm, well it sounds really sad but I started the bare bones of my statement a couple of weeks ago...only because I know how long it takes and how many amendments I end up making! :s-smilie:

I am indeed applying for audiology posts, down in the South East. To answer your questions, I am working at the moment and my degree was in biology. I basically followed the person specification when I wrote my supporting statement, just seeing what they were looking for and writing about how I met their requirements. Mainly work stuff really, as I'm working in research at the moment anyway.

Good luck :smile:
Original post by Panthea
Hmm, well it sounds really sad but I started the bare bones of my statement a couple of weeks ago...only because I know how long it takes and how many amendments I end up making! :s-smilie:

I am indeed applying for audiology posts, down in the South East. To answer your questions, I am working at the moment and my degree was in biology. I basically followed the person specification when I wrote my supporting statement, just seeing what they were looking for and writing about how I met their requirements. Mainly work stuff really, as I'm working in research at the moment anyway.

Good luck :smile:


Thanks, panthea

see for the person specification, when it asks for evidence of technical skills.

It says something about A passion for (committed, in-depth interest in and enjoyment of) scientific practice and its application to direct clinical care of patients in a clinical environment. Can that be study related, as I have not had much research work.

Also, I wasn't sure about when it says Able to develop proficiency in the performance of routine and complex techniques currently in use where they are training (ability to follow Standard Operating Procedures accurately) and the ability to develop and validate new techniques. Does that mean when you have used complex equipment and used new techniques. Unsure of what it truly means.

Lastly, when it says Ability to make judgements, including clinical judgements involving facts or situations that impact on patients.. I have never done this in a laboratory environment. I am volunteering in a hospital with patients with dementia. Would I be able to mention something about that.

Sorry for all the questions. They seem to have too many requirements in the person specification. I would appreciate your help. :smile:
Original post by firestar101


Also, I wasn't sure about when it says Able to develop proficiency in the performance of routine and complex techniques currently in use where they are training (ability to follow Standard Operating Procedures accurately) and the ability to develop and validate new techniques. Does that mean when you have used complex equipment and used new techniques. Unsure of what it truly means.


It means can you follow instructions well and be competent with new techniques/equipment after you've practiced them a couple of times? So anything you've repeated several times until you got the hang of it will count. But don't say anything about practicing until you could do it off by heart though, the NHS loves staff to follow the SOP rather than go off memory. Developing and validating new techniques just requires some example of basic quality assurance (i.e. testing the new technique in a side by side comparison with the existing technique, using the same samples for a fair comparison).


Original post by firestar101
Lastly, when it says Ability to make judgements, including clinical judgements involving facts or situations that impact on patients.. I have never done this in a laboratory environment. I am volunteering in a hospital with patients with dementia. Would I be able to mention something about that.


That's a ridiculous question to put on the application form considering NO ONE has any experience in making clinical judgements until they've completed their training post... Anything involving patients will probably be fine, especially if you've shadowed a medical practitioner making clinical judgements. I'm guessing the point of that question is to show you understand the role of clinical scientists, and understand that there are many different tests/factors which go into making the final clinical judgement.
(edited 13 years ago)
Reply 1211
Original post by Svenjamin
If your degree title doesn't sound relevant then explain the modules and what you've learnt. The modules are the important thing, not the degree title, so if you studied the same relevant modules then there's no problem at all. It is essential to explain your modules though, otherwise they will go off the degree title alone.

But to be perfectly honest, I'd recommend to ALWAYS explain what relevant modules you've studied. Two degrees from different unis with the same title can often differ in pretty vital ways, and likewise two degrees can have totally different titles but have pretty much identical content. So going off the degree title alone is pretty much guesswork for whoever is reading your application, best to make everything as clear as possible even if it seems painfully obvious to you. Don't tell them all the modules you've ever studied, but pick out 3 or 4 to show you have a firm foundation of knowledge that'll help you in training.


Thank you for the reply, its nice to get people opinions! Im visiting an embryology lab tomorrow so got lots of questions to ask, including whether they think my degree is relevant!

Havent noticed anyone on here talking about the reproductive placements, is anyone applying for them? The 4 I have picked arnt even advertised on the NHS website yet.
Hi Topazx,
I am planning to apply for the reproductive science placements also, do you mind me asking which embryology lab you are visiting? Is it one of the labs offering the training? Just curious!
Thanks!:smile:
I just wanted to ask another question regarding references. It asks if they can contact referees prior to an interview. I am allowed to pick no or yes.

I was going to choose no, because I would rather that my referees were not contacted unless I actually get an offer. Will that affect my application if I choose no.
Hi all,

Who is applying for medical physics or clinical engineering? It would be nice to get to know a few people on here prior to the interviews, and let me know if your visiting any open days :cool:, oh and GOOD LUCK to everyone who is applying to the various other posts...
(edited 13 years ago)
Original post by firestar101
I just wanted to ask another question regarding references. It asks if they can contact referees prior to an interview. I am allowed to pick no or yes.

I was going to choose no, because I would rather that my referees were not contacted unless I actually get an offer. Will that affect my application if I choose no.


I'd choose yes. They're only going to contact your referees if you get shortlisted for interview and putting no will immediately make them think you have something to hide.
Reply 1216
Original post by sbarron
I dont want to put downer ont he situation but obviously u have to consider all sides so u wont be wasting your time.... i recently spoke to a guy involved in the recruitment of trainee scientists in Nottingham (i am on the modernising scientific careers practitioner programme n he was giving us a 'careers talk' about prgression onto the scientist programme) .... So he basically said applications go to his PA and he gets her to create 2 piles- those with a 2:1 or above in their first degree and those without a 2:1 in their first degree..... he then only looks at the pile with the 2:1!!
This sounds harsh as he doesnt take into account any additional information but he said he gets so many applications that its the only way to do it!

They wont all work this way of course so emailing others is a good idea.

Well I know I am going to be at a serious disadvantage I am just going to have to keep trying and hope I get a chance to prove myself, my situation is unfortunate but what else can I do.

What other advice did that guy give you btw?
Reply 1217
Original post by chris300
I'd choose yes. They're only going to contact your referees if you get shortlisted for interview and putting no will immediately make them think you have something to hide.


I've chosen 'no', for a few reasons. If they're going to hold that against me, then there's not much I can do! My referees prefer not to be contacted before an offer is made so I have to respect that.

Hopefully they will go on each person's merits based on their application/interview, and will make an offer 'subject to satisfactory references'.
I just got an email answering my question about why the London posts aren't up yet.

Apparently the NHS has some funding difficulties with these programs so the Dr advised me to keep checking and he'll inform me if it changes.

****. :frown:
Reply 1219
Original post by sbarron
Well my current job is relevant experience and he said that will give me an advantage so any way you can get relevant experience will help... i only took this job cos i didn't get on the training scheme last year.

If you do a M.Sc try get work experience at hospitals during the vacation period cos then you've got all bases covered! Good luck :smile:

The people I have emailed have finally got back to me with advice, I am glad they did not sign me off as a lost cause and that I have a chance I have set myself back a year or 2 but I am young and eventually I will get back on track just got to have self belief and determination.

Good luck guys hope you get your job interviews :smile:

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