[laura130490]

(Original post by HelenKw12)
I just found out I'm based in Oxleas - I'm really pleased as it seems like they've really looked at my previous experience and interests before deciding Has anyone else heard? and are you pleased?

The only thing about mine is I was hoping to live at home but it is definitely based too far for me to commute from

I'm based in Buckinghamshire, I'm happy because it's not too far away from home, but definitely too far to commute to. Bit nervous about living in the countryside though! Only ever lived in the city, worried I'll get really bored.

What did you put down for your interests? I just put down that I want to be able to work to improve patient services, very vague, but I couldn't think of anything else.

[Merlin1988]

(Original post by HelenKw12)
I just found out I'm based in Oxleas - I'm really pleased as it seems like they've really looked at my previous experience and interests before deciding Has anyone else heard? and are you pleased?

The only thing about mine is I was hoping to live at home but it is definitely based too far for me to commute from

I got the email today too. I'm going to be based at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, which is spread across two sites, one in north-west, one in central London.

[HelenKw12]

Buckinghamshire, that's cool - it's where I live at the moment actually. Which hospital or region have you been given? I wouldn't call it the countryside at all - maybe compared to cities but it's not all farms and a really easy commute into central London.

I didn't write down anything specific interests I don't think? I just did a Psychology degree and some work experience in the prison service and the one I have been given is mental health based and works with some forensic patients so I assumed they must have just taken that into account.

The Orthopaedic placement sounds cool too - living in central London will be so much fun!

[Merlin1988]

(Original post by HelenKw12)

The Orthopaedic placement sounds cool too - living in central London will be so much fun!

I'm certainly looking forward to it, though I'm assuming I'll be based largely at the NW London site, since that appears to be the main one.

[laura130490]

(Original post by HelenKw12)
Buckinghamshire, that's cool - it's where I live at the moment actually. Which hospital or region have you been given? I wouldn't call it the countryside at all - maybe compared to cities but it's not all farms and a really easy commute into central London.

I didn't write down anything specific interests I don't think? I just did a Psychology degree and some work experience in the prison service and the one I have been given is mental health based and works with some forensic patients so I assumed they must have just taken that into account.

The Orthopaedic placement sounds cool too - living in central London will be so much fun!

They haven't given me a hospital or region, just said I'll be in Buckinghamshire NHS Trust. I would really like to find out though so I can start looking for accommodation. Oh I had a look on the internet and it seems like the countryside, with small towns and villages I'm jealous that you're moving to London! I've always wanted to live there.

[HelenKw12]

Me too, but I'm not really moving there. I'm going to be based about as far out of London as I am now because the region is so big...haha oh well, my time will come!

Yeah, I suppose bits of Buckinghamshire are quite countrified but generally there are pretty big towns and surely where there is a hospital it will be reasonably large.

Oh well, let me know when you find out an area more specifically and I can give you some advice on where the best places are to live and go out if you want!

[laura130490]

(Original post by HelenKw12)
Me too, but I'm not really moving there. I'm going to be based about as far out of London as I am now because the region is so big...haha oh well, my time will come!

Yeah, I suppose bits of Buckinghamshire are quite countrified but generally there are pretty big towns and surely where there is a hospital it will be reasonably large.

Oh well, let me know when you find out an area more specifically and I can give you some advice on where the best places are to live and go out if you want!

Oh I see! Yeah you could try and get a job in London after the scheme, that's what I'm thinking of doing That's good to hear, I'd like to live in a big town because it's what I'm used to. Aww thank you that would be great!

[HelenKw12]

I'm a bit confused about this placement business. The ones we've just been told are our first placements which last 6 months right? and so for our second placement will we stay in the same area just work in a slightly different location or department or could we be moving somewhere altogether different?

[randomgeeza]

How does this grad scheme work then? A mate of mine, got his 2:1 and started working for a small ICT company for 15k a year, with a 6 month probation period where he didn't get paid. Now from what this graduate scheme sounds, like you get 4 6 month placements? For someone like me who only wants to stay in Birmingham, is it viable? and do you get paid as soon as you start your first placement/accepted into the grad scheme?

Sorry about it all, but considering it though I just need some good old advice from TSR.

[Merlin1988]

(Original post by randomgeeza)
How does this grad scheme work then? A mate of mine, got his 2:1 and started working for a small ICT company for 15k a year, with a 6 month probation period where he didn't get paid. Now from what this graduate scheme sounds, like you get 4 6 month placements? For someone like me who only wants to stay in Birmingham, is it viable? and do you get paid as soon as you start your first placement/accepted into the grad scheme?

Sorry about it all, but considering it though I just need some good old advice from TSR.

You have to be somewhat flexible in terms of your location to join the scheme. If you wanted to be in Birmingham (where I live incidentally, but I'll be moving to London for the scheme) you could choose the West Midlands region as your first choice. However, there's no guarantee that a) You'd get your first choice region or b) Even if you did, that you'd be placed in your desired location within that region. For the West Midlands for example you could be placed anywhere from Staffordshire to Herefordshire.

I assume we'll be paid in arrears on a monthly basis from September when the scheme starts, just like most other jobs.

[laura130490]

(Original post by HelenKw12)
I'm a bit confused about this placement business. The ones we've just been told are our first placements which last 6 months right? and so for our second placement will we stay in the same area just work in a slightly different location or department or could we be moving somewhere altogether different?

I'm very confused as well, just been having this discussion with my mum. I haven't been given a hospital, just told I'll be in Buckinghamshire. Buckinghamshire is a big place, when will I find out what hospital I am at? Could we be potentially moved from one side to the other when we change placements? Because that could make sorting out housing very difficult. I'd really like to find out soon, because if that's the case (that we could be moved to completely different areas every 6 months) then I'm going to have to rethink the scheme.

[HelenKw12]

Yeah I wouldn't mind being moved within the same London region after my first placement, infact I'd want to be but it would be a bit weird to be moved to other side of the country. But I think maybe at that stage you have more of say in where you go and what experience you want to get? I might email my 'buddy' and ask her. I'll let you know x

[laura130490]

(Original post by HelenKw12)
Yeah I wouldn't mind being moved within the same London region after my first placement, infact I'd want to be but it would be a bit weird to be moved to other side of the country. But I think maybe at that stage you have more of say in where you go and what experience you want to get? I might email my 'buddy' and ask her. I'll let you know x

Yeah like you I wouldn't mind moving around different hospitals in one area, but I am really against moving all around the country because I don't want to get settled living somewhere then have to move after 6 months. It'd be too stressful, I'm worrying a lot about moving away now and I don't want to have to go through this every 6 months That would be great thanks, I'm going to email mine soon and will probably end up asking a lot of questions because there's so many things I'm unsure about! x

[little_angel]

Hi guys,

Congratulations to all that were offered a place on the scheme. I'm a first year trainee, so if you have questions regarding the scheme, you're welcome to PM me, I'll try my best to answer your questions.

Well done again!

[Becky90]

Hey guys,

I'm also a current trainee (2011 intake).

Just to answer some of your questions above -

The general, HR and informatics schemes have 3 placements: 1st placement is 12 months, followed by a 2 month 'flexi' placement (where you can work outside of the NHS) and a final 10 month placement.

Finance is a bit different, as it's a 30 month scheme (due to more time being needed for education requirements.) First placement is Sept-end of May, second is 12 months, flexi placement is 2 months, followed by a final NHS placement.

Each NHS placement will be different (e.g. If you spend your first placement in a hospital, your second will likely be in a PCT, CCG, Mental Health trust etc.)

Once you are placed in a region, this does not change. Generally, you'll also be able to stay in the same county through out the scheme, unless you request otherwise. You'll have a lot of influence over your own placements once you're on the scheme - if you want to stay in the same city/county, and there's placements available there, you can.

And yes, you'll start getting paid straight away (monthly, starting at the end of september) - salary is £22,222, though trainees based in London/Greater London and surrounding areas get some living costs.

For those of you familiar with Bands - the scheme is officially band 6, but the salary is a little less than this, due to education costs.

Any more questions, I'm happy to help!

Well done to you all!

[HelenKw12]

Thank you, that's so helpful!

Also...I was wondering about the orientation period. Is that included in the first 12 month placement? And can we go and see things in other places? For example, I'm working in a mental health trust so will my orientation period just be based within that trust or will I go to nearby hospitals etc. too?

Thanks again!

[Becky90]

Hi,

Yes, your orientation is during your first placement (in september-october). The length of time is lasts varies with different intakes, but we had 20 days in 2011.

The idea of your orientation is to get a wider understnding of the NHS; it is usually planned by your first host organisation, but it doesn't all have to take place there. I've been based at a PCT, but spent my orientation with ambulance trusts, CCGs, GP Practices, a prison, mental health trusts and all sort of areas of acute trusts.

[Merlin1988]

(Original post by Becky90)
Hi,

Yes, your orientation is during your first placement (in september-october). The length of time is lasts varies with different intakes, but we had 20 days in 2011.

The idea of your orientation is to get a wider understnding of the NHS; it is usually planned by your first host organisation, but it doesn't all have to take place there. I've been based at a PCT, but spent my orientation with ambulance trusts, CCGs, GP Practices, a prison, mental health trusts and all sort of areas of acute trusts.

Hi, I was wondering about the academic study aspect of the scheme. Is most of the teaching/work done online/remotely, and will there be much need for us to actually attend the institutions providing the courses?

[Becky90]

Hi Merlin,

That sort of depends on the specialism you're doing, but mostly, your studying is done in your own time, with some online support.

All specialisms do the PGCert (which General trainees take forward to masters) - this involves attending a teaching day roughly once a month, somewhere near your region. There's also an online system where reading material is posted and course information can be accessed.

For the HR scheme, there's also an online system, and we travel to Leeds for 2-3 days, again roughly once a month. Informatics trainees have a similar system, travelling to London.

Finance will depend on the qualification you're doing. They do a large amount of their study via online lectures.

Bit of a disclaimer - this could vary a bit for the 2012 intake, but this is basically how it's done!

[randomgeeza]

(Original post by Becky90)
Hi Merlin,

That sort of depends on the specialism you're doing, but mostly, your studying is done in your own time, with some online support.

All specialisms do the PGCert (which General trainees take forward to masters) - this involves attending a teaching day roughly once a month, somewhere near your region. There's also an online system where reading material is posted and course information can be accessed.

For the HR scheme, there's also an online system, and we travel to Leeds for 2-3 days, again roughly once a month. Informatics trainees have a similar system, travelling to London.

Finance will depend on the qualification you're doing. They do a large amount of their study via online lectures.

Bit of a disclaimer - this could vary a bit for the 2012 intake, but this is basically how it's done!

What kind of training and other things can you expect if you apply for the HR scheme? I have no experience in HR What does it consist off, apart from what you already stated.