Recruitment and Selection Policy

Introduction

This document sets out the overall policy and process for recruitment, selection and pre employment checking of staff and workers at Ashford and St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (the Trust) and provides a framework to ensure that managers and others are able to select the best person for the job in a process that is fair, open and consistent. Quality recruitment processes will support the Trust’s vision, strategic objectives and values.

This policy complies with the NHS Constitution; Care Quality Commission Standards relating to workers (Standard 12) and with NHS Employers Employment Checks Standards. It also complies with the Equality Act 2010 and Home Office/UK Border Agency rules on employing non UK and Irish Citizens and citizens who do not have Pre-Settled status in the EU Settlement Scheme.

Purpose and Scope

Safer recruitment principles underpin all processes undertaken whilst sourcing all persons delivering services managed by the Trust.

Fair and transparent recruitment and selection that complies with best practice is part of the Trust’s wider commitment to equality of opportunity in employment. Effective recruitment and selection of staff is key in ensuring that the Trust has the skills and capabilities in its workforce to achieve its strategic objectives. Spending time in planning the recruitment process at the start will save time in the longer term and avoid future problems.

The experience of applying for a job with the Trust can leave a person with a long-lasting impression of the Trust and of the NHS as an employer. Many potential applicants and candidates live in our local catchment area and may also be service users. We aim to leave all potential applicants and all candidates, whether successful or not, with a positive and professional image of the Trust.

All those involved in recruitment and selection will use this policy and procedure, which applies to permanent, fixed-term contract, and temporary staff, volunteers, students, trainees and contractors. Additional policies exist for medical staff, temporary workers and volunteers.

It is the Trust policy that members of any recruitment interview panel should be trained in objective and non-discriminatory recruitment and selection techniques. At the very least one member of each panel must have been trained within the last three years.

Policy Details

See also:

• Disclosure and Barring Service Policy
• Professional Registration Policy
• Pre-Employment Policy (Occupational Health)
• Induction Policy
• Volunteers Policy
• Honorary Contracts policy
• Temporary Staffing Policy