HSE Recruitment Freeze Limbo

mwydro

Hi all

Applied for a role with the HSE in March, shortlisted and interviewed in June, told I was successful a week later.

Between the interview and the results being shared, the recruitment freeze was announced. There’s no update from the hiring managers as to whether this will progress any further, seemingly nothing has changed.

Anyone else in a similar position? Stuck in limbo!

Harryhol

Have you had any update @mwydro ? The recruitment freeze seems to have been extended and although I'm currently working for them I've gone for a higher grade not sure now if that will come to pass now either!

Captaingoal

@Harryhol I am currently going through the pre clearance checks for a Grade IV position and a bit concerned as I don’t have a contract yet. I just contacted NRS and they’ put a query in with clearance.

Harryhol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121198697#Comment_121198697

Hey, yes don't really know how it effects people. Did you get the position internally or externally?

Captaingoal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121198812#Comment_121198812

It was an external grade IV competition.

Harryhol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121198920#Comment_121198920

Hopefully it will still go ahead, I think they will just close panels that are still ongoing.

Captaingoal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121198935#Comment_121198935

Hopefully. I’m curious as to what happened to people’s jobs the last time there was a freeze?

Harryhol

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121198948#Comment_121198948

Well I know of people that were pre clearance which still got positions but then the panel was closed. It's silly really because it's most likely another campaign will just start up again in a few months costing even more money!

Batattack

Hi @Harryhol, @Captaingoal, @mwydro

I am in exact same position, got external job offer and going through pre-clearance checks and now this hiring freeze 😡 . Am really interested to hear how people get on or anyone else in the same position ?

I really need this job, so am absolutely gutted to hear of this freeze.

Thanks a lot.

Lollipop95

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121204950#Comment_121204950

I’m the exact same as you. Applied for grade 3 CO role and going through pre clearance. Really need this job so don’t know what I’ll do if it doesn’t go ahead :/

auris12

I've gone through pre-clearance and awaiting my contract. I contacted the NRS yesterday and was informed that any posts already accepted will be proceeding.

Captaingoal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121207264#Comment_121207264

I was told the same thankfully.

mwydro

Heard nothing, communication is woeful too… just getting copy and paste responses.

Captaingoal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121209563#Comment_121209563

Did you accept a job?

Batattack

Can I ask, what is the NRS ? Im afraid to poke the bear and ask if my position will still go ahead or not.....

Thanks.

mwydro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121209875#Comment_121209875

Applied in March, got my panel placement in June, zero EOIs as the initial freeze was announced between my interview and the results being shared. Multiple roles were available so was just waiting for any updates.

Asked for an update every 2 months or so but haven’t been given any indication things are moving one way or the other. Seems like I’ll be in limbo permanently!

auris12

It's the National Recruitment Service.

I am me123

Will this recruitment freeze affect the current HSE Clerical Officer campaign?

mwydro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121214996#Comment_121214996

Looks like it, unless you’ve already accepted a post

Lollipop95

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/hse-recruitment-freeze-to-hit-junior-doctors-agency-staff-and-home-helps/a631163381.html

will this effect those of us who have accepted posts for clerical officer positions and are in preclearance stages? Devastated, if so

Captaingoal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121232563#Comment_121232563

It appears if you accepted a post before a certain date you’re fine. That’s what I was told for my grade IV post.

Lollipop95

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121232941#Comment_121232941

Thanks @Captaingoal I’m grade 3, so not sure if the grades make a difference. I’m just waiting for my occupational health form to be processed, I believe everything else is done. I accepted mine the last week in September, about a week before the initial freeze was announced.

Captaingoal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121232947#Comment_121232947

I was told last week by the national recruitment service that any posts accepted before the 4th october will proceed as normal but there is a month’s backlog with contracting, so hopefully you are ok. I accepted mine just before you and all my references are done and occupational health forms sent in. Just waiting on garda vetting to come back and for a contract.

I am me123

What about those who applied for the current HSE Clerical Officer campaign, and recently completed the aptitude tests? Do they have any chance at a position?

redyellow

Hi all - anyone any updates today after Friday ? I’m awaiting contract after all documents submitted about one month ago

Lollipop95

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121245210#Comment_121245210

Wondering this also. I sent in my last document for clearance (occupational health form) last week and haven’t heard anything since

Hi,

Whats the difference between an internal and external position?

Lollipop95

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121249509#Comment_121249509

I believe internal is when they hire within the organisation and external is when anyone can apply, like you or me, without ever working there before

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121249561#Comment_121249561

Thanks , I was thinking the same.

Pixielena

Hi I did the HSE clerical officer aptitude test last week, and I thought it was seriously to tough. Just wondering how others found it, and how long till you get a number on the panel. Thanks.😁

redyellow

Hi all just wondering did anyone receive a contract yet ? For those that accepted a position prior to recruitment freeze , thanks

Captaingoal

No I’m waiting on OH clearance

DEW138

I signed my contract last week. Accepted the post first week in August.

Lollipop95

Is anyone else still waiting for their occupational health preclearance to be processed? I submitted mine two weeks ago, followed up with OH team a couple of days ago and they said it’s currently being processed. Anyone have any idea what’s the average time length? Hoping I get my contract soon!

sswathi

I just got my marks. Not very good. 55% . They told they will call for interview based on that.

Lollipop95

Did anyone hear the news that they're now extending the freeze to all categories of staff? Announced this morning. Could this effect those of us who are in the last stages of the recruitment process? Grade 3 Clerical Officer

Captaingoal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121352447#Comment_121352447

Yeah I heard it and no one in the HSE seemed to know what’s going on when I contacted them. My service manager was supposed to contact me with a start date but I still don’t have a contract signed. It’s a wait and see it seems like. I’m curious what happens when jobs are withdrawn? Will people stay on panels and be offered different ones when the ban is over?

teamhornets

I think that's 55 out of 79 (the top score) so the percentage would be alot higher

Lollipop95

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121352470#Comment_121352470

I’m afraid to ask mine! Communication with the recruitment team hasn’t been great. I’ve had to keep chasing them in order to get things moved along! How have you found the communication?

There’ll be an outcry (rightfully) if jobs are withdrawn. I’ve been in this process since September and turned down multiple interviews because I was banking on this :( It’s not like they don’t need the staff!

Captaingoal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121352558#Comment_121352558

communication’s been ok aside from hassle over references. I’ve been in the process since september too and turned down a civil service job for this Grade IV post. It’s such a shambles to leave people in limbo.

Lollipop95

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121352799#Comment_121352799

Yeah it’s only with the references really I’ve had hassle in fairness. They have one work reference off me so far and were requesting another. I did give them one but that company isn’t allowed to fill out the HSE form. So now I’ve sent them another referee but I’m iffy about them getting back to the HSE too. So I’m hoping if all else fails, they’ll allow me to provide my former college lecturer details as I don’t really have anyone else to go to for a reference!

I wouldn’t mind if it’s all worth it in the end, but if the freeze applies I’ll be devastated after thinking for 2 months I have a job. Or if I miss out on it over a reference not being done

Vologda69

Brendan Gloster stated this evening on Six One news that where contracts had not been signed, offers would not be proceeding

Lollipop95

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121353018#Comment_121353018

Oh no :( Looks like I will have to start job hunting again if that's the case. How depressing!

Captaingoal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121353018#Comment_121353018

Does this mean they’ll never proceed though or will they just be delayed?

sunnyson

I got a phone call today about start date and she said it’s going to be 50/50 if this goes through. My contract is drawn up but not signed. Absolutely devastated but if all fails I’d like to think I will stay on panel 😒

Captaingoal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121353495#Comment_121353495

Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope it does go ahead for you.

Lollipop95

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121353495#Comment_121353495

Oh no, I'm so sorry :( Hope it does go ahead for you and for all of us here! Boards.ie has been such a great resource for information since I got the offer. Really is disgraceful to have offered contracts and then withdraw them at this stage. I see Sinn Fein are calling for the decision to be reversed immediately. I wonder if there's any chance if there's enough uproar, the government will give the HSE more money - which it seems is what they are calling for

Vologda69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121353342#Comment_121353342

Would only be speculating....think the least HSE could do is clarify the situation asap

Lollipop95

According to RTE:

https://www.rte.ie/news/health/2023/1110/1415787-hse-recruitment-freeze/

”The memo states that there are to be no further offers made or obligations entered into, in respect of any posts excluding consultant appointments, graduate nurses and midwives, and doctors in formal approved training programmes.

"Any offers made and not formally accepted, or where a contract has not issued should now be withdrawn," according to the memo.”

stargazer 68

Apart from Clerical staff we now can't fill our Nursing or HCA posts (unless new grad nurses). Complete madness.

Captaingoal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121355585#Comment_121355585

I’m curious if jobs can be reoffered once withdrawn or do we just go back to a panel?