HSE Covid Swabbing roles

Tilytally · 14-09-2020 8:39pm #1

Any boardsies applied for these roles?

Other than the initial media reports last week, I have not seen much more information about it in the media or elsewhere since the campaign was run (ending today 14th Sept). I have applied as I am out of work at the moment and although not trained in the healthcare sector I would like to help get the HSE staff back into their own departments before the backlogs get worse and in some ways feel it is my civic duty to help during the pandemic while I am available. I am curious to know if this is a role which could possibly have long term prospects in the HSE (outside of the possible 12 month contract) or if it could lead to a role in another area of the HSE following the term of the contract.

Also, if you have applied, why did you apply (apart from the obvious - a salary) and how do you feel about the recruitment process?

Shark7 · 21-09-2020 11:26am

Tilytally wrote: »

Any boardsies applied for these roles?

Other than the initial media reports last week, I have not seen much more information about it in the media or elsewhere since the campaign was run (ending today 14th Sept). I have applied as I am out of work at the moment and although not trained in the healthcare sector I would like to help get the HSE staff back into their own departments before the backlogs get worse and in some ways feel it is my civic duty to help during the pandemic while I am available. I am curious to know if this is a role which could possibly have long term prospects in the HSE (outside of the possible 12 month contract) or if it could lead to a role in another area of the HSE following the term of the contract.

Also, if you have applied, why did you apply (apart from the obvious - a salary) and how do you feel about the recruitment process?

I know someone that applied for this rule 2 weeks ago, have had to get Garda vetting confirmed and have heard nothing since.

Would have expected to hear something as there is clearly a need for testers considering the volume of tests being done every day.

Tristram · 21-09-2020 1:29pm

Was ther much publicity around this? Missed it altogether.

Tilytally · 21-09-2020 1:42pm

Thanks for replies, yes I also provided my information last week for the garda vetting which takes 5 business days so expecting an update sometime this week regarding the next stage.

I received an email from the HSE approx three weeks ago as I had previously signed up to the Be On Call recruitment drive from March/April of this year and I also saw that it was advertised on the Job Alert website that week along with some very minor media reports mentioning that the roles were going to open for applications "soon". Have not heard or read any further media reports since which seems unusual given the level of media attention the pandemic has created.

Ioma · 22-09-2020 4:48pm

@Tilytally I am the same as you , did the garda vetting 8 days ago & heard nothing , but looking at Indeed website re working for the HSE it says the process can take over a month which is crazy considering the numbers & the fact that they are now sending swabs overseas due to demand

Tilytally · 22-09-2020 6:14pm

Ioma wrote: »

@Tilytally I am the same as you , did the garda vetting 8 days ago & heard nothing , but looking at Indeed website re working for the HSE it says the process can take over a month which is crazy considering the numbers & the fact that they are now sending swabs overseas due to demand

Hi Ioma,

Wishing you the best of luck with your application, hopefully you hear something soon.

I find it unusual that there are no further updates as yet as I noticed they mentioned the urgency to get people into these roles before the end of September in the downloaded information booklet at the time of the application. Now obviously they could be filling the roles at the moment and we are further down the line due to the number of applicants perhaps, but it does not seem to be as urgent as I imagined. I have friends redeployed in the HSE currently (not swabbing though) and they have not had any updates regarding the intake of new staff either.

Ioma · 23-09-2020 1:35pm

Hi @TilyTally
I do not understand it either as it was mentioned on Twitter yesterday afternoon that they had so far swabbed/tested 450 people at Punchestown (Kildare) in one day. Wishful thinking that as you say they state in the application process that they are urgently looking for people, we will probably hear in December!!
Fingers crossed for all of us that we hear something one way or another

Furious-Red · 23-09-2020 2:22pm

Yea im the same, applied for it about 2 weeks or so ago, got the garda vetting thing and did it straight away last monday and nothing since.

medic112 · 23-09-2020 2:47pm

The successful applicants have been placed into panels of A,B,C etc. A's panel have been contacted & are due video call interviews starting tomorrow. Its not unusual for 5/6 public health swabbing teams to set up a mobile test center with the ambulance service & test 450 people a day.

Once your trained in donning & doffing & confident in same its normally very smooth, the static sites are very well run.

fionnr01 · 23-09-2020 4:24pm

medic112 wrote: »

The successful applicants have been placed into panels of A,B,C etc. A's panel have been contacted & are due video call interviews starting tomorrow. Its not unusual for 5/6 public health swabbing teams to set up a mobile test center with the ambulance service & test 450 people a day.

Once your trained in donning & doffing & confident in same its normally very smooth, the static sites are very well run.

Are the panels ranked in order of merit or would panel A be people who have selected sayv a county thats badly in need of testers??
I applied, did garda vetting, heard nothing since. I have a vast experience in healthcare over 20yrs and im sure id have the necessary qualifications/skills. I chose Roscommon Westmeath.

Furious-Red · 23-09-2020 4:39pm

fionnr01 wrote: »

Are the panels ranked in order of merit or would panel A be people who have selected sayv a county thats badly in need of testers??
I applied, did garda vetting, heard nothing since. I have a vast experience in healthcare over 20yrs and im sure id have the necessary qualifications/skills. I chose Roscommon Westmeath.

I picked Kildare and Portlaoise (was going to pick Dublin but thought it might more competition there)

fionnr01 · 23-09-2020 4:42pm

Furious-Red wrote: »

I picked Kildare and Portlaoise (was going to pick Dublin but thought it might more competition there)

Any contact?

fionnr01 · 23-09-2020 4:43pm

medic112 wrote: »

The successful applicants have been placed into panels of A,B,C etc. A's panel have been contacted & are due video call interviews starting tomorrow. Its not unusual for 5/6 public health swabbing teams to set up a mobile test center with the ambulance service & test 450 people a day.

Once your trained in donning & doffing & confident in same its normally very smooth, the static sites are very well run.

How do you know this if you dont mind me asking?

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000 · 23-09-2020 4:44pm

Tilytally wrote: »

Thanks for replies, yes I also provided my information last week for the garda vetting which takes 5 business days so expecting an update sometime this week regarding the next stage.

I received an email from the HSE approx three weeks ago as I had previously signed up to the Be On Call recruitment drive from March/April of this year and I also saw that it was advertised on the Job Alert website that week along with some very minor media reports mentioning that the roles were going to open for applications "soon". Have not heard or read any further media reports since which seems unusual given the level of media attention the pandemic has created.

Did you ever hear anymore back from the be on all team? I applied, had my interview then silence for 6 weeks when a recruitment agency contacted me to supply Garda vetting, vaccine report etc then nothing since then. That was back in March.

fionnr01 · 23-09-2020 4:45pm

fionnr01 wrote: »

Any contact?

Sorry just seen u said already nothing since ðŸ‘

Tilytally · 23-09-2020 5:34pm

medic112 wrote: »

The successful applicants have been placed into panels of A,B,C etc. A's panel have been contacted & are due video call interviews starting tomorrow. Its not unusual for 5/6 public health swabbing teams to set up a mobile test center with the ambulance service & test 450 people a day.

Once your trained in donning & doffing & confident in same its normally very smooth, the static sites are very well run.

Hi Medic112,

That's interesting information thank you, are you currently working in this area - asking purely based on your username.

I initially assumed I may be lower on the list as 1. I don't have a healthcare background (although I am a mature business professional and have plenty of experience dealing with the public) and 2. I am also awaiting police vetting from a stint overseas several years ago, so in that sense although I am available to work immediately perhaps they see this as a lower placement in the order of merit. Although regarding the overseas police vetting it did note that this would be requested at a later stage following a job offer (5 days after offer at the latest) if not immediately available.

Moreso, I was hoping to have a little more information from the recruiter at this stage but perhaps I am just not used to the public service style of recruitment as I have worked solely in the private sector previously.

Tilytally · 23-09-2020 5:44pm

Hunky Monster wrote: »

Did you ever hear anymore back from the be on all team? I applied, had my interview then silence for 6 weeks when a recruitment agency contacted me to supply Garda vetting, vaccine report etc then nothing since then. That was back in March.

Hi Hunky Monster

I received the generic update emails however I was not called to provide any information which I put down to the fact I didn't have a healthcare qualification/experience at the time when the necessity seemed to be for healthcare workers. Although at the time I was working so my availability wasn't as open as it is now, however I would have happily taken any role to help out in any way as I really empathise with the healthcare sector and the added stress the pandemic has caused to an already pressurised sector. In some ways following this pandemic I feel we should all do a mandatory stint in the healthcare sector in some shape or form either in our teens or early 20s, much like some countries have mandatory army enrolment. It may help more people be aware of what the sector goes through and teach people to be empathetic to people from all walks of life. After all the ol' cliche our health is our wealth certainly rings truer now more than ever.

I'm digressing here but wanted to add a little bit more about why I chose to "be on call".

beenhad · 23-09-2020 11:28pm

Hi just found this! I've an interview tomorrow at 1.10pm. They are doing interviews with Microsoft teams, have never done this. They send you an email with interview prep. I'll let you know how it goes

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000 · 23-09-2020 11:37pm

Tilytally wrote: »

Hi Hunky Monster

I received the generic update emails however I was not called to provide any information which I put down to the fact I didn't have a healthcare qualification/experience at the time when the necessity seemed to be for healthcare workers. Although at the time I was working so my availability wasn't as open as it is now, however I would have happily taken any role to help out in any way as I really empathise with the healthcare sector and the added stress the pandemic has caused to an already pressurised sector. In some ways following this pandemic I feel we should all do a mandatory stint in the healthcare sector in some shape or form either in our teens or early 20s, much like some countries have mandatory army enrolment. It may help more people be aware of what the sector goes through and teach people to be empathetic to people from all walks of life. After all the ol' cliche our health is our wealth certainly rings truer now more than ever.

I'm digressing here but wanted to add a little bit more about why I chose to "be on call".

Thanks for that. Yeah I agree with you there. Even if it was a transition year thing for the year it would be handy to have.

I provided all relevant documents and nothing but radio silence since. I know they’ve hired more people for the roles advertised since so I’m feeling a bit left out. My interview went well and I progressed to the Garda vetting and all other documents and nothing since. Strange.

fionnr01 · 23-09-2020 11:44pm

beenhad wrote: »

Hi just found this! I've an interview tomorrow at 1.10pm. They are doing interviews with Microsoft teams, have never done this. They send you an email with interview prep. I'll let you know how it goes

Do you mind me asking what county's you chose?
I did a Microsoft teams interview (for other jobs. its easy , click on the link in the email but do it a good 15 20 mins before ur interview time coz it might have to download but its fast (and ive slow internet) but it was fine, its just clicking accept/ next etc... Then it will say to type in ur name and it will tell them youre waiting... Was it an email or a ph call u got inviting u to interview?

Tilytally · 23-09-2020 11:56pm

beenhad wrote: »

Hi just found this! I've an interview tomorrow at 1.10pm. They are doing interviews with Microsoft teams, have never done this. They send you an email with interview prep. I'll let you know how it goes

Wishing you the very best of luck beenhad, yes please let us know how you get on. I'm sure you will do great!

Tilytally · 24-09-2020 12:01am

Hunky Monster wrote: »

Thanks for that. Yeah I agree with you there. Even if it was a transition year thing for the year it would be handy to have.

I provided all relevant documents and nothing but radio silence since. I know they’ve hired more people for the roles advertised since so I’m feeling a bit left out. My interview went well and I progressed to the Garda vetting and all other documents and nothing since. Strange.

Perhaps you're in an area with lower requirements for additional assistance? I know you mentioned it's been radio silence however were you in a position to able to contact the recruiters to follow up or find out your order of merit? I saw that candidates could follow up, as mentioned in the application documentation but it seems like all email correspondence is from email addresses which are not manned.

fionnr01 · 24-09-2020 9:17am

Tilytally wrote: »

Perhaps you're in an area with lower requirements for additional assistance? I know you mentioned it's been radio silence however were you in a position to able to contact the recruiters to follow up or find out your order of merit? I saw that candidates could follow up, as mentioned in the application documentation but it seems like all email correspondence is from email addresses which are not manned.

You can send queries to this email address campaign@hbsrecruitmentservices.ie
I just sent one, ill let you know if i hear back.

fionnr01 · 24-09-2020 9:18am

beenhad wrote: »

Hi just found this! I've an interview tomorrow at 1.10pm. They are doing interviews with Microsoft teams, have never done this. They send you an email with interview prep. I'll let you know how it goes

Good luck with the interview. let us know how you go

beenhad · 24-09-2020 11:19am

Hi
Thanks for the info, have never done these type of interviews before. I picked Punchestown and City west. I'll put up how it went this afternoon, fingers crossed! I've never seen the HSE move so quickly?!

beenhad · 24-09-2020 11:21am

It was in an email with a link to Microsoft Teams.

fionnr01 · 24-09-2020 11:26am

beenhad wrote: »

It was in an email with a link to Microsoft Teams.

Very best of luck... read job spec and Google HIQA infection control... u prob know this already:)

beenhad · 24-09-2020 3:39pm

Well it never went ahead, there was a problem with Microsoft Teams when they tried! So rescheduled, gives me more time to brush up on the above!

fionnr01 · 24-09-2020 4:09pm

beenhad wrote: »

Well it never went ahead, there was a problem with Microsoft Teams when they tried! So rescheduled, gives me more time to brush up on the above!

Oh how annoying!! At least more time to prep.... When is it rescheduled for? Did u get much notice about the interview? sorry all the questions but im really hoping to hear soon

fionnr01 · 25-09-2020 2:05pm

Has anyone been contacted since ?

Shark7 · 25-09-2020 2:43pm

fionnr01 wrote: »

Has anyone been contacted since ?

Friend heard nothing since submitting Garda vetting last Monday week. Applied for punchestown and city west.

beenhad · 25-09-2020 6:13pm

I got 2 days notice for interview, no word on reschedule as of yet! Yep more time to prep!

Tilytally · 25-09-2020 6:36pm

beenhad wrote: »

I got 2 days notice for interview, no word on reschedule as of yet! Yep more time to prep!

Hi beenhad,

Did you have any other communication after the garda vetting request or did you just get an email this week in regard to the interview?

beenhad · 25-09-2020 7:53pm

I got an email with the date and time for the Microsoft team interview. Then the link they sent didn't connect. Said someone would contact me to rearrange. Heard nothing today though.

Ioma · 28-09-2020 10:47am

Hi All
My sis in law has done some work in the past for the HSE , she said that the reason no one is hearing back as quick as they thought is because the Garda Vetting is taking so much longer. She got a phonecall on Friday asking could she start the swabbing today in Kildare , they are contacting people that have worked for them in the past. She advised that an email be sent to whomever we/I applied through asking for update. I sent email Friday lunchtime & no reply as of yet...........

fionnr01 · 28-09-2020 11:57am

Ioma wrote: »

Hi All
My sis in law has done some work in the past for the HSE , she said that the reason no one is hearing back as quick as they thought is because the Garda Vetting is taking so much longer. She got a phonecall on Friday asking could she start the swabbing today in Kildare , they are contacting people that have worked for them in the past. She advised that an email be sent to whomever we/I applied through asking for update. I sent email Friday lunchtime & no reply as of yet...........

Thats great info thank you ill contact them now too...

Tilytally · 28-09-2020 12:00pm

Ioma wrote: »

Hi All
My sis in law has done some work in the past for the HSE , she said that the reason no one is hearing back as quick as they thought is because the Garda Vetting is taking so much longer. She got a phonecall on Friday asking could she start the swabbing today in Kildare , they are contacting people that have worked for them in the past. She advised that an email be sent to whomever we/I applied through asking for update. I sent email Friday lunchtime & no reply as of yet...........

Thanks Ioma, that's so helpful. Really appreciate it. Will send an email today.

fionnr01 · 28-09-2020 2:15pm

I just got an email saying i will soon receive an email inviting me to an interview, sent interview prep material etc.

Shark7 · 28-09-2020 2:32pm

Tilytally wrote: »

Thanks Ioma, that's so helpful. Really appreciate it. Will send an email today.

Hi, just wondering what is the email address that you are sending the email to?

Tilytally · 28-09-2020 2:44pm

Shark7 wrote: »

Hi, just wondering what is the email address that you are sending the email to?

campaign@hbsrecruitmentservices.ie

Shark7 · 28-09-2020 2:54pm

Tilytally wrote: »

campaign@hbsrecruitmentservices.ie

Great thanks, will give it a go

starburst87 · 28-09-2020 4:53pm

I received an email today saying I will be called for interview soon

Furious-Red · 28-09-2020 7:19pm

Just sent an email there

beenhad · 29-09-2020 11:28pm

Did anyone get the urgent call to their email asking to state time and date that suited for interview? It then gave you the option to click on calendar. Every time I clicked on day it said 'not available' I tried every day of the month! I have emailed x 3 to enquire about this and no response!! OMG the frustration!!

karlitob · 29-09-2020 11:34pm

Ioma wrote: »

@Tilytally I am the same as you , did the garda vetting 8 days ago & heard nothing , but looking at Indeed website re working for the HSE it says the process can take over a month which is crazy considering the numbers & the fact that they are now sending swabs overseas due to demand

They’re sending the samples for analysis overseas. More swabbers would mean more swabs. If they’ve so many swabs that they can’t be processed completely in ireland when they reach a certain level, then clearly more swabbers taking more swabs would make that worse, not better.

bobbyy gee · 30-09-2020 1:34am

Become contact tracer

https://www.thejournal.ie/contact-tracing-graduates-5201823-Sep2020/

Tilytally · 30-09-2020 11:34am

karlitob wrote: »

They’re sending the samples for analysis overseas. More swabbers would mean more swabs. If they’ve so many swabs that they can’t be processed completely in ireland when they reach a certain level, then clearly more swabbers taking more swabs would make that worse, not better.

I understand where you are coming from in regards more testers and not being able to keep up with analysis but I think bringing in new swabbers is more to assist in getting HSE staff back into their official roles as many have been redeployed as swabbers, not to mention those that are burnt out and need a break. Something that I have witnessed first hand from friends in the HSE and frontline, they are stressed and overworked and dreading the winter flu season.

karlitob · 30-09-2020 1:09pm

Tilytally wrote: »

I understand where you are coming from in regards more testers and not being able to keep up with analysis but I think bringing in new swabbers is more to assist in getting HSE staff back into their official roles as many have been redeployed as swabbers, not to mention those that are burnt out and need a break. Something that I have witnessed first hand from friends in the HSE and frontline, they are stressed and overworked and dreading the winter flu season.

I know that. That’s not what I said in my post, nor was that what was said in the post I referred to. Best of luck in your application.

Tilytally · 30-09-2020 3:31pm

beenhad wrote: »

Did anyone get the urgent call to their email asking to state time and date that suited for interview? It then gave you the option to click on calendar. Every time I clicked on day it said 'not available' I tried every day of the month! I have emailed x 3 to enquire about this and no response!! OMG the frustration!!

That's very frustrating, sorry to hear you're having issues. Perhaps if you try it on a different web browser or delete your history and do so again it may work. Also maybe try to do it on both a PC and a mobile phone if you have not already done so.

I have not heard anything from them as of yet. Still playing the waiting game.

Tilytally · 30-09-2020 3:42pm

bobbyy gee wrote: »

Become contact tracer

https://www.thejournal.ie/contact-tracing-graduates-5201823-Sep2020/

I have a close friend currently doing this role and the level of abuse they have had to deal with is unbelievable unfortunately. You are calling people all day to give them bad news and the range of emotions varies hugely. Of course, that is not to put anyone off the role, just giving some insight from seeing first hand the stress my friend is under from the role.

beenhad · 30-09-2020 7:31pm

Thanks for that, I did try it with no success. They haven't replied to any of my emails. It's very frustrating considering they're saying how urgent it is

HSE Covid Swabbing roles

Comments