Only four months after the start of the national rollout, the Department of Healthís online recruitment site, www.nhs.co.uk/jobs, has broken through the 12,000 visitors a day mark and has secured over 60,000 registered candidates, signalling a successful move of the nationís largest employer into e-recruitment. The site, which is the largest of its kind in the UK, was set up by a partnership between Jobsite and Methods Consulting in December 2003, following a competitive procurement by Department of Health. It is designed to significantly reduce the NHS recruitment spend and attract new candidates.
Crucial in underpinning the NHS workforce strategy, the job site has reinforced the NHS as a model employer by offering a broad spectrum of immediate vacancies. The site has received enquiries from over 1,000 healthcare professionals, enquiring about return to practice courses. Midwifery has proved to be one of the most popular careers, followed by allied health professions and healthcare science.
Keith Potts, Jobsite managing director, comments: ìWith over 50,000 people applying online so far this year and already more than 1,500 vacancies being advertised each day, the site could not have started more successfully. The site has met all of its objectives bringing people back into the profession through the ease of the Internet. Iím pleased that the NHSís trust in Jobsite and Methods has paid offî.
Jobsite and Methods Consulting, a leading UK business and IT consultancy, were awarded the 5-year contract to run the site last year and have been working with the Department of Health to deliver e-recruitment services to all NHS employers including hosting and supporting the site, provision of service helpdesks, employer training and marketing support.
The new central site advertises NHS vacancies and provides information about NHS employers. Online application and daily ëjobs-by-emailí services are included for the candidates. The site operates in conjunction with the current NHS Careers Service and also links to NHS employerís local websites, allowing NHS employers to advertise their vacancies nationally and locally.
NHS online recruitment gets off to healthy start
The Department of Healthís online recruitment site, www.nhs.co.uk/jobs, has broken through the 12,000 visitors a day mark and has secured over 60,000 registered candidates, signalling a successful move of the nationís largest employer into e-recruitment.