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Check out the band 4 post advertised on this site! I quote from the job advert!

This post is subject to NHS Employment Check Standards including a CRB check. An enhanced CRB disclosure is required for this post which includes a check of the ‘Vulnerable Adults List’ and may include the ‘Children’s List’ and/or the Independent Safeguarding Authorities (ISA’s) barred lists. A charge of £44 will be made to the successful candidate(s) which will be deducted from the first 3 months’ salary. In addition to this, you will also be required to re-pay any future costs that may arise in relation to CRB fees.

So let me get this straight, the Trust wants to employ someone and then charge them for the privilege of getting the job! I can’t ever see this happening on “the darkside” unless you are self employed!

Yes Darth ... it does smack a little of taking the [censored]. My own principle is that if they want the job doing, then they should pay for all the "trimmings" (costs incurred in hiring).

Are we to suppose that the HR drones think they can get away with this sort of thing just because it's something of a "buyers market" at the moment? Who would want to work for these [censored] anyway?

OK ... the ideas behind CRB checks and such sound reasonable enough ... but what do they actually prove? Has anyone we know ever failed at one of these hurdles?

In reality they're just a bunch of "agencies". That is, offices with licences to print money. They don't actually do anything, create wealth or anything else useful. But this is how Modern Britain is, folks:- thousands of Jobsworths hindering the few of us left who are trying to be productive. Such types are well entrenched throughout the NHS, of course.

Whilst I'm on ... another one of my pet moans is car-parking. At one place I was "expected" to fork out £ 90 on my first day for a parking pass. "On yer bike, Mate"! Needless to say, I didn't stick around.

By the way, I notice that the position being referred to is looking for candidates able to use their own car on the job. Again, my take on this is:- if they want you to travel between sites, they they provide the vehicle (together with the insurance)!

Next thing you know they'll be wanting you to bring in your own tools and test equipment as well!

Self-employed is the only way to be, Darth. There's no money in it, but at least you keep your self-respect. When are you going to join us?

Slightly off-track ... but within the general context of the thread (I would say):-

It happens all the time in the Real World. Just ask any Indian labourer working (sweating) out in certain Middle Eastern countries, for instance. It was well known that those poor blokes had to graft for the first two years just to pay off the "fee".

Also, at one place where I was "out there" I had techs coming to me seemingly willing enough to pass me a "back-hander"* in order to get in the door (join my illustrious team). Different places have different cultures.

* Needless to say, they were shown the door. Unlike some, I have never taken a single halalah.

I was just thinking the next thing the will want you to join a "Voluntary Register" of some kind before you can get a job repairing medical equipment – Hang on a Minute! 

This starts ringing alarm bells to me, if they can't even afford a CRB check what else can't they afford? New equipment, training, health and safety, test equipment? Oh and don't forget "Appropriate car insurance for business use must be held" at your expense of course. You can just see the free overtime coming a mile a way!

I have shown this around the department this morning and they have never seen anything like it! I was wondering if the Trust in question has started asking staff to have personnel liability insurance so as they can claim against them if they break any medical equipment through negligence!

Can someone answer from the Trust answer or should I send a Freedom of Information Request?

Darth Welder – Has to weld a bed tomorrow because of staff negligence!

Don't Nursing staff have to pay to retain their registration PIN with the NMC?

Most of the tools I use I supplied myself...

At least my employer pays for Disclosure Scotland checks, which are mandatory for every post, even if you already work for them.

Can I add though, band 4 seems a bit low for someone who'll be expected to go out to other sites, and presumably work unsupervised.

Yes ... I was thinking along similar lines when I took a glimpse at the Job Description. Hope they find the tech they're looking for!

For what it's worth ... I also like to use my own stuff, if only because it, or rather, they - my old friends - are so familiar.

Over the years I have worked in a fair number of places were (in theory) "everything was supplied" - including, on one famous occasion a toolkit "full" of broken tools. Yes, half a pair of pliers, snapped screwdrivers and stuff like that. Very useful. But rather than bugging my so-called Mates (to borrow their own junk) I ventured Down Town to pick up the bare necessities. Then, when my time was up and I went to hand the box of junk back in at the stores, the jundy there expected me to pay for the damages. Oh yes, yet another "On yer bike" situation!

Yes and so do Clinical Scientist/Engineers with the HPC - me included.
As for the (V)RCT it is only a matter of time......
Robert