How to apply for a job in the NHS

A step-by-step guide to help you apply online for a job in Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Getting started

Need help completing your online application for one of our jobs? We’re here to help you prepare. Keep reading to find out what we’ll ask you to provide when you apply for a job at the Trust. You’ll learn: 

  • what details you’ll need 
  • how to present your information 
  • top tips for a great application 

First, search for job opportunities on our website.  

Once you’ve found a job you are interested in you will be able to see the location, salary, contract type and working pattern to help you decide if its right for you. 

Recruitment profile

Our recruitment profiles include lots of useful information to help you decide if it’s the right job for you and are available on all our job vacancies to download, the profile includes;  

  • number of hours per week 
  • location 
  • type of person we’re looking for 
  • minimum requirements, such as qualifications and experience 
  • job description and range of duties 

Guidance documents

We have lots of great guidance to support you with your application and beyond to hopefully an interview, on the vacancy advert you will find; 

  • Candidate information pack 
  • Recruitment profile – including the job description and essential criteria for the position. 
  • Benefits document 
  • Recruitment brochure – including reasonable adjustments information, FAQs and the recruitment process flow chart 

Remember to open and save copies of all documents, they won’t be available once the advert has closed. You’ll want to look at them again as you complete your application and if you’re invited to interview. 

Now that you know more about the job, is it what you wanted to do? Great!  

Click apply. We have a handy how to apply video you can watch; it takes you through the Trac application form and how to make a good application.  

Completing your online application

To complete your online application, you’ll need: 

  • an account on our recruitment system Trac  
  • your personal details 
  • your qualifications 
  • your employment history – referee details to cover the last three years of your employment/education.  

You should also make some notes about your knowledge, skills, values and experience that make you a good match for the job. 

If you already have an account on Trac, please log in. To set up a new account, please register by following the on-screen instructions. 

The green progress check box at the top of the page shows which section of the form you’re updating and when it’s been saved. Use the continue button at the bottom of the page to move to the next step. Your changes will be saved each time you do this. You can also return to an earlier step if you want to make changes. If you want to save your changes and come back later, click on save and exit. 

If you have used Trac before to apply for a role at LYPFT or another Trust that’s uses Trac, then you can select to use a previous application to auto fill parts of your application. If you are new to using Trac, then select “use blank form” to start a fresh application.  

Immigration status

To start, we’ll ask for your personal details, including your immigration status, at the bottom of the screen please tick the box to say you have read and agree to our privacy statement which describes how we use your data in our recruitment process.  

Please note: at this time, the Trust can only provide sponsorship to work in the UK for Professional Registrants (Nurses, AHPs, Medics, Psychological Professionals, Pharmacists etc) and existing Healthcare Support Workers in the Specialised Supported Living Service only (Social Care).  

Personal details 

Name, home address, email address, and telephone number. We’ll use this information to contact you or provide updates about your application during the recruitment process. 

Education

Next, we’ll ask about your qualifications. Please list all the qualifications you already have and those you’re currently taking. Remember to include your grades or expected results. 

Employment

In the next section, we’ll ask about your employment history. Start by adding your first employer and end with your present or most recent job. Always give a summary of what you did in each role. Tell us about training programmes, volunteering, youth awards, and school activities too. 

Equal opportunities 

We are committed to recruiting, retaining, and developing a diverse workforce. Diversity and equality of opportunity are essential to our recruitment process. 

In the equal opportunities section, we’ll ask questions about you. Some are mandatory. Please choose options that best describe you. 

LYPFT operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you have a disability or are a member of the Armed Forces community, and meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification, you’ll be guaranteed an interview. 

References

Next, we’ll ask for at least 2 references. References help to show us you have the knowledge, skills, and qualities needed for the job. 

The information you provide must cover the last 3 years of your employment history. If you do not have 3 years of employment history, please provide suitable education or character referees, such as a teacher, a lecturer, your doctor, a lawyer, a police officer, or an MP. 

You must not use family members or friends. Please make sure your referees have agreed to provide a reference. You’ll need to give us their email address and phone number. 

Your referees must include your current or most recent employer. Please identify the person in your organisation who is authorised to confirm your employment and application details. This is normally your direct line manager. 

The second referee should be someone who has close knowledge of your skills and abilities.  

Please note, we will not contact your referees without your permission to do so. 

What to do if there are gaps in your employment 

If you have any gaps in your employment over 3 months, please provide referee details to cover this period. This could be your work coach at Job Centre Plus or your employability adviser or explain to us if you have taken time off for caring for a family member, children for example. Additional referees may be required to cover the last 3 years of your employment history. 

We might ask for personal referees 

If you have had no previous employment or you’ve been self-employed, you’ll need to provide details for 2 personal referees. If you’re shortlisted for an interview, you may need to provide evidence to confirm your status, such as a letter from Jobcentre Plus, your academic record, or evidence from HM Revenue and Customs. 

Supporting statement

This section is critical to complete well. It’s your chance to really sell yourself as a suitable applicant and get that invitation to interview. 

You have up to 1500 words for this section to persuade and influence the recruiting manager that you could do the job and that you deserve an interview. 

So how do you do this? 

By tailoring your application i.e., by matching your skills, knowledge, and experience to the job requirements in the Recruitment Profile. You need to connect your current and past work experience to the requirements of the role you are applying for. This means you can’t just cut and paste any old thing. You need to make it specific to the job in question. 

In the Employment History section of your application, you will have listed your previous jobs and the main duties and responsibilities of each. This will have given you some ability to link your skill set with the job in question, by one job at a time. However, the Supporting Information section of your application is where you can sell yourself and really stand out from the crowd. 

You have the freedom to organise this section how you want, so you can do this by grouping your skills and work experience into broader themes and strengths that match the job you are applying for. 

Using bullet points and subheadings is good. Long paragraphs and essays are not so good. Make it as easy as possible for the recruiters to find the information you need and want them to see. 

The critical thing to do here is to pay close attention to the requirements of the role you are applying for and give good examples of your achievements for each. Remember that now with NHS Jobs the shortlisting criteria are included with the advert. Recruiters will be scoring your application against these. So, make sure you cover these. 

What makes a good example?

A helpful framework to use here is the STAR example. 

What is a STAR example? 

STAR stands for: 

  • Situation or Task – what was the context and what were you being asked to do 
  • Action – what you did to achieve this 
  • Result – what was the outcome or result, e.g., money or time saved, better customer service, patient care, staff morale etc 

In a good STAR example, you address all three elements concisely by writing about your previous experience. 

For example: 

“At Acme Ltd, as Trainee Accountant, I was asked by my manager, towards year end, to make savings from the budget. This was crucial to the business as we were overspending. I set up a team involving key people from across the business, such as department heads. I asked people to share their ideas and we then prioritised the best ones. For example, I decided to change our electricity supplier to a lower tariff and reduced our stock levels by 10% which improved our working capital. Overall, I achieved £20k in savings, almost 3% of the budget, and we hit the year-end target. My manager was really pleased, and I got a letter of recognition from the Managing Director.” 

Transferable skills

Why do you think you are suitable for this role? Describe how your skills, knowledge and experience match the person specification while also explaining your motivation and goals. 

Skills are learned in everyday life: 

  • work 
  • study activities you enjoy 

You’ll already have the skills we are looking for. 

Transferable skills include: 

  • communication 
  • attention to detail 
  • using technology 
  • problem-solving 
  • time management 
  • working in a team 

LYPFT values 

Why do you want to work in the NHS? We want to know why it’s the right role for you and about your passion for working in healthcare. 

Show your understanding of the LYPFT values. These are: 

  • Caring 
  • Integrity 
  • Simple 

Don’t just list them, tell us why you feel you hold them and provide examples. Avoid making general statements without backing up your claims.  

Example 

I was at work and a coworker was going through a difficult time due to personal problems. They seemed visibly upset and were struggling to focus on their work. Instead of ignoring their distress or simply offering superficial sympathy, I took the time to sit and have a chat with them and make sure they are ok. I then asked them if there were any tasks or jobs, I could help with to reduce their workload and make their day a bit easier.  

LYPFT encourages the use of the wisdom gained through personal ‘lived’ experience, to inspire hope in others and the belief that recovery is possible for all. Please include any lived experience, caring or volunteering experience you have had in your application. 

Declaration 

To complete your application, please read and agree to the candidate declaration. You can also review your application before submitting it. 

Top tips

Our top tips for completing your online application 

  1. Read the job advert and application pack in full. 
  2. Take time to prepare your information. 
  3. Make sure you know the closing date. You’ll find this on the job advert. 
  4. Follow the instructions on the application form. Complete all the required sections. 
  5. Don’t rush! You can easily make mistakes and forget important information. 
  6. Don’t leave any of the assessment questions blank! 
  7. Always check spelling and grammar. Ask someone to look over your application before you submit it. 
  8. Check that your email address is correct. We will contact you by email during the recruitment process. 

Good luck with your application!