Thornbury Nursing Services - The UK's leading independent nursing agency

Nurses wishing to register or re-register with Thornbury Nursing Services will need to complete the on-line application form:

General Recruitment Click Here

Community/Complex care Click Here

We’re sure you’ll appreciate why our recruitment process is so thorough. It includes a personal interview as well as checks into your professional registration, qualifications, experience and competencies, an independent Occupational Health check and Criminal Records Bureau disclosure checks, etc.

We aim to provide the very best possible service to our clients through the provision of the very best possible nurses. So our processes strive to exceed the statutory recruitment and selection standards required of nurse agencies.

Here’s a step by step summary of the recruitment process:-

-	Initial contact with the recruitment team and assessment of suitability to register by a trained recruitment RGN.
-	Interview booked at a convenient interview location. Interview confirmation letter and Criminal Records Bureau disclosure form sent out, also detailing any further documentation required at interview.
-	Face-to-face interview conducted by a specially trained recruitment RGN.
-	Referees contacted and references followed up.
-	Application processed, necessary checks carried out (occupational health, NMC/HPC registration, manual handling, CRB disclosure, etc.)
-	Successful applicants informed of registration and inclusion on Agency database.
-	Induction pack issued, including ID badge. Welcome call from the Call Centre.

Below you will find the attributes you need to join Thornbury Nursing Services. Remember, these are our minimum qualifying criteria so the more experience you offer the better. All of our clients expect talented nurses with up-to-date nursing skills; your experience needs to reflect this.

It’s also worth noting that we do not place nurses in clinical areas with which they are unfamiliar and inexperienced. Our clients expect nurses that can do the job competently and comfortably from day one.

	Recruitment criteria:-
-	You must have effective NMC registration if qualified.
-	Newly qualified staff must be employed and undergoing preceptorship.
-	Student nurses must have completed two years of training or have a combination of experience as auxiliary and student nurse.
-	All other staff must have six months experience within the last two years.
-	Specialist nurses need at least 1 years experience within the last two years and must provide a reference for this.
-	Must have had Manual Handling update and Basic Life Support within last year. Documentation of proof required.
-	Must have own personal transport and current driving licence (exceptions may be made for some city centres.)
-	All references must be from within last two years and must include main employer.
-	Must complete an enhanced disclosure with the Criminal Records Bureau.
-	Must complete an Occupational Health questionaire.

In order to protect your own and others health and safety it is essential that all Agency workers complete an occupational health assessment with Thornbury Nursing Services. This health assessment forms an integral part of the registration process which you will need to complete before you can work for us. Although the requirements can seem a little overwhelming at first, we have a number of ways you can supply the information to us. Before you complete your application we recommend that you review all your documentary evidence to ensure clearance from our occupational health provider.

Immunisations required:
	1.	VARICELLA ( Chicken Pox)
		-	Self declaration of a definite history of chicken pox or shingles
		-	A serology report stating your immunity
		-	Documented evidence of Chicken Pox vaccination

	2.	RUBELLA (German Measles)
		-	Documentary evidence of immunity to Rubella or evidence of vaccination.
		-	Documented history of immunisation with MMR vaccine (2 doses) or proof of a positive antibody level.

	3.	MEASLES
		-	Documentary evidence of immunity to Measles or evidence of vaccination.
		-	Documentary history of immunisation with MMR vaccine (2 doses) or proof of a positive antibody level.

	4.	MUMPS
		-	Self declaration of definite history acceptable.
		-	Documentary history of immunisation with MMR vaccine (2 doses) or proof of a positive antibody test.

	5.	TUBERCULOSIS (TB)
		-	Proof of your BCG scar sighted by GP, occupational health professional on headed paper from their practice, sighted and stamped stating.
			If you cannot get this completed before the interview and have a scar we have trained nurses who can verify this at your interview.

	6.	HEPATITIS B
		-	Up to date course and boosters.
		-	Documentary evidence of immunity > 100 Miu/ml.
		-	Self declaration is sufficient for non-Epp workers.
		-	Incomplete courses, non or poor responders will be advised by Forward Vision Occupational Health.

	7.	TETANUS, DIPTHERIA, POLIO

	8.	INFLUENZA, SEASONAL AND OR PANDEMIC

ADDITIONAL CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR EXPOSURE PRONE PROCEDURES (EPP) This includes registered nurses and health care assistants working in theatres, A+E and midwifery. Evidence for EPP clearance must be from an ‘Individual Validated Specimen’ (IVS). This is where you have to show proof of identity with a photograph when the sample is taken.
		-	Validated proof of Hepatitis B Antibodies > 100Miu/ML (Lab serology report or a letter from a G.P or OH)
		-	One negative Hepatitis B surface Antigen or Hepatitis anti-core result since completing the Hepatitis B course.
		-	Hepatitis C antibody (Hep C Ab) test result or hand written statement that you commenced working in your speciality prior to January 2003.

If you have difficulty obtaining any of the reports or are missing any of the immunisations, we may be able to help you.
Here are some suggestions for you:
	A.	If you are part of an organisation with an occupational health department you can ask for a print out of all your immunisation history. Alternatively if you are employed by a Hospital and are missing an immunisation you may be able to arrange to have the vaccination there.
	B.	Contact your nearest NHS Plus site. Once you have located a clinic nearby, give them a call to organise your immunisation.
	C.	For appropriate blood checks contact Forward Vision Occupational Health on 01722 743641 who will send you a serology kit through the post which you can take to your GP. Once your blood has been taken it will be sent to a lab for analysis. This will incur a cost, please contact them for advice.
	D.	We have supplied an example letter to give to your G.P, Occupational Health Department or Travel Clinic which you can download in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF formats.
	E.	You can call any private Occupational Health Clinics to organise your immunisations. For example: MASTA Travel clinics

We will discuss your experience and skills and try to find out what type of work you are looking for. The interview gives you an opportunity to check us out and to ask any questions you might have.

	You will be expected to bring the following information and documentation to your interview:-
-	Four passport sized photographs.
-	Documentation of your National Insurance number, ie N.I. Card, P60, P45 or other official Inland Revenue documents.
-	Bank / Building Society details.
-	Details of Manual Handling and Basic Life Support Training.
-	Proof of professional indemnity insurance, i.e. RCN / UNISON.
-	Proof of identity (passport or full birth certificate only).
-	Name, address & contact details (Tel, Fax, E-mail) of two referees.
-	CV if you have one prepared.
-	Work Permit or Visa (if required).
-	Details of your E-mail address if available.
-	Two forms of proof of address are required for Criminal Records Bureau disclosure eg. utility bill, bank statement (a form will be sent with interview letter)
	Qualified staff should bring the following:
-	NMC statement of entry.
-	Current NMC PIN card.
-	Post qualification certificates relevant to practice.

If you are unable to bring any of the documentation, please do still come along to your interview - you can always post it to us at a later date.

All of our interviews are friendly and informal and a chance for you to ask as many questions as we do. After all, it’s important that you make sure temporary assignments are the right way for you to work.

We cannot take on any nurse without satisfactory references and a returned satisfactory enhanced disclosure, so giving us accurate and complete contact details (phone/fax number, home/email address) will really speed up the process.

We need to receive satisfactory references before taking on new nurses. Here are our reference requirements:-

-	We require two clinical references.
-	Nursing referees are preferred to medical staff.
-	One referee must be from your current or most recent employer, and at least one must be from a nurse senior to yourself at least G grade or above.
-	If you work in a specialist area, your reference should indicate your level of ability in that specialist area.
-	It aids your application process considerably if you can provide us with as much contact information as possible for your referees, i.e. Phone/Fax, work E-mail and postal address.

All registered nurses in the UK must be registered with the NMC (Nursing & Midwifery Council).
In addition, non-EU citizens may require a work permit or visa to work and live in the UK.

You can obtain further information from the following sources:-

Professional Registration with the NMC:
Website - Click here
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7333 9333

RCN International Office:
Website - Click here
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7647 3874

Home Office's Immigration and Nationality Directorate
Website - Click here
Telephone: +44 (0) 870 606 776

Work Permits and Visas
Website - Work Permits - Click here
Website - UK Visas - Click here

© Independent Clinical Services Ltd trading as Thornbury Nursing Services 2010
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