We want our candidates to have a positive experience of our recruitment process.  Here’s what you can expect at each stage, from applying, through to starting your new career as part of Team Hft.

Click on the stages below to learn about the process we follow for recruiting support worker related roles, including senior support workers. 

And if you have any questions then please don’t hesitate to contact us at jobs@hft.org.uk and we’ll do our best to help you.

We list all our vacancies on the Hft website. Once you have found the role that you feel is right for you, simply click the ‘apply for job’ button. We’ll need you to enter some basic personal details to set up an account, answer a few questions about your reasons for applying and upload a CV. We’ll then send you email confirmation that we've received this stage of the application form.
We aim to review your application within 48 hours (excluding weekends). We'll let you know if you have been shortlisted for a telephone pre-screen interview. This is a short telephone call to check that you’re right for the role, and that the role is right for you! It’s also your opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
After the telephone pre-screening, we’ll ask you to provide some extra information. We are required to obtain this information by the Care Quality Commission (our regulatory body). You’ll need to provide a full, ten-year education/work history including reasons for leaving roles. You'll also need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) statement and provide details of suitable referees. Note that having a criminal record doesn't always bar you from employment. We'll send you confirmation that this stage of the application form has been received.
Your interview will take place with the hiring manager and will last around 45 minutes. This is an opportunity to further explore your suitability for the role. It's also another chance for you to find out more about us. We'll ask you a series of values-based questions and to take short literacy and numeracy assessments. You will need to show your ID documents and any relevant qualification certificates.
If you're successful at interview you will be made a verbal job offer. This will be followed up by a written conditional offer letter of employment which you will be able to access through your candidate portal. This will outline the details of the role offered and all the pre-employment checks we need to complete.
We’ll need you to accept the role via your candidate portal so that we can start the pre-employment checks and approach your referees. We’ll send instructions on how to complete this in your conditional offer. We aim to complete this process within ten working days. But this could be slightly longer depending on some of the checks. Promptly responding to any queries we may have during these checks will help us clear your file quickly.
We will notify you through your candidate portal when all the checks have been completed. You'll need to inform your local service office when you have received your DBS certificate.
We'll inform your local service's admin office when your pre-employment checks are complete. They'll contact you within 24 hours to arrange a start date, providing your DBS has been returned. Once a start date has been arranged, your full contract of employment or relief agreement will be processed… and then you’ll officially be part of Team Hft!

Next steps