Assessment Centre Guidance

Transcription

1 Pre-Registration Pharmacist Scheme (PRPS) TRAINING COHORT Assessment Centre Guidance Recruitment

2 Contents 1. Travelling to the Assessment Centre Overview of the day Registration and Document Checking The Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) Assessment Written Assessment Verbal Assessment Candidate Debrief Outcomes Important Notes for Candidates MUST READ Appendix A: Person Specification.9 It is extremely important that you prepare thoroughly for the assessments. You must ensure that you are familiar with the assessment format and also the criteria both essential and desirable that will be assessed on the day. Recruitment to pre-registration posts is a highly competitive process; there are a set number of training posts available and candidates are matched to Training Providers in ranked order it is vital that you aim to achieve the best possible score that you can. Please carefully read this Guidance, including the Person Specification which is included as Appendix A. 2

3 1. Travelling to the Assessment Centre Venue: Hilton Edinburgh Airport Hotel Edinburgh International Airport Edinburgh EH28 8LL The Hilton Edinburgh Airport Hotel is conveniently located next to Edinburgh Airport, only a 5 minute walk or 2 minutes by complimentary shuttle from the terminal building, and is only approximately 20 minutes from Edinburgh City Centre. The Assessment Centre will be held in the hotel and accommodation can be booked at your own expense, on-site if required. Please check the venue website for more details on how to get there, what the accommodation looks like and what facilities are available. The venue has a limited number of parking spaces available. Parking is on a strictly first come, first served basis. Hotel Information: Hilton Edinburgh Airport Click Here Hilton Reception: Date: Tuesday 4 th, Wednesday 5 th and Thursday 6 th September 2018 Please ensure that you check for travel disruptions prior to coming to the venue in order to allow for any extra time you may require because of road-works/bad weather conditions. 3

4 2. Overview of the day You should arrive at the registration desk at the time selected by you via the online recruitment system and as stated in the confirming the assessment slot. If you are early, please wait in the Candidate Lobby which will be sign posted and located in the foyer of the hotel. Please note that mobile phones must be switched off when entering the assessment venue. This is a competitive process and candidates must not communicate with each other during or in-between assessments. You will only disadvantage yourself by sharing information with those still to be assessed. Candidates not adhering to these instructions may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process. Each cohort of candidates will firstly undertake registration and document checking, followed by a briefing which will provide a more detailed overview of the day. The cohort will then be split into three groups; one undertaking an MCQ, one undertaking the Written Assessment and the other undertaking the Verbal Assessment. The groups will then swap to complete the other assessments. Please see below further details of each of the day s components. 2.1 Registration and Document Checking Candidates will be asked to sign a candidate register and pick up a name badge displaying a unique candidate reference number allocated to them for the purposes of assessment. It is this number that will be used throughout the assessment day not the application reference number allocated to you by the online recruitment system. There will then be a document checking session candidates must bring originals of all the documentation that they supplied at the application stage, for verification. A candidate briefing will then follow which will entail a brief explanation of the day s events and further arrangements. Please note that during this time, and throughout the day, there will be periods of waiting; this is to allow for administration and scoring of the assessments. Approximate timings are detailed in Section The Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) Assessment All applicants are required to undertake an invigilated MCQ assessment which will assess some of the competencies in the Person Specification (Appendix A) and will test the candidates numeracy skills. The assessment will last for 30 minutes. There will be no negative marking during the MCQ assessment. Please note that candidates are not allowed to use calculators or reference books during the MCQ assessment. 4

5 2.3 Written Assessment All applicants will undertake a written assessment which will assess the criteria detailed in the Person Specification (Appendix A). This exercise includes review of a prescription and you are asked to provide a written response detailing your answer. The assessment will last for 30 minutes. Candidates may require to refer to the BNF for this assessment copies will be provided at the start of the exercise. Candidates are not allowed to use calculators or any other reference books during this part of the assessment. 2.4 Verbal Assessment The verbal assessment is a linked exercise with three assessed elements. For the first element, you will read a scenario and prepare an answer which is then delivered verbally to the panel. For the second and third elements, a member of the panel will read out a scenario to which you have to formulate and deliver a verbal response. This is not a role-play exercise. The exercise will assess the criteria detailed in the Person Specification (Appendix A). The assessment will last for 30 minutes. Candidates are not allowed to use calculators or any other reference books during this part of the assessment. Listen carefully to the question being asked and ask for clarification if you are at all unsure. Each assessment panel will comprise of representatives from the hospital and/or community sector. The panel will introduce themselves and say which sector they are from, but they will not tell you the company/hospital they are from. Please note that the assessments are part of a centralised process and are intended to prepare a pool of candidates for selection into the scheme. The assessment panel members taking part in the exercise are NOT selecting candidates for their own organisation. There will be a quality assurance (QA) process applied to the Verbal Assessment with a third member sitting on some panels. This third panel member will not ask questions and will be present in an observational capacity only. 2.5 Candidate Debrief Please be aware that the Preference List plays no part in the assessment of your application or performance at the Assessment Centre and is not shared with Training Providers. The Principal Lead Pharmacist PRPS and the Pharmacy Practice Education Co-ordinators will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. You will also be given an evaluation form. Please complete this as fully as you can as this will help us to inform future recruitment processes. You can complete the form anonymously if you wish. 5

6 The candidate Preference List is to be completed via the online candidate portal. The deadline for submitting this is Friday 7 th September 2018 at 12 midday. After the debrief, please don t wait around - there are a high number of people in attendance at the Assessment Centre. 6

7 3. Outcomes We will contact candidates regarding the outcome of the matching process. There are 200 funded places available and the outcome of the assessments will be determined over the course of a few days. The process of matching will marry up the preferences of eligible candidates with the preferences listed by the Training Providers. Please note that the matching process involves matching the Training Providers list of appointable candidates with the candidates stated preferences for Training Provider. Offers will be made from 17 th September 2018 onwards. Candidates awaiting an offer are advised to check their s daily from this date until the NES final deadline for acceptance of offers which is 28 th September On receipt of an offer, successful candidates will have 48 hours to consider and then accept or reject an offer (thus withdrawing from the recruitment process.) The hold option will also be available to candidates who are not matched with their top choice of Training Provider. Candidates may opt to hold an offer in case another post (higher preference) becomes available, and can do so until the NES final deadline for acceptance of offers (28 th September 2018). Please note that candidates who have been offered their top choice of Training Provider are not eligible to hold their offer and must either accept or reject within 48 hours. The process of recycling of offers in waves will continue until 26 th September No further recycling of offers will take place after this date. The NES final deadline for acceptance of offers is 28 th September

8 4. Important Notes for Candidates MUST READ Candidates should ensure that they allow themselves plenty of time to travel to and from the venue, it is advisable to arrive 15 minutes prior to registration. Please factor in extra time for road-works / bad weather conditions / other travel disruptions. The Assessment Centre may not finish at the scheduled time and/or candidates may decide to stay back to have further conversations with the Pharmacy Practice Education Co-ordinators. Candidates are advised of the following approximate timings and that it will not be possible to leave any earlier than the time stated: If you are booked in for the 9.15am registration, if we are running to time, you should be free to leave at approximately 12:30pm. If you are booked in for the 12:00pm registration, if we are running to time, you should be free to leave at approximately 3.15pm. If you are booked in for the 2.15pm registration, if we are running to time, you should be free to leave at approximately 5.30pm. *Please note these times are indicative only. We recognise that during this time there will be periods of waiting; this is to allow for scoring and administration of the day. We ask for your understanding and cooperation in this matter. Candidates may wish to use the contemplation room, or discuss any queries with the Pharmacy Practice Education Co-ordinators or Admin Support staff, after they have completed their assessments. The responsibility for all travel arrangements is with the Candidate and we advise that you please plan carefully, allowing yourself plenty of time. A contemplation room is available for your use this may be used for prayer time or if you require some time alone, before or after your assessment. Valuables brought to the venue are at your own risk, NES is not responsible for any loss/theft. If you encounter problems travelling to the venue on the day, or are unable to attend, please call the venue reception desk on and leave a message for the Pharmacy Recruitment Team. Please ensure that you leave your full name and contact details so a member of the Pharmacy Recruitment Team can get back in contact with you. For all enquiries regarding the PRPS Assessment Centre, please pharmacy.recruitment@nes.scot.nhs.uk 8

9 Appendix A: Person Specification 2018 FACTOR QUALIFICATIONS CRITERIA ESSENTIAL/ Application Form The candidate has: DESIRABLE a Masters degree in pharmacy or equivalent (must be achieved on commencement of appointment) ESSENTIAL X* WHEN EVALUATED Assessment Centre MCQ Written exercise Verbal exercise EXPERIENCE previous experience of pharmacy practice DESIRABLE X** knowledge of current developments and policy affecting pharmacy practice in NHS Scotland DESIRABLE X** X KNOWLEDGE knowledge of the PRPS and the pre-registration training year DESIRABLE X** X awareness of medicines use in major therapeutic areas ESSENTIAL X a professional attitude and an understanding of professionalism ESSENTIAL X X numeracy skills ESSENTIAL X effective verbal and written communication skills ESSENTIAL X X ATTITUDES AND ATTRIBUTES organisational skills including ability to plan and prioritise own workload to meet deadlines ESSENTIAL X problem-solving skills ESSENTIAL X X the ability to work well on own initiative ESSENTIAL X X the ability to work well with others and has an understanding of the benefits of team working ESSENTIAL X X 9

10 a person-centred focus ESSENTIAL X X a proven commitment to continuing professional development DESIRABLE X** included on a Training Provider preference list ESSENTIAL Trainee to progress prior to Training Provider preference list deadline OTHER registered with General Pharmaceutical Council to undertake pre-registration training ESSENTIAL Application submitted by trainee to GPhC in time to commence training and successful registration verified by employer prior to post commencement PRE-EMPLOYMENT CHECKS successful completion of MPharm degree certificate* references identity and right to work in the UK PVG Scheme clearance ESSENTIAL Employer to progress prior to post commencement *At application stage, NES HR will check candidates are due to complete MPharm, and have right to work in the UK, by date of post commencement. Employer to verify successful completion by sighting original degree certificate/immigration documents, as part of pre-employment checks. ** These criteria will only be assessed at Application form stage if shortlisting of applications is necessary when demand for posts exceeds maximum capacity at assessment centre 10