The NHS Business Services Authority has chosen digital transformation specialist Difrent to support the launch of the new NHS Jobs platform early next year.
The agreement is a continuation of the partnership between the NHSBSA and Difrent, who have been working together to completely transform the NHS Jobs platform since the start of the project in 2017. Over 6,000 NHS organisations, including GPs and hospitals, are now using the beta open-source platform to encourage and recruit the right people into the right roles across England and Wales.
Already, the private beta platform has demonstrated how much time it can save hiring managers by improving shortlisting and invitations to interview processes. Through engagement with a selection of users, including those with accessibility or assisted digital needs and non-native English speakers, the platform has been designed to improve the experience for each person applying to join the NHS. These improvements are seen as vital as COVID-19, and the subsequent recovery, places further pressure on a stretched workforce that’s already managing significant shortages.
The previous platform which has been in place since 2014 handles 4.4 million applications for over 375,000 roles each year. However, feedback from applicants and hiring managers highlighted issues with accessibility and user experience. The new platform is quicker, smarter and easier for everyone, making it more cost efficient for the NHS.
Darren Curry, Chief Digital and Data Officer at NHSBSA said, “The people working within the NHS are its greatest asset. The immediate recovery, and future stability of the service relies on recruiting the right people into the right roles easily and efficiently. We know NHS colleagues have been working under enormous pressure increased by the pandemic, so by making it simpler for people domestically and abroad to apply for roles, and for recruiting managers to navigate the hiring process, we can help release some of the strain. With pleasing news coming through that record numbers of people are applying to study nursing and embark on a career in healthcare, we need to be ready to offer these people, and other applicants a modern and efficient way to find, apply for and secure a career with the NHS.
“We’ve been delighted with the partnership and progress made with Difrent during the first phase of this project. Success in the stages up to private beta has been based on a user-centric culture, and I look forward to more managers and applicants benefiting from the new user-friendly platform in the coming months.”
The new agreement will see Difrent continue to provide NHSBSA with the digital capability and capacity needed to support its delivery team in launching the platform. Multi-disciplinary teams will continue to work with the NHS Jobs service beyond launch to deliver further iterations and improvements as part of the product roadmap.
Rachel Murphy, Chief Executive Officer at Difrent added: “To be a partner in developing the jobs platform for the 5th largest employer in the world is an incredible opportunity to make a real difference to the way the NHS recruits and in turn, provides a service. We’ve successfully navigated from business case through discovery with thousands of NHS organisations now using the platform. The next exciting phase is to onboard large trusts which will enable us to improve the experience for more managers and applicants, while helping the NHS save money through more efficient technology driven recruitment processes.”