How to apply for an Operating Department

How to apply
for an
Operating
Department
Practitioner Post
CC 27
Careers Centre
©
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permission in writing from Edge Hill Careers Centre.
Introduction
This guide has been produced by the Careers Centre to help you make high
quality effective applications for Operating Department Practitioner (ODP)
posts. It is offered to our ODP students in conjunction with Application &
Interview workshops arranged with your tutors within the teaching timetable.
This guide contains information on:

Completing application forms

Producing a targeted CV

Putting together a letter of application / personal statement

Addressing person specifications

Effective marketing of your skills & abilities

Useful websites for ODP vacancies

Contact details of some local trusts
Good luck with your applications!
Des Hope
(July 2013)
Making Applications
The purpose of completing an applications form is to achieve an interview.
Your aim is to convince the employer that you are worth selecting for interview
because you seem to be a suitable candidate for the job and the sort of
person the organisation/Trust likes to employ. The only information that the
selectors have about you is that contained in your form and/or curriculum vitae
and the accompanying letter. So, emphasise the positive and let them spot
the negative. Convince them that they need to see you. Remember that
presentation is as important as content. It is reasonable to assume that if you
are invited for an interview the employer has decided that, on the basis of the
information you have provided on your application form, you are appointable.
The interview will be used to confirm whether this is actually the case.
Application Form:
Application forms usually need to be completed on line.
Do read through any instructions, e.g. use of block capitals, order in which you
present previous employment / qualifications.
Save a copy of the form into Word and use the copy to draft your initial
application.
It is important to submit a clear, concise and legible form to the employer.
Check thoroughly for spelling and grammatical errors, including punctuation.
Remember – spell check is not infallible.
Complete all sections of the form. If a question does not apply to you, write
‘N/A’ to show that you have seen and considered what they are asking for in
that question. If using N/A be sure that the question does not apply to you
Respond to all questions as asked, giving details of your interests, activities
and achievements as required.
Include previous employment or work experience, paid or unpaid, however
unrelated or routine they seem to you.
The skills you have developed through other experiences may be transferable
to your work and employers will look for evidence that you recognise these
skills. For example:



Communication/customer service skills can be an important part of
patient care;
Organisational skills can be important in the theatre and as part of
health and safety procedures;
Teamworking skills are important to the role of the ODP;


Ability to work to tight deadlines applies to most fields within the health
service;
Flexibility of working can also be an important part of the role.
Note that these are only examples and it is important to think carefully about
the skills that you have developed and the way that they are transferable to
the role. Always tailor your responses to the particular post for which you are
applying.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
What a CV does.
A CV is used to persuade an employer that you are the right person for the
job.
A CV is not always the most appropriate medium to use, as organisations will
often require you to complete an application form and personal statement. If
this is the case, they are unlikely to also want a CV and they are unli8kely to
thank you for giving them more information that they have to read.
It is important that you present your CV, as professionally as possible and,
with this in mind, use good quality paper and use a clear, consistent layout.
Try to keep your CV as succinct as possible, not more than two pages if you
can.
What should the CV include?
A CV for an ODP post would tend to include information under the following
headings:
Personal Details
Name, address, telephone number, your
registration number once known.
Skills Profile
You may decide to include a skills profile.
This is where you highlight a few key skills
and illustrate them by brief examples. It is
best if these reflect some of the skills asked
for in the person specification. Some people
decide to include a career objective near the
beginning of the CV, a short statement
describing yourself and your career aims.
Education (in addition to
professional practitioner
training)
It is usual to use reverse chronology which
means you should start with your most
recent qualification, as it gives the reader the
immediate exposure to what you are doing
now.
It is normal to include details of the courses
and qualifications that have given you
access to higher education - secondary
education, access courses etc.
When including a degree course, it is a good
idea to include a brief description of modules
relevant to the post. This might also include
a few details about your dissertation or
project.
Professional or Practice
Experience
You may not be able to detail all the
placements undertaken, but you could
include a sentence to explain the wide range
of experiences the training has given you
and anything innovative/unusual/relevant
that you have done / achieved as part of
your course or clinical placement.
Other Work Experience
Brief details with dates of other types of work
experience, skills gained and duties. Try
where possible, either here or in the
covering letter, to look for the relevance of
any previous work experience to its use in
the professional ODP role e.g. counselling
skills or, perhaps, involvement in the training
of others in a previous job. Non relevant
employment experience should be dealt with
as briefly as possible.
Interests and other activities
This section enables the employer to
discover a little more about your personality.
Other information/additional skills (if
appropriate) can be included.
This section can also include special skills or
qualifications that you can offer on top of
your other, more formal, qualifications e.g.
administrative skills may be useful and could
have been demonstrated through your
involvement in clubs or societies. Voluntary
activities could also be highly relevant.
Referees
Two referees need to be included here – one
to be an academic/professional referee from
the institution where you are about to
complete your training. Your second referee
should also be someone who can comment
on your work and professionalism – many
people choose perhaps a theatre
manager/practitioner with whom they have
worked closely on one of their placements.
Remember to include e mail addresses
An example of what an ODP CV might look like:
Gillian Steele
17 Water Lane
Aintree
Liverpool
L9 4 SH
Tel:
01523 636 4500
Mobile: 074832 465461
Email: g.steele@btinternet.com
CAREER OBJECTIVE
Upon qualification as an operating department practitioner, I am eager to
undertake a post within the Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust, having spent
successful placements in this Trust.
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
BSc / Dip HE
Operating Department Practice
Edge Hill University
September 2012
You could now include here a few brief bullet points on
1.
Details of any special projects/studies/seminars led
2.
Any areas of special interest to you
3.
Achievements whilst on the course
4.
In the future add postgraduate or post registration qualifications and
any relevant professional activities
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
A wide range of placements undertaken over 3 years including:
Now here again you could include some bullet points highlighting specific
placements with relevance to the post for which you are applying, whether it
be within the anaesthetic, surgical or recovery phase..
ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
NVQ Level 2 & 3 in Care
A Levels in Biology & Maths
GCE O Levels at Grade C or above
English Language, Maths, Biology,
Chemistry, History
Hugh Baird College
2009
Liverpool Community College
1998
Deyes Court High School, Liverpool
1996
ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Health Care Assistant
Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust
2007 - 2009
Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide quality care and a
support role for qualified staff within the surgical ward. Responsible for
maintenance of the ward, assisting with patient care, washing and dressing
patients and ward clerk duties.
Care Assistant
Holly Lodge Residential Home
2005 – 2007
Day to day duties of caring for 20 residents including …….
Administrative Officer
Northern Construction Services
1998 – 2005
Responsible for providing high standards of customer service, general
administrative duties, dealing with the public and suppliers.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION




Student member of the Association of Operating Department
Practitioners
Guide leader for local guiding group for the past 5 years
Distance runner – up to half marathon
Competent with a wide range of computer packages including Microsoft
Office – Word, Excel. PowerPoint and Access
REFEREES
The first of these needs to be an
academic reference at this stage in
your career – so choose your tutor for
this one.
The second one needs to be a
theatre manager or someone of a
similar rank who can comment on
your ability to do the job and on your
ODP skills
The Job Application Form (Supporting Information)
Most job application forms come in two parts. (1)The section where you are
required to provide factual information about yourself – contact details,
qualifications, employment experience. (2) The section where you are
required to show that you meet the employer’s requirements for the job. This
is sometimes called “Supporting Information”, “Personal Statement” or “Letter
of Application. It is crucial that you use this section to market yourself and
provide evidence of your ability and willingness to do the job by describing
your experience, skills and knowledge. This is the hardest part of an
application form to complete and it will require time and several proof checks.
There is no single correct way to write this part of an application but there are
some rules which will help.

Make sure that your supporting statement / letter of application directly
addresses the PERSON SPECIFICATION. (An example of a person
specification is provided in the next section of this booklet). The person
specification will list the qualifications, skills, abilities, and experiences
required for the post. You must take each of the criteria and clearly
demonstrate that you have got the skills experience, knowledge from
your ODP programme or from work experience. Tell the organisation
that you have got what they are looking for and give evidence of that.
Tell them what you have done, what you have achieved, how you did it
and what you learnt from the experience. If you do not show that you
meet the essential criteria in the person specification, it is unlikely that
you will be called for interview so your task is to clearly and simply
demonstrate that you have got the stated requirements

The person / people doing the shortlisting will probably find it helpful if
you address the person specification criteria in the order they appear
on the person specification. It will help because it will make it easier to
identify the criteria you are referring to so that they can be ticked off on
the shortlisting check list.

When you are providing evidence be SPECIFIC. The use of vague and
evasive vocabulary such as “a number of” “some”, “several” will come
over exactly as that – vague and evasive! If you can, quantify your
evidence e.g. “on four occasions I……….”
“I spent twelve weeks
gaining experience on a recovery ward and during this time I
did….achieved….learnt….” etc.

Avoid “weak” or “negative” vocabulary. Your instinct may be to be
modest about your strengths and achievements but think about the
impact of your choice of language on the reader – “I try” = “I sometimes
fail”, “I aim = “I sometimes miss”, “I endeavour” = “I work hard to
succeed but I don’t find it that easy”. Instead use phrases such as
“I always”, “I will”, “I did”.

You are NOT writing an essay neither are you required to present a
series of reasoned arguments to the reader. You are simply presenting
evidence that you can do and will do the job. The most effective way to
do that is to say as much as possible in as few words as possible and
never use two words where one will do. More words do not equal more
clarity. More words are likely to obscure the point you are making and
is, in any case, bad English.

Keep your sentences short. Long rambling sentences are hard to follow
and make very tedious reading and you need to have the reader on
your side! Recommended length of sentence for this type of document
is 12- 20 words.

State clearly why you are applying for the post e.g. familiarity with the
area which may mean that you would relate well to clients, their
families and carers.

Why you wish to work in a particular department.

You might want to indicate an interest in the particular ethos, or
aspects of the organisation.

When you have addressed all that is required in the person
specification, state clearly any other skills or experience that you feel
you can offer and which would make you an asset in the post.

Your evidence should include examples of good practice that you have
taken part in, experience of caring in a context that is related to the job
for which you are applying. If you are applying for an area/specialism
in which you haven’t to date had a lot of job specific experience, think
about all the skills and knowledge you have gained that can transfer to
that new setting.

Quotes from positive feedback (written or oral) will carry credibility.

You might be able to demonstrate how assignments you have
undertaken link into the job you are applying for.

Look at work experience you have had – including things you have
done before your ODP programme as there may well be skills you can
bring out of this that are relevant to the post. It might be communication
skills, team work, management skills. Again, link this in with the person
specification. Emphasise your ability to work effectively within a team
while also being able to act upon your own initiative – both important to
the work of the ODP. But don’t just state it - you have to back it up with
evidence drawn from your own experiences.

What else can you contribute to the organisation beyond the obvious?
E.g. you might have done a particularly relevant piece of project work,
unique to yourself, have experience of audit, voluntary work,
involvement in self-help groups, teaching experience, counselling
qualifications or experience, equal opportunities training or initiatives

If you get the chance to go on an informal visit, prior to completing your
form, try to do so as you will be able to pick up clues and information
which may help you complete an personal statement/covering letter.
Point out also in your information that you did visit as the person who
showed you round won’t necessarily be the person who sees your
form. If you do arrange to make a visit you can be fairly sure that how
you present yourself on the visit will be noted – treat it as part of the
selection process.

Market yourself in a friendly manner. Beware of sounding arrogant or
threatening – always support what you say you can do, with evidence.
Remember you want to come over as a friendly, caring professional
person who will be an asset to the organisation.
SAMPLE: PERSON SPECIFICATION
CORE PERSON SPECIFICATION (& SHORTLISTING FORM)
POST: THEATRE PRACTITIONER
CATEGORY
CANDIDATE:
CRITERIA
EDUCATION,
QUALIFICATIONS &
TRAINING
Weight
(a)
Registered Nurse/Operating
Department Practitioner. Evidence
of CPD
3
Evidence of minimum six months
working as team member caring for
patients within last 5 years.
3
Evidence of ability to practice as
competent practitioner
3
Score
(b)
REF NO:
Total
(a x b)
HOW ASSESSED
Application form,
certificates at interview
2
E, Q &T total score
EXPERIENCE
Experience total
score
SKILLS, ABILITIES &
KNOWLEDGE
Demonstrates an understanding of
the attitudes and behaviour that
support an effective team working
environment
Evidence of an ability to manage
time effectively using own initiative
Demonstrates awareness of the
need to be reliable, flexible and
adaptable within the work
environment.
Application form and
questions at interview
Application form,
questions at interview
and/or test
3
2
3
Understanding of clinical
governance and its requirements
2
Demonstrate an understanding of
confidentiality/discretion
3
Demonstrates ability to work under
pressure
2
S, A & K total score
Total shortlisting score
WEIGHTING: Criteria in each section are weighted in order of importance 3 - 1, with 3
being the most important
SHORTLISTING CRITERIA: Each candidate will be scored against the person
specification as follows:
3 points = fully meets or exceeds the criteria
2 points = significantly meets criteria although falls short on minor aspects
1 point = partially meets criteria but falls short on key aspects
0 points = does not meet criteria
Applicants will need to attain a minimum score in each of the following categories in order
to be invited to an interview:
Education, Qualifications & Training – minimum score of 13
Experience – minimum score of 9
Skills, Abilities & Knowledge – minimum score of 36
Total shortlisting score – minimum score of 58
Typical Preparation for Interview Questions
Think about:

Why have you chosen this Trust?

What do you know about the Trust?

Have you experience within the Trust?

Consider the experiences developed on the course.

Consider if you are keen on a particular area and why.

What skills will you bring to the area?

Consider how you will have to adapt in your first post i.e. from student
to independent practitioner
How much do you know about :

Agenda for Change

Clinical Governance

Risk Management

How long do you want to spend in each area if it is a rotational post?
Be prepared for scenario type questions, i.e.









lost swabs,
instruments,
consent forms,
positioning of patients in theatre,
incident forms,
team problems,
be prepared to talk about your career plans,
continuous professional development,
prepare questions to ask them, these can include what sort of training
will be available during first year.
Finally
Good luck in your job search and your future career from all at the Careers Centre at
Edge Hill University. Do not hesitate to contact us if you need any further help
regarding your future career plans.
You might want to access our website at:
www.edgehill.ac.uk/careers
You will be contacted by the Careers Centre at Edge Hill around 6 months after
completion of your course to find out your career destination and also whether you
are undertaking any further study. This is important information that we will feed
back to your tutors. Please help us by completing the form and returning it in the
prepaid envelope.
Once again, good luck in your job search!
Useful ODP Websites
Association of Operating Department Practitioners:
Association for Perioperative Practice
BUPA
NHS jobs
www.aodp.org/
http://www.afpp.org.uk
http://www.bupa.co.uk/careers
www.jobs.nhs.uk
NHS Careers:
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
NHS Employers:
www.nhsemployers.org/
College of Operating Department
Practitioners
http://www.codp.org.uk/
Department of Health:
www.doh.gov.uk
The Guardian:
www.jobs.guardian.co.uk
Internurse:
www.internurse.com
Health Professionals Council:
www.hpc-uk.org/
Nursing Net UK:
www.nursingnetuk.com
Nursing Times:
www.nursingtimes.net
Nurse Serve:
www.nurserve.co.uk
Voluntary Service Overseas:
www.vso.org.uk
Nursing Abroad:
www.nursingabroad.net
Nursing in Australia:
www.nursingaustralia.com/
Directory of Canadian
Nursing Associations:
www.canadianrn.com/directory/assoc.htm
Nursing Council of New Zealand:
www.nursingcouncil.org.nz
Geneva Health International
(Recruitment):
www.genevahealth.com
Overseas Jobs
http://www.oesworld.com/
Prospects website:
www.prospects.ac.uk
Working in Health:
www.workinginhealth.com/
Links to local and national health care trusts can be found on the Edge Hill
University Careers Service web site. Go to:
http://www.edgehill.ac.uk/careers/HealthZone/#findingwork
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