One-in-five candidates applying to work in the UK’s strained healthcare sector will fail a background check during the hiring process, according to new statistics from Zinc. This represents a 20% increase in the number of candidates whose background checks needed further review or consideration from 10% in 2023.
Verifying professional qualifications and registration before hiring a candidate is critical to the security of health and social care services - healthcare companies are bound by strict CQC regulations to ensure candidates have the right skills and experience. In the UK, healthcare organisations most frequently verify a candidates’ criminal history (66%), references (60%), address (59%) and right to work certification (56%).
However, less than one-in-ten healthcare businesses using Zinc will check whether a candidate is on a sanctions watchlist (9%) or engaging with adverse media (7%), and no organisations are running social media background checks. While CQC regulations ensure that candidates have the right skills, these additional checks are additional preventative measures that ensure the staff being hired are the right kind of people for the role - both being around patients and the safety and happiness of existing staff.
With the UK’s healthcare system facing a worsening shortage of staff and the pressure increasing to fill vacancies for delivery of crucial services, organisations lack the appropriate staff, time and resources to properly vet candidates. Healthcare businesses using Zinc have experienced an average 39% decrease in check turnaround times, meaning they can vet potential hires and get staff through the door quicker to support this growing pressure.
According to NHS data, England alone struggles with over 112,000 vacancies, including a deficit of 40,100 nurses and 8,550 doctors. Maintaining a high-level of candidate quality is crucial for ensuring positive patient outcomes, so with one-in-five potential candidates not meeting immediate background check requirements, this represents over 22,000 unsuitable or unqualified candidates being delayed or prevented from entering the workforce.
Luke Shipley, CEO and co-founder of Zinc, says:
“The healthcare industry is at a breaking point. With an ageing population fuelling demand, healthcare providers are desperately seeking qualified talent to deliver quality care. But antiquated hiring and onboarding processes have left organisations struggling to vet, hire, and retain staff efficiently. The healthcare industry can’t afford to cut corners. The consequences of hiring the wrong people could be a matter of life and death.
“In order to find the right candidates and improve retention rates, healthcare organisations need to start improving antiquated HR practices. To overcome pressing talent acquisition and management hurdles, healthcare providers should consider integrated HR technology to automate background and vetting and improve overall care with long-term benefits for staff and patients alike.”