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Our recruitment process explained

MHP jobs are advertised on this and other jobs websites. We also advertise in the national and local press and in specialist trade publications. From time to time we enlist the support of specialist recruitment or "headhunting" organisations.

Or, keep in touch with our recruitment by registering and let us email our jobs to you as they arise.

Applying for MHP jobs

99% of our applications are received online. It’s also the most secure, speedy and confidential way of applying. The online application form is easy to use and can be completed in stages, as long as it reaches us before the closing date. Or, if you prefer, you can also apply online by using your CV, as long as you also include a supporting statement addressing our selection criteria. (For certain, more manual, roles we do permit paper-based applications. Please contact us on 0800 157 7875 for a hard copy application form.)

Some tips for your application:

Before applying, do as much research about us and the vacancy you’re interested in as you can. Make sure you read and understand the job profile and have a good look at our website
It’s possible to view a full draft of your application before you submit it. You may also wish to let someone else read it before sending it.
The "key experience and qualifications required" section of the application form is the most important part. You’ll be asked to detail how you feel your background and experience meets our criteria. It’s vital that you spend time addressing each of the points listed, otherwise there’s a strong chance you won’t be invited for interview. Remember, what you write here will be used for shortlisting purposes. (N.B. Please also use this section to articulate your flexible working proposal, if you are applying to us on that basis.)
If you would like some support from us when completing your application, please call a member of our recruitment team on 0800 157 7875.

Do you consider yourself to have a disability?

MHP is committed to ensuring that its disabled colleagues and job applicants are not disadvantaged in any way. We are keen to encourage you, if you consider yourself to have a disability, to apply to MHP in the knowledge that you will be treated fairly and equitably.

MHP subscribes to the Department for Work and Pensions "Positive about Disabled People" scheme and guarantees an interview/assessment to any disabled candidates meeting the shortlisting criteria. Reasonable adjustments will be made, wherever possible.

Please let us know if you have any special requirements or you have anything you would like us to take into consideration when assessing your skills and suitability, before the interviews / assessments take place.

Do you have a criminal conviction?

MHP accepts applications from candidates with either spent or unspent criminal convictions and our view of applicants with a criminal record will obviously vary depending on the nature of the job and the details and circumstances of any convictions. Please call and ask us for any clarification you may require.

Because of the nature of MHP’s work, we require applicants for certain posts to undergo a CRB check. When this is required, it will be clearly stated on the job advertisement and explained at interview/assessment. Even spent convictions will require to be disclosed by job applicants for some roles. A criminal record will not necessarily bar applicants from being appointed to these posts, but you must be aware that it may; given that MHP deals with vulnerable adults and children on a daily basis. MHP guarantees that candidates with criminal records will be treated fairly and a mature attitude to risk will be taken when assessing applicants in this category.

For MHP posts where criminal records checks are not required, applicants will still be required to disclose any unspent convictions. Similarly, MHP guarantees that candidates with unspent convictions, for these posts, will be treated fairly when adjudicating risk.

The closing date and beyond

Our managers can take up to a week to decide who to invite to the next stage. If you’ve applied online, we will probably contact you by email. Make sure you check your email account regularly. If we haven’t been back in touch with you within 10 days following the closing date, please get in touch with us.

If you haven’t been successful following shortlisting, it will be because we have been able to identify other applicants who we feel more closely meet our criteria. Don’t be put off from applying to us again. There may be other similar opportunities in the future.

Our interview and assessment process

We’ll be investing a great deal of time in your development, so it’s important we make sure we hire the right person.

We want you to feel that you have every opportunity to show us the skills and attributes you can bring to the role. So, as well as an interview you may be asked to:

Complete some written exercises
Prepare a presentation
Take part in a role play to anything else we feel is appropriate!

Don’t panic. We’ll advise you well in advance what you can expect when you come to our offices.

If you have any special requirements, or anything that you would like us to bear in mind when assessing your skills and suitability, please let us know in advance.

At the interview, you’ll be told when you can expect us to tell you the outcome. You’ll be told who to contact for feedback if you have been unsuccessful.

Good luck!