Help Desk is available at the end of the FAQs
Be On Call For Ireland
Your Questions
COVID-19 or coronavirus is here and every one of us is taking action to reduce the impact it has on our families and communities. In our health service, we’re preparing to care for the people who will be affected.
About this Sign-Up Process
Who are we asking to sign up to be on call?
We are asking all healthcare professionals from all disciplines who are not already working in the public health service to register to be on call for Ireland. This will be to work in existing or newly set up facilities, to provide, organise and support the care that’s needed.
What about non-healthcare professionals?
If you are a retired or a student healthcare professional student, we would still be interested in hearing from you. If you are not a healthcare professionals but you have other skills to offer, we are also interested in hearing from you.
What about those staff already working in the public or civil service?
Civil and public servants should contact their local HR Department about temporary reassignment arrangements, as relevant to their individual work circumstances. Any public or civil servants who are healthcare qualified with active registration in the relevant authority and are NOT currently providing a public or private healthcare service should sign up to this Oncall initiative.
Will everyone who applies be called?
Hopefully we won’t need to call, and if we do, we may not need every one of you. But knowing you are there if we do will make a difference. Read more about this process below.
The Roles
What types of roles will be available?
The types of roles will depend on the impact COVID-19 has on our staff and local health services. We are likely to recruit across most roles in the health services. We will be in touch with you if your skill area is relevant and needed in a particular location.
Where will the roles come up?
At the moment we do not know the locations where the roles will come up. The location of roles will be dependent on the impact COVID19 has on our healthcare staff and healthcare services.
What supports are available for returning nurses and midwives?
If you have been out of the nursing and midwifery workforce, we have training resources to help support you. If you are currently working as a nurse or a midwife you will also find these resources useful. For more information go to [www.hseland.ie] www.hseland.ie or to the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD) website
https://healthservice.hse.ie/about-us/onmsd/
Filling in the Online Form
I want to update my registration details, how do I that?
You received an email to thank you for your registration. You can update your details following the link on this email.
I cannot find my discipline on the web form, what should I do?
If you cannot find your specific discipline there is an option in the discipline drop down list named “other useful skill area”. You can choose this and then write in your specific skill area in the text box.
I did not attach a CV when I first registered, how do I do that now?
You received an email to thank you for your registration. You follow the link to update your details and can attach a CV using that link.
I have not heard anything from you yet- did you get my registration?
If you have registered correctly you will receive a copy of your submission. If you did not receive these please try to register again. If you continue to encounter problems with this please contact the help desk by clicking the following link: Help Desk
When and How you will be contacted
When will you contact me?
We cannot say when exactly we will contact you or indeed if we will contact you, this depends on what kind of workers/ volunteers need. We will contact you if your skillset, availability and geographic preference match with the emerging needs of the health service. This means we are responding to needs as, where and when they arise. We cannot predict where the need will arise. As you can appreciate this is a busy and challenging time for the health services so we ask for your continued patience and understanding in this regard.
How will you contact me?
We will contact you mainly via mobile phone (text/ phone call and email).
Hours of Work
What are the hours of work?
There is likely to be different types of work hours/ shifts available, both part time and full time. We cannot tell you at the moment about the exact hours that will become available as that depends on the needs of the particular healthcare service. If a role comes up for you, the hours of work will be outlined at that time.
Holidays & Annual Leave
Do I get annual leave (holidays) if I take up a job?
You will accrue annual leave on a pro rata basis in line with the terms and conditions of your contract.
Salary
Who much will I be paid?
You will be paid in line with the role you are appointed to. Pay scales for the various health care workers can be viewed at https://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/benefitsservices/pay/
Which point pay scale will I go on?
Generally it will be the first point of the scale, with the exception of nursing. You will be provided with clarification on this when are you offered a job.
Will volunteers get paid?
At present we do not envisage paying volunteers. If there is a change to this we will update this information.
Retired Workers
I am a retired health care worker, what happens with my pension?
A waiver (abatement) has been applied until June 2020. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has approved a temporary abatement for front line healthcare staff under Section 52(4) of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2020. This waiver is effective until 30th June 2020. This means your pension will be unaffected during this time should you be engaged in work to support the HSE in meeting the public health challenge of COVID-19. You will receive your normal pension payment and a salary for undertaking COVID-19 work.
I am a retired health care worker, what defines front line staff for pension abatement?
In this case any workers that are taken on for supporting the management of COVID- 19 are deemed as front-line staff.
I am a retired health care worker, what point of the salary scale will I go on?
Generally, it will be the first point of the scale- with the exception of nursing. You will be provided with clarification on this when are you offered a job.
Agency Workers
I am an agency worker, can I work directly for the HSE on this initiative?
Due to the considerable strain on existing HSE resources to meet the COVID- 19 challenge, the HSE is being supported by an employment agency in increasing the available workforce for a short term period. All interested candidates, including agency workers can register themselves as available to contribute to this initiative using the link supplied on the HSE Website. HSE vacancies will continue to be advertised on www.hse.ie
Qualified Professionals not registered with relevant Irish Authority
I am a qualified healthcare professional but not registered with the relevant Irish Authority. Can I work in my profession?
You cannot work in your qualified healthcare profession unless you are registered with the relevant Irish Authority (there are particular rules for EU qualified professionals and these can be viewed on the websites of the relevant authority). At this stage, you may be able to work providing essential support in the same or similar areas. This may be in a support role such as Healthcare Assistant. You will not be able to perform in a professional capacity without the required professional registration. The relevant professional/ clinical regulators have waived professional registration fees and applications are being fast-tracked to support the health services during this time.
Working as an Undergraduate
I am an undergraduate in a relevant healthcare area, can I work in that profession now?
You may be able to work providing essential support in the same healthcare area, however you will not be able to perform in a professional capacity without the required qualification and professional registration.
I am a 4th year student completing a nursing degree, can I work as a qualified Nurse now?
You cannot work as a qualified nurse now, however you may be able to work providing essential support in the same or similar areas. This may be in a support role such as a Healthcare Assistant. You will not be able to work in a qualified capacity without the required qualification and professional registration.
Working outside your discipline
Will I be asked to work outside my discipline?
Our aim is to appoint workers into their qualified discipline. In exceptional circumstances you may be asked to work outside your discipline in this pandemic situation and you should discuss this with assigned your line manager.
If I work outside my qualified discipline, what will I get paid?
You will paid for the role and grade you were originally assigned to. If you are consistently working outside your discipline this should be discussed with your assigned line manager.
Employment Contract Type
What types of employment contracts will be available?
Most of the contracts are likely to be 3-month specified purpose (temporary) contracts, which may be extended as per the needs of the individual healthcare service. Due to the immediacy of this need, the contract of employment will be to an employment agency and will not be a HSE contract at this point. Employment contracts may be reviewed at a later date, once we understand the impact this having on the healthcare system.
Will I get a permanent contract of employment from this?
At this point we are concentrating on supporting the health services during this pandemic.
Volunteering
What kinds of roles will Volunteers fill?
At this stage we are concentrating on hiring healthcare professionals to help support the healthcare services. We will provide further information on roles of volunteers at a later time. If you are interested in being a volunteer please register and we will contact you, as the healthcare services need arises.
Will volunteers get paid?
At present we do not envisage paying volunteers. If there is a change to this we will update this information.
I am over 65+ can I volunteer?
Yes you can. We are recording the dates of birth of all those who register so we can make decisions on what age groups are most appropriate for which types of work.
Can you volunteer or work as a young person?
Yes you can. We are recording the dates of birth of all those who register so we can make decisions on what age groups are most appropriate for which types of work.
I have special skills that I believe will help, how can I let you know?
If you have special skills that you believe will help, you can tell us those skills as part of your online regisistration under the discipline area “other useful skill area”.
Already on HSE recruitment panel
I am already on a HSE recruitment panel, will I get one of those jobs?
This initiative is a response to an exceptional public health situation, aimed at increasing the available workforce. It is not a standard recruitment process nor does it replace normal HSE recruitment. The HSE recruitment panels are not linked to this initiative and will continue to be used to fill relevant vacancies arising as part of standard recruitment.
About HSE jobs
Will you fill normal HSE vacancies through this process?
No. The aim of this initiative is to increase the available workforce to rapidly respond to emerging public health priorities as and where they may arise and hopefully for the short term. Normal HSE vacancies will be filled following the normal recruitment channels.
The Selection Process
Will I have to attend interview?
A short telephone interview will be arranged to make sure we match the right people with the right roles. We will make contact with people to arrange these as and where the needs are emerging to fill roles. In some cases we may conduct more in-depth selection processes and we will inform you of that at the time.
Will I have to do an occupational health/ health assessment?
Yes. It is important that we continue to safeguard not only our patients, but also anyone working with and for the HSE, so a health assessment may take place. This can be paper based, by phone or in person – the most appropriate process will be determined by Occupational Health
Will I have to do Garda/ Police clearance?
Yes. In line the National Vetting Bureau Children & Vulnerable Persons Act (2012) all persons working in patient facing roles will need to be Garda Vetted. To ensure this does not delay your contribution to this important initiative, please respond to any Garda Vetting requests you receive as soon as you can.
I have a criminal conviction, should I still apply?
We cannot make that decision for you as this is specific to each individual. The nature of your conviction would determine whether or not you could proceed to a role that supports this initiative.
I have not heard anything from you yet? Why not?
We will contact you if your skillset, availability and geographic preference match with the emerging needs of the health service. This means we are responding to needs as and where they arise. We cannot predict where the need will arise. As you can appreciate this is a busy and challenging time for the health services so we ask for your continued patience and understanding in this regard.
Childcare/ Care Arrangements
What childcare arrangements will there be?
At present there are no centralised childcare arrangements supplied for those who work/ volunteer for this COVID-19. If there is a change to this we will update this information.
Local healthcare sites may offer arrangements and you will be advised of this if offered work in that site.
Social Welfare Payments
If I take up a job will I still get my Social Welfare payments?
Social Welfare rules will apply and will depend on your individual circumstances. As this will be decided by your particular circumstances and the type of employment offered to you, further clarification can be given to you when you are being offered a job.
About Covid-19
I have an underlying medical condition, can I still work/ volunteer?
If you have an underlying medical condition you should disclose this to us if/ when we contact you. We will be guided by Occupational Health in assigning workers/ volunteers to particular care areas.
Am I more likely to get COVID-19 if I take this job/ volunteer?
COVID-19 is an infectious virus. Health care workers and any volunteers will be advised by the health service on how to reduce transmission and protect yourself.
I want to help but I don’t want to work with COVID-19 patients, can I work/ volunteer in different healthcare area?
The emphasis on this initiative is to support the management of COVID-19. The types of jobs and locations will be advised by the local services. If you do not want to take a job or work/ volunteer in a certain location you can decide not to take it.
What if I don’t know that I have COVID-19 and I start working/ volunteering?
If you believe you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or experience the symptoms, you should follow the existing public health advice including notifying your line manager immediately.
Where can I find out more about COVID-19 or coronavirus?
Keep yourself updated with the most up to date health care advice by visiting hse.ie/coronavirus.
Will be at risk if I take up a job supporting the management of COVID-19?
COVID-19 is an infectious virus. Health care workers and any volunteers will be advised by the health services on how to reduce transmission and protect yourself.
Will I get a face mask and gloves if I take up a job supporting the management of COVID-19?
COVID-19 is an infectious virus. Health care workers and any volunteers will be advised by the health services on how to reduce transmission and protect yourself. Appropriate protective wear will be issued in line with the role any worker/ volunteer is carrying out.
