We helped a client overcome a months-long delay in receiving a crucial employment reference, enabling her to move forward with a new role as a Healthcare Assistant at an NHS Trust.
42 year old client came into Reception seeking our help with getting a reference from her current employer. The client had sought the help of her MP but they were not able to resolve the matter.
The client had been offered a Healthcare Assistant position at an NHS Trust. The Trust needed a reference from her current employer, an Agency, before formally offering her the post.
The client informed us that the Care agency had not completed the reference, despite repeated requests, going back to July 2025. She had also visited their office several times, but the reference remains outstanding. Without it, the NHS cannot proceed with her application. The client was very worried that she would lose the offer of this job and the subsequent impact on her income and future career. An Adviser callback was arranged to see how we could help. The Adviser arranged a 3 Way call with the Care agency to better understand the situation. The Care Agency explained that they had sent the reference several times. They said this has been an issue for others as the email address is a generic NHS email. They offered to provide a reference in another format if acceptable.
The client was advised to speak to the new employer to see if they would accept a reference in another format, such as verbally. A few days later the client confirmed that the matter had been resolved, she said: “Thank you for your assistance. I really appreciate your intervention. The reference has been received by the NHS.”