Post by Deborah Udy Okusaga Akanne (@deborah_udy_okusaga)

You Are Ready For Band 7. You Keep Applying For Band 6. And You Are Still Not Getting Shortlisted. Here Is Why Both Things Are True Simultaneously.

This is for the physiotherapists, OTs, SLTs, and AHPs who have been applying for Band 6 posts in the UK for months and receiving rejections — while their home country clinical record would support a Band 7 application.

Both things can be true at the same time.

You may be clinically ready for Band 7. And your Band 6 application may still be failing.

Here is why — and it is important.

Reason 1 — Your Band 6 application does not look like a Band 6 application. Band 6 in the NHS requires evidence of autonomous caseload management, clinical audit participation, supervisory responsibility, and service development contribution. If your supporting statement is written at Band 5 level — describing clinical competencies and team contributions without the leadership evidence that Band 6 requires — the panel scores you below threshold for the Band 6 post, even though your clinical experience exceeds it.

Reason 2 — You are applying to Band 6 posts without UK registration evidence on the application. Some Trusts require HCPC registration to be confirmed at the point of application for Band 6 posts. Others accept "HCPC registration in progress." Know which before you apply. Submitting a Band 6 application without clarifying your registration status creates an HR hold that your clinical experience cannot overcome.

Reason 3 — Your Band 7 experience is presented as Band 7 language in a Band 6 application. If you were managing a department of twelve in your home country and your supporting statement says "I have managed and developed a team of twelve clinical professionals" — the Band 6 shortlisting panel may assess you as overqualified and pass over your application for a candidate who fits the grade more precisely.

Reason 4 — You should be applying for Band 7. If your clinical experience genuinely maps to NHS Band 7 competencies — autonomous caseload management, service leadership, clinical supervision of junior staff, quality improvement leadership — applying at Band 6 may be the strategic error.

Some Trusts specifically seek candidates who will grow into Band 7 quickly. Others seek Band 7 directly. Your profile may be better positioned at the higher grade with the right document strategy.

DM me "BAND7" and I will assess whether your specific clinical profile maps to Band 6 or Band 7 in the NHS — and what your documents need to say about it.

Post 4 drops at 2:00 PM — for the doctors who have been working as locums and want to convert to substantive posts.

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