So I went onto the GoodSam website and filled in all the forms. I added the documents they wanted. Actually, it crashed the first time, so I went through the rigmarole a second time. This time, I got a green tick telling me that everything had worked, so jolly good, I thought.
Then I waited.
Yesterday I received an email telling me that they couldn’t verify my identity. The email gave me a long list of possible reasons. But I have no way of knowing which of those reasons apply. Apparently, I am expected to try again when they ask for the next tranche of volunteers. But – and here’s the thing – if I have no idea what it was that went wrong last time, how do I correct it this time? I suspect that I have once more encountered an example of Pournelle’s iron law of bureaucracy.
I realise that they are likely to be busy, but a simple email asking for whatever it is that they are missing would be simpler and more efficient, given that a person must have looked at the application and decided that something was incomplete or missing. I’ll not be wasting my time trying again as there is no point.
That mirrors my experience exactly.
I suspect that I failed because I am 70, but I will never know because my failed application was deleted “for security reasons”.
They must have more than enough volunteers, so, like you I won’t be wasting my time again.
Yes, mine said that, too. Okay, well, they don’t need me. Fair enough.
At least it shows that we are still amongst the world leaders in bureaucratic idiocy.
Oh, I think the French can still steal a march on us with that one…
After a wait of almost 2 week, got the same letter – but submitted an enhanced DBS with adult and children checks, dated from the beginning of March this year, the name matched and there were no convictions or offences so can only conclude that it wasn’t clear enough – but I can easily read the PDF so seems they are not making much effort – so do I reapply or not ?… Decisions decisions
I submitted an enhanced DBS as well.
Computer says NO
Clearly.
I’m doing my GoodSam locally. Shopped for a pair of oldies in 12 week ‘house arrest’ again yesterday. Everything except flour and yeast found. Takes longer to shop when having to find things I never buy!
Fastest way to volunteer: contact local church(s). One a few miles from me is starting delivering free lunches to ‘house arrest’ people, needs more help
So I went onto the GoodSam website … Yesterday I received an email telling me that they couldn’t verify my identity.
WTF is the GoodSam website and why should I care?
https://www.goodsamapp.org
And the Telegraph have found out about this as well!
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/nhs-volunteers-itching-do-bit-nation/