The Oriel online application system updated and new version in use

Oriel, the application system used in recruitment to the STP and HSST training programmes, has been updated and a new version (Oriel 2) is now in use. Until January 2021 both the original Oriel system and the new system will run side by side. On Monday 4th January 2021 the old version of Oriel will be decommissioned and users will no longer be able to access that system.  If you are a user of Oriel and wish to save any information you have stored on the system, this must be done before the decommission date. This is what Oriel recommends to users:

Currently, both the legacy system ‘Oriel’ and the new system ‘Oriel 2’ are running concurrently and will continue to do so until January 2021. This is to allow for any recruitment that has started on Oriel, prior to the new system being launched in June 2020, to cease before the legacy system is disabled. However, most recruitment activity which started after 1st June 2020 is now taking place on Oriel 2.

It is worth noting that trainee profiles and data will not transfer from ‘Oriel’ to ‘Oriel 2’. Therefore, if you plan to apply for programmes on Oriel 2 in the future, you will need to re-register your details. Similarly, details relating to past applications will not be available on Oriel 2.

If you are in any doubt about which system to use, or have any queries relating to registering on the new system, please contact your local recruitment office who will be able to advise you further.

You can read the full statement from Oriel below.

All vacancies advertised as part of recruitment to the 2021 STP and HSST programmes, will be applied for using Oriel 2.

Background information
‘Oriel 2’ is the replacement for the legacy Oriel recruitment system, which offers a single portal for applicants applying to healthcare training posts within the UK. In 2018 and 2019, a number of focus groups were held in order to gather a list of system requirements, including a focus group held specifically for trainees where we asked participants to review the application process and pinpoint where within the system they felt improvements could be made. Based on this we developed a plan to improve Oriel.

Project timeline
The Oriel 2 project is being delivered in a number of distinct phases. Phase 1 of Oriel 2 was launched in June 2020. Since then further development work has taken place and Phase 2 is scheduled to launch on 28th October 2020. While Phase 1 focused primarily on improving existing functionality, during Phase 2 we have started to introduce brand new functionality. Phase 3 is currently under review, but we have a provisional implementation date scheduled in for Summer 2021 and will be able to provide further information in early spring.

• Our aims
  To deliver an improved national recruitment system
• To improve your journey through the recruitment process

System improvements
For phase two of the project, we have made further improvements to functionality including:

• Continuing to enhance to the look and feel of the system and streamlining the information displayed where possible to improve the user journey, ensuring trainees can access the system using a variety of devices.
• Updating the application form structure which will make the application process easier for trainees, including the ability to upload documents direct to the application form and the ability to copy like-for-like sections from previous application forms.
• Improvements to the preferencing process, including the ability to filter preferences.
• A new preferences tab on the dashboard will allow quick and easy access to preference data for all applications.
• Visual progress trackers have also been introduced to help trainees keep track of applications more easily.

Ensuring Oriel 2 is fit for purpose
From August to October 2020 User Acceptance Testing took place. This second cycle of user acceptance testing provided an opportunity for users to review the new system to check that it worked as expected prior to it being released.

Any feedback has been reviewed by the developers and will be fed into the development timeline as appropriate. The overall response to the new features has been positive.

Accessing the correct system
Currently, both the legacy system ‘Oriel’ and the new system ‘Oriel 2’ are running concurrently and will continue to do so until January 2021. This is to allow for any recruitment that has started on Oriel, prior to the new system being launched in June 2020, to cease before the legacy system is disabled. However, most recruitment activity which started after 1st June 2020 is now taking place on Oriel 2.

It is worth noting that trainee profiles and data will not transfer from ‘Oriel’ to ‘Oriel 2’. Therefore, if you plan to apply for programmes on Oriel 2 in the future, you will need to re-register your details. Similarly, details relating to past applications will not be available on Oriel 2. If you are in any doubt about which system to use, or have any queries relating to registering on the new system, please contact your local recruitment office who will be able to advise you further.

Protecting your data
Protecting your data is a high priority for us and as such we will be implementing extra measures to make sure that this happens. Any user accessing applicant data on Oriel 2, such as recruitment administrators and employers, will need to follow additional steps to verify themselves before being given access to the system. Our priority has been to ensure that the new system is robust and fit for purpose, but also to ensure that it is as secure as possible for all for all user groups.

FAQs
Will I encounter the same performance issues when using Oriel 2 as I have for Oriel?
We appreciate how frustrating some of the performance issues within Oriel have been and we are doing everything we can to address these issues to ensure that you do not encounter the same problems in the new system. Performance testing was completed in April 2020 and again in September 2020. Further testing will also be conducted ahead of Phase 3 go-live so that we are assured the system will continue to perform as expected year-round.

How will I know which Oriel system to use?
If you are applying to vacancies opening after 28th October you will need to apply on Oriel 2.

Please note that if you are trying to access Oriel 2 via the legacy recruitment system, and have previously ticked the ‘remember my selection’ box when logging into Oriel, you may bypass the main landing page and subsequently the system update notification that is currently being used to signpost users to the correct site.

What browsers are supported by Oriel?
The Oriel applicant portal is tested for compatibility with the following browsers:

• Safari v12+
• Google Chrome v77+
• Edge
• Firefox 68+

Applicants are advised to use one of these browsers when using the website and, where possible, the most up to date version of that browser. Please note that Internet Explorer is not supported.

Registering on Oriel 2
Registration on Oriel 2 is now possible, although you may not need to use the new system for a while. To register, please visit: https://new.oriel.nhs.uk/Web/