- TRUST
HELPS UNEMPLOYED FIND WORK!
- Report by
Sarah Poulson.
SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk
Hospital NHS Trust has piloted a scheme developed by NHSU, the new
corporate university for the NHS to help unemployed people in the
area back into work.
The trust is the first in the
country to carry out this NHSU scheme and has guaranteed
employment to nine people who will start on 14 February having
completed a specially commissioned training programme.
“Health Learning Works”
aims to give individuals access to jobs and method of
progression within the NHS. The
scheme is a result of a partnership between the Job Centre Plus
and the Government Office for the North West and NHSU. The new corporate University for the NHS.
The course attended by students has been commissioned from
Manchester College of Arts and Technology (MANCAT).
Nine trainees of varying ages and
backgrounds have completed the course and will take up their jobs,
ranging from ward housekeeping, pottering, sterile supplies,
administrative and clerical work from the following Monday.
Parsing the students, who
graduated on Friday was Mr. Andrew Johnson, the Chairman of
Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust who said, “I’m
delighted to welcome these new staff members to the NHS.
They have wanted a career in the health service and have
worked hard to complete the training programme.
When they arrive in their new jobs on Monday, they will be
ready to take on tasks given to them.
This is a very workable solution to the problems of
recruitment in the NHS.”
Sharon Partington, Deputy
Director of Personnel at the Trust said, “We are delighted
to be the first Trust in the NHS to put this NHSU program into
action. It is a
simple idea, but one which has already worked for the NHS as well
as for the people looking for work.
Working for the NHS as well as for the people looking for
work. Working in
partnership we have delivered a tangible result for the NHS and
ultimately improving the service for the patients.”
Keith Waterhouse the NHSU’s
course leader for Health Learning Works added, “We have put in
place a team to support these new staff, giving them help and
guidance that will enable them to develop long lasting, rewarding
careers and make a significant contribution to patient care.”
-
- Now
there are plans to extend the scheme to different areas of the
UK, according to Dr. Paul Hauch of NHSU. “This is the
tip of the iceberg. This
new route to a career in the NHS will act as a beacon to
encourage the less well represented groups to bring their
talents to a modernised NHS”
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