Since its launch in 2023, The Health and Social Care Employability Academy has been off to a fantastic start. We’re working across the local Coventry and Warwickshire area to ensure that anyone aged 16 and upwards, living within the region and identifying as; a Care Leaver, disabled with visible and/or non-visible disabilities or living with Refugee Status can access our services to develop their own career pathways into the NHS.

Our understanding of the Care Leaver Group

When considering our Care Leaver group, we recognise the importance of establishing positive relationships and the benefits this can bring to the individuals learning and development. Each care leaver joining us will have the opportunity to build their employability skills though both group settings with others of similar age groups and backgrounds, as well as one-to-ones via our mentoring and coaching support.

The Health and Social Care Employability Academy reflects the needs of our care leaver group by ensuring our services include good practice in providing a safe, secure environment promoting professional growth and independence.

We know that many disadvantaged young people, specifically those with experience in care, are faced with some of the poorest outcomes amongst young people in the UK. Many young people leaving the care system and transitioning from school into adulthood will be at risk of homelessness, unemployment, social isolation, ill-Mental Health and youth offending, which without the right intervention can have a lasting impact into their adult years. The Health and Social Care Employability Academy aims to support our care leavers by providing the knowledge, skills and resources to better prepare the young people into meaningful outcomes within the Health and Social Care sector.

Our Offering

We invite you to join others from similar backgrounds to engage and learn about the NHS as an employer and to work with us in finding the best career pathway for you. The Health and Social Care Employability Academy delivers its services across four locations – all within easy reach of people living throughout the Coventry and Warwickshire area. University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust, George Eliot Hospital and South Warwickshire Foundation Trust make it easy for everyone to get involved, regardless of where you live. Each of the four Trusts are very accessible via public transport and offer a range of employment opportunities in services from administration, catering, housekeeping, security and maintenance to more essential services in Accident and Emergency, Audiology, Gynaecology, Maternity, Radiology, Nursing, Speech and Language Therapy and much more.

The Academy includes a series of short courses, careers conversations and one to one guidance covering application and interview support, understanding job vacancies and reflective activities that help you explore, understand and apply your skillset to NHS jobs of interest.

The Academy also offers practical learning approaches to give our participants a well-rounded experience of employability. In addition to our courses and career conversations, participants will be given the opportunity to contextualise their learning by having tours of the NHS Trust buildings, work experience, volunteering and apprenticeship training where needed.

How the HSCEA supports people identifying as care leavers – is there anything we do differently

All Care Leavers registered as a participant of the Health and Social Care Employability Academy, you can expect to receive:

• Help with accessing onsite childcare for those who meet the Care to Learn criteria and are parents aged 21 years and upwards.
• Support from our Employability Advocates to help Care Leavers attending the Academy with funding to purchase professional wear and travel.
• Additional support with application process for Care Leavers with English as a second language