University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) includes Good Hope Hospital, Heartlands Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and Solihull Hospital and is recognised as one of the leading NHS trusts in the UK. The Trust employs more that 20,000 members of staff and has a commitment to the development, health and well being of the communities that are served and the people it employs.
UHB is committed to working with unemployed members of our community with a particular emphasis of working with those with additional barriers. Its Healthcare Careers Development Department operates from a purpose built training centre known as “The Learning Hub” and employs a dedicated engagement and delivery team who work to inspire, attract and recruit.
The Trust is looking for young people who have a caring nature and are interested in finding out about a career within the NHS.
To support care leaver into the team UHB can offer access to the following employability support:
- Prince’s Trust “Get into Hospitals” Programme – Duration: 4 weeks
This programme is jointly delivered between The Prince’s Trust and UHB and participants can benefit from mentoring support from both organisations. During the 4 weeks there will be careers advice and guidance on the various job roles that are available within the NHS and sessions thar enhance vocational knowledge on subjects that are specific to working in the NHS including Information Governance, Safeguarding, Infection Control, Team Building and Equality and Diversity to name but a few. Support will also be given around employability skills and this includes help in navigating the NHS application process as well as interview techniques and a mock interview.
- Building Health – Duration: 4 Weeks
This programme is linked to the recruitment of “Healthcare Assistant “vacancies across the Trust. During their time on programme participants will attend sessions link to the role to increase their knowledge and understanding of the work and the post for which they will be applying. During time on the programme applications for the vacancies will be submitted and at the end of the programme if shortlisted an interview will be attended.
Participants should either have GCSE Grade C/4 in English and Maths or be prepared to sit an assessment and achieve the required score this will be co-ordinated and supported by the Engagement team.
Theatre Support Worker – Duration: 8 days
This programme is linked to the recruitment of “Theatre Support Worker “vacancies across UHB It is designed to increase knowledge and understanding of the role and whilst on the programme participants will apply for vacancies and if shortlisted attend an interview for the post.
Participants should either have GCSE Grade C/4 in English and Maths or be prepared to sit an assessment and achieve the required score this will be co-ordinated and supported by the Engagement team.
Facilities to Nursing (F2N) – Duration: 6 days
The Team currently delivers an employability programme for clients who are interested in finding out more and applying for the F2N programme. The sessions provided increase knowledge and understanding of the facilities role and applications can be made for available posts and if shortlisted attend interviews. It will also provide an understanding of the employment pathway into Nursing that is available.
This employment pathway has been developed in collaboration with both the facilities and corporate nursing directorate. The 18-month employment programme allows newly appointed staff to work within a facilities role for the first 9 months whilst receiving off the job functional skills to Level 1 and pastoral support. On completion of their 9 months and if they have achieved the required Level 1 qualifications for the Healthcare Assistant (HCA) roles they will progress into the HCA role whilst again receiving functional skills support to Level 2 as well as the ongoing pastoral support. On completion of the 18 months contract and the achievement of the Level 2 functional skills qualification they would be eligible to apply for the Nurse Associate apprenticeship roles.
121 Support – Duration: Up to 16 weeks support
On occasion 121 support is more appropriate. Where care leavers already have relevant qualifications or work experience the team may feel that they would benefit from a more individual targeted approach. This would be a mixture of face to face and virtual meetings where they will receive careers advice and guidance as well as support in applying for vacancies and once in receipt of a job offer will continue to support them through the recruitment process.
Mentoring
Everyone that accesses one of our employability training programmes will be offered mentoring support via our pastoral team. We understand that every client has their own journey to navigate from unemployment to work and the transition isn’t always straight forward and so we provide this dedicated resource as an additional support. The team will work with on a 121 basis with a mixture of face to face and virtual meeting (to suit the individual). They also deliver group sessions which includes health and wellbeing, conversational club for clients where English is their second language and guidance to assist in navigating the recruitment process once a job offer is made.
Working in the Health & Social Care sector brings many personal rewards.
