The Skills for Health Academy has developed a range of pre-employment programmes to give unemployed adults an opportunity to gain new skills and valuable work experience within the health and social care sector.
If accepted onto a programme, learners complete a period of college study, followed by a period of work-based training in a healthcare assistant or administration role, helping them to transform enthusiasm into confidence, self belief and employability. Whilst on programme, learners will continue to receive their benefits.
College training
Subjects covered include health and safety, confidentiality, infection control, equality and diversity, team building and communications skills.
Work-based training
This takes place in an NHS trust or social care setting enabling learners to gain the skills and hands-on experience that health employers are looking for when recruiting new staff. Learners will experience the challenges of undertaking new tasks, and working as part of team that cares for, or provides services for, patients and their families.
Checks
Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and occupational health checks are completed before learners can start their period of work-based training. Learners are also required to attend a trust induction day and a full risk assessment is completed in the workplace.
Current programmes and application process
Support with job search and applications
Throughout the programme there will be a number of workshops run by Academy staff covering CV preparation, job search, online applications and interview skills.
The progress of each learner is reviewed regularly and, if satisfactory, a referral is made to the Academy’s Employment Progression Pathway (EPP) team which offers further ongoing support with job search.
All learners must be prepared to demonstrate full commitment, co-operation, flexibility and motivation to seek work.
Benefits of completing the programme
Whilst there is no guarantee of a job at the end of the programme, there is every expectation that the skills gained will put learners in the best possible position to move forward into permanent employment with real career prospects.
Over the past five years, learners have gone on to be appointed to jobs such as healthcare assistants, theatre support workers, ward clerks, administrative assistants, medical records clerks, phlebotomists, therapies assistants and care assistants. For many, it has been a life-changing experience.
