Members of the Essex Workforce Partnership attended NHS Trusts to talk to visitors and staff about the apprenticeship opportunities in their Trust as well as our role in enabling NHS organisations to take on more apprentices. We also hosted an event for local schools, careers advisors and the Job Centre Plus to inspire the future workforce. The series of events generated a lot of interest from managers and staff, whilst articles are due to be published in various Trust magazines. Additionally, the team organised interviews with ITV Anglia News, BBC Radio Essex and local newspapers to help the public see the great work being undertaken across the country by apprentices.
Apprenticeship programmes benefit the NHS by helping talented young people join the NHS, and providing a framework to up skill existing employees to enable them to deliver high quality patient care. Apprenticeships are a nationally recognised qualification, providing a fully skilled and flexible workforce that can progress through the organisation and are motivated to make a career in healthcare. Health Education East of England can offer support to any healthcare organisation that delivers an NHS contract to establish and develop apprenticeship programmes. Apprenticeships are a vital component of the Talent for Care national strategic framework to develop and make the most of a support workforce that is strong, capable and proud.
What’s so great about apprenticeships?
• They improve patient care
• Provide opportunities and recognition for all support staff (clinical and non-clinical) including the development of transferable skills, resulting in increased flexibility of the workforce
• Apprenticeships support the expansion of national standards across the NHS
• Providing flexible training programmes increases organisational efficiency and effectiveness
What is in it for apprentices?
• Earn while you learn
• Paid holidays
• Receive training on the job and gain a recognised qualification
• Improve your employability
• Work alongside experienced NHS professionals and as part of multi-professional teams
For more information about apprenticeships in the NHS, please contact the Apprenticeship and Support Workforce Co-ordinator [email protected]
Without NHS staff there would be no NHS; that’s why in April 2013, Health Education England was established to provide leadership for the new education and training system. ‘The driving principle for reform of the education and training system is to improve care and outcomes for patients and HEE exists for one reason alone - to help ensure delivery of the highest quality healthcare to England's population, through the people we recruit, educate, train and develop.’ www.hee.nhs.uk