In May 2016 Health Education England working across Kent, Surrey and Sussex (HEE KSS) introduced the role of Health and Social Care Pre-employment Co-ordinator in each of the three counties.
The focus of the role is to design, delivery or commission pre-employment programmes bespoke to local workforce needs in the aim of producing a “semi-job ready” group of individuals ready for apprenticeships, direct employment or bank work within both sectors. Our pre-employment programmes are short 2-4 week courses that give young people aged 16 or older the vocational skills and confidence to actively seek employment.
The programmes in Kent, Surrey and Sussex have been delivered in collaboration with various partners such as The Prince’s Trust and Education Business Partnership Kent.
The participants experience placements in a health and/or social care settings which enable them to develop key skills, gain sector specific experience to find a route into employment in the NHS either directly or through apprenticeships. “(The course) …highlighted the right attitudes and behaviours and helped us decide if health & social care is right for us” participant at Ashford and Canterbury pre-employment programme.
These programmes have proved successful in leading into employment for delegates, on average 65% moving into employment in the sector and a recent clinical programme led to the employment of 98% of delegates into healthcare assistant roles.
The Pre-employment Co-ordinators have also delivered and attended a wide variety of careers events and supported regional activity around the Step into the NHS Schools competition.