Health Works In Scotland – a good practice
event (October 2010)
NHS Lothian HR Strategy – Employability
Initiatives to support disadvantaged groups
Jenni Duncan, Head of Resourcing
Neil Murray, Recruitment Development Manager
Adele Hill, Transition Manager, Access to Industry
Background
• NHS Lothian HR & OD Strategy 2008-11
• Development of partnership with Access to Industry
The HR & OD Strategy 2008-11
Relevant extracts include:
• “We will develop further our shared values to emphasise the
contribution that all staff have to make in ensuring we provide
quality services underpinned by the principles of social inclusion,
reducing health inequalities and improving health.”
• Employment opportunities for 1000 people over three years
targeted to individuals socially excluded in the Lothian area. This
will include the opportunity for employment of 50 people who have
been stigmatised in the past through having had mental health
problems. Job design will also accommodate the provision of
employment of 50 people who have learning difficulties
• Recruitment strategies will be further redesigned to encourage the
long term unemployed or people on income benefit into
employment
Employability Routes
Children (prepare for work)
 School Careers Events (NHS Scotland & Lothian)
 School Work Experience placements (e.g. JET
Programme, Junior Healthcare Academy)
 More Choices, More Chances in NHS Lothian
Adults (prepare and develop for work)
 Healthcare Academy
 Agency Partnerships – work placements/supported
recruitment (e.g. Access to Industry, Action Group,
Cyrenians)
 Transition from other sectors (e.g. armed forces,
Veterans First Point)
 National Agreements (e.g. Local Employment
Partnership – with JCP, Future Jobs Fund)
NHS Lothian and Access to Industry
• Agreement signed off in March 2009 – first
placements commenced in September 2009
• To date, there have been 25 A2I students
supported with placements
• 3 programmes per annum
• Placement locations have included Labs,
Hospital and Department Reception, Portering,
Delayed Discharge Lounge, Health Records,
Gardening, eHealth, Infection Control, Oncology,
Recruitment/Work Placement Team
Access to Industry
Transition Project
Access to Industry
• Aim: To move excluded people into education
and employment across the South East of
Scotland
• How?
– Course development team who set up Access courses in
colleges throughout SE Scotland
– Management of Passport and Transition projects
– Partnerships between specialist support services and education
and employment providers on behalf of participants
What is Transition?
• City centre based - provides a daily programme of accredited
learning on a rolling basis
• Operates as a 'mini college' for recovering substance users
• Offers SQA qualifications, delivered by J&E tutors, which
includes specific job training and core skills to encourage
access to further education and employment
• Timetabled attendance / student charter / rewards and
incentives
Criteria
•
•
•
•
•
Unemployed
Recovering substance user
Stable (prescription) / clean – drug/alcohol use
16 and above
Motivated to move on to work and training
Self and agency referrals are accepted
Just call 0131 226 3006
What are the benefits?
•
•
•
•
•
Positive, healthy structure and a confidence boost
A routine which proves to employers a work readiness
1:1 individual support as well as classroom work
Gain real world qualifications
Access to work placements and in house employability
training
• Positive outcomes
Students can join Transition at any time and Transition costs
nothing!
NHS LEAP Partnership
• Developed in September 2009 to become the
Education Pillar of Recovery within the LEAP
Programme
• A 12 week personal effectiveness course
• Rolling Programme
• Patients graduate from LEAP with a SQA
Accreditation and enrol as students at Transition
Success of NHS LEAP Partnership
Since September 2007 – 30th September 2010:
Total Referrals
Total Assessments
Starts (including Returners)
Action Plans commenced
Total Qualifications L1-H
Clients gaining a job (total)
Clients gaining FE (total)
Clients gaining training place (total)
141
122
115
115
124
10
21
21
NHS Lothian Placements
• Entered an agreement in March 2009, for NHS Lothian
to provide work placement experiences for Access to
Industry students, with an emphasis on LEAP graduates.
• Agreement for 1 year, to provide 3 rounds of placements
for up to 10 students each round, with this to be
reviewed before a 4th round is offered – 4th round was
offered.
• Conditions of placement include NHS pre-employment
screening procedures and occupational health checks,
disclosures
• Travel and lunch covered by Access to industry
NHS Lothian Placements Success
Since September 2009 the following has been
achieved
• 23 students have successfully completed NHS
Lothian work placements
• 5 LEAP graduates have successfully completed
NHS Lothian work placements
• A range of placements have been offered
including admin and clerical positions, catering
roles, play specialist positions and portering
roles
Evaluation
Raymond completed a placement in the discharge lounge
of the Western General Hospital and building on the
success of his placement is now employed full time by
the NHS.
“At first I was wary of returning to employment but
the placement with the NHS gave me the
confidence I needed to start applying for
positions in the NHS again. The placement was
very enjoyable and I am very happy to be back
in the work place again.”
Case Studies
Vicky
• LEAP Graduate
• Started at Transition gaining SQA’s
• Completed an extended work placement
with NHS Lothian
• Gained place at Edinburgh University on
Access to Social Science
Contact details
Adele Hill –
Email: adele@accesstoindustry.co.uk
Tel: 0131 226 3006
Website: www.accesstoindustry.co.uk
Jenni Duncan –
Email: jenni.duncan@luht.scot.nhs.uk
Mob: 07500 765 907
Neil Murray –
Email: neil.w.murray@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Mob: 07767 331 234
Website: www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
ANY QUESTIONS?