Training help for NHS jobs

Sep 11 2008 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

MEMBERS of ethnic communities are being encouraged to join an NHS training scheme.

A new course has been launched for people from south Asian communities to gain employment with the NHS.

The South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust, which runs mental health services in Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield, is running the programme.

They hope it will lead to future employees of the trust being more representative of the local population.

Claire Hartland, human resources manager, said: “This is a new venture for the trust.

“Five traineeships were identified within healthcare and administration which offer successful candidates the opportunity to gain an NVQ2 in health and social care, customer service or business administration.

“This will really open doors for them and hopefully boost the number of people from underrepresented groups applying for and gaining employment within our trust.

“It is hoped that this pilot scheme will promote the NHS as an employer of choice, initially for people from south Asian communities, but ultimately for people from all underrepresented groups.”

While the traineeships do not guarantee employment, they will give participants the skills to work in the NHS.