Employability Programmes at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Transcription

1 Agenda Item 12.4 Appendix 2 Blue Box Employability Programmes at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 1. Introduction and Background Employability can be defined as the combination of factors and processes which enable people to progress towards or get into employment, to stay in employment, and to move on in the workplace. Many people who are unemployed face greater barriers than others when it comes to getting into and moving forward in the world of work. The reasons for this are often quite complex, but there are a number of barriers that typically have to be overcome before people re-enter the workplace, including: low confidence and self-esteem gaps on their CV bad experiences of work lack of job references high anxiety lack of recent work experience low stamina out of date core employability skills lack of awareness of employers' expectations stigma around mental health problems. This paper describes the current programmes at LTHT that provide participants with support to improve an opportunity of employment. This paper identifies a further four potential programmes, and outlines plans of activity for the period ending 31 March The six current schemes are: 1. Apprenticeships 2. Hidden Talents and Growing Points (City of Sanctuary) 3. Internships 4. Sector Based Work Academy 5. Volunteering 6. Work Experience Four potential new routes have been considered to expand employability activity at LTHT, these are: 1. Get Into Healthcare (Princes Trust) 2. Post 16 School Partnerships 3. Step Into Health (MOD) 4. Traineeships 1

2 2. Current Employability Routes 1) Apprenticeships At LTHT an apprenticeships is available for individuals aged 18 and over in clinical roles, and aged 16 and over in non-clinical roles. The programme runs for a minimum of 12 months depending on the occupational qualification being completed. The current programmes aim to recruit 30 Apprentice Clinical Support Workers (ACSW) each month and two cohorts of 30 Business Administration Apprentices (BAA) annually. In addition the Trust runs apprenticeship in: Medical Physics and Engineering Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Amenity Horticulture Carpentry and Joinery Plumbing Clinical Engineering Dental The programmes provide on-going training within the workplace and includes classroom based learning, usually one day per month. Classroom sessions and assessments for the ACSW s and BAA s are delivered by our selected training provider Learndirect. Training facilities have been established at Wharfedale for ACSW s and BAA s. Assessment centres for apprenticeship recruitment run once a month for ACSW s and a separate one is run bi-annually for BAA. The Trust also employs learning mentors that meet with the apprentices and manager monthly to provide appropriate support and ensure on-going progress is made. Going forward the current offer for both ACSW and BAA recruitment will be increased to include Level 3 programmes. 2) Career Ready The Career Ready programme is an internship aimed towards year olds which takes place during the summer prior to commencing the second year of A levels. The purpose of the Career Ready programme is to prepare young people for the world of work. Individuals who are on the Career Ready programme apply to LTHT for positions on a four week work placement (internship model). 2

3 19 interns undertook the programme this summer, 10 of which were funded by Y&H HEE. The placement department usually assigns a project for the intern to complete in their four weeks. Organisational Learning (OL) identify the placement departments, carry out the initial shortlisting of the applications and notify the applicants who have been selected for interview by the department. This is the second year this programme has been run. This programme will continue to run on an annual basis. There is qualitative evidence that managers perceptions of young people have improved following their experience and these managers have expressed interest in recruiting apprentices in the future. 3) Hidden Talents (City of Sanctuary) This programme is aimed towards Asylum Seekers and Refugees to help them secure employment and integrate into their local community. A pilot was undertaken this year involving 13 participants. The Trust funded external providers to deliver a three day workshop that included; preparing candidates in job applications how to present at an interview coaching support. To recruit to this programme, restricted applications for programme participants were put in place along with a dedicated assessment centre. The outcome of this pilot was that one individual went into direct employment and seven into apprenticeships. Funding options to continue this programme are being explored. 4) Sector Based Work Academy Aimed at supporting unemployed individuals back into work, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) set the criteria for this programme, which can change annually dependent on changes to the unemployment benefit system. This programme is designed for individuals aged 18+ claiming Jobseeker Allowance, Universal Credit and/ or Employment Support Allowance. The programme runs for a total of six weeks. The first two weeks are spent training at Leeds City College, then the following four weeks are spent on a work placement within the Trust with ongoing support and training (four days in Trust, one day in Leeds City College). 3

4 There are two routes which both guarantee an interview for an apprenticeship role at LTHT. Separate programmes are run for ACSW s and BAA s. Programmes for ACSW run four times a year and bi-annually for BAA. The DWP and Leeds City Council (LCC) run regular open days to attract applicants which are attended by the Trust. OL and LCC work collaboratively to design the first two weeks of training delivery. DBS and reference checks are undertaken by the Trust prior to the individual commencing on placement. This means should the individual then secure a permanent role with the Trust at the end of the programme they are able to be given an earlier start date than Sector Based Work Applicants who apply directly to the Trust. The number of applicants has been reducing over the last 12 months, due mainly to a reduction of eligible individuals. As a result this programme will continue to run but will be reduced to two programmes a year that incorporate both ACSW and BAA. 5) Volunteering The established volunteer programme is aimed at individuals aged 18 and over. A new pilot scheme has begun with a local school aimed at individuals aged 16 and over which is being managed by the Trust Volunteering Service. Volunteers are required to commit for a minimum of 6 months. The Trusts Patient Experience team arrange volunteering opportunities for individuals across the Trust in a variety of areas. A uniform and name badge is provided by the Trust to identify individuals who are volunteers. There are plans to increase volunteering activity in the Trust and to consider volunteering as an employability option. 6) Work Experience This scheme is aimed at those in Year 11 or aged 15 and over. Priority is given to applicants living or studying in (or adjacent to) a Leeds postcode area. Placements are offered for a maximum of 5 days. Participants are assigned a placement in an area in the Trust where they are able to directly observe work taking place. Individuals are supervised at all times and suitability of work areas for work experience is determined by the nature of the work area and 4

5 services provided. A local health and safety risk assessment is carried out in all placement areas. Applicants apply directly to departmental managers for a work placement. A refreshed procedure has been introduced with associated documentation to support governance and legal requirements. Managers in placement areas are responsible for hosting the applicant, providing the local induction and allocating a member of staff to supervise the individual. The Trust will continue to offer work experience placements where it is possible to do so. Events such as open days, internships, and clinical skills experience sessions provide an alternative to gain insight into a particular role. A minimum of 3 Clinical Skills days and 2 Physiotherapy open days are planned for 2016/ Proposed New Routes: 1) Get Into Healthcare (Princes Trust) The programme will be aimed at year olds who are currently not in work, education or training, disadvantaged due to homelessness, ex-offenders or graduates who are struggling to get in their first employment opportunity. A work placement is assigned for a minimum 2 weeks up to a maximum of 6 weeks. Individuals are invited to complete a work placement within the Trust. The Trust would provide uniform where required. Princes Trust would be responsible for covering travel costs, money for lunch and childcare for the individual during the period of their placement. Individuals are allocated a Get Into Executive from Princes Trust who will continue to provide mentor support for up to 6 months after the placement has been completed and the individual has obtained employment. This programme requires a guarantee that subject to a successful work placement the individual will be invited to an Apprentice Assessment Centre. The Trust is liaising with the Princes Trust to scope the programme, and secure funding from April

6 2) Post 16 School Partnerships This scheme is aimed towards year olds remaining in school for Year 12 and 13 (Sixth Form). The scheme can last up to two years, and takes place during the school holidays. The scheme will look to develop a bespoke training programme that incorporates work placement that will provide insight for individuals into the Trust and a healthcare environment. This will also provide another route into an apprenticeship. A pilot programme is planned in ) Step into Health This scheme is aimed towards individuals leaving Ministry of Defence (MOD) employment. The scheme runs for between one to five days, and includes one or two days on a work placement. This scheme provides an opportunity for individuals (who are usually well qualified) from the MOD to experience a day working within the NHS to aid them in considering future employment options. Any ad hoc requests will be met where it is possible to do so. 4) Traineeships The programme is aimed at year olds who are qualified below NVQ level 3. The duration is variable but the minimum length of time is two weeks and the maximum six months. The traineeship programme is education and training based with a core element of work experience. Employers are not required to pay trainees but are encouraged to support them with expenses such as transport and meals. 6

7 LearnDirect have been commissioned to deliver a traineeship. In the first two weeks of placement the individual undertakes work preparation training with Learndirect (if needed, Mathematics and English training can also be delivered to the individual). The individual is then assigned a work placement lasting for 10 days. Learndirect will obtain the individual s references and deliver the programme to the point the individual commences the placement. Learndirect also provide additional support if any issues arise with the trainee whilst on placement. The Trust will provide a work based mentor for regular constructive feedback during their placement. The traineeship will provide an entry role into an apprenticeship programme. The proposal is to run 15 trainees commencing in the summer of Summary and Conclusion Employability activity at LTHT will include: Apprenticeships Internships Post 16 School Partnerships Sector Based Work Academy Programme Traineeships Volunteering Work Experience Processes will be developed to obtain and evaluate quantitative data and qualitative information to aid an annual review regarding the continuation of each programme. 7