The Academy
The Healthcare Careers and Skills Academy was set up through collaboration between University Hospitals of North Midlands, Advantage West Midlands, North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone, Stoke-on-Trent College, Skills for Health, Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council. Refurbishment for the Academy was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
The Academy offers training, employment and careers advice to support new, existing and future employees. A Careers Officer based at the Academy provides information, advice and guidance on an array of employment and training issues within the Trust, including:
- Up-to-date career opportunities at the Trust and the wider NHS
- Courses available at the Academy
- Career development and progression routes
- Techniques on how to apply for vacancies (application form / interview)
- Taster Days - Clinical Support - finding out what the roles are all about
- Work trial opportunities for the unemployed - an opportunity to train for and trial a job in the Trust with a guaranteed interview when a vacancy occurs.
Short Courses:
- Corporate Induction
- 'Skills for Work'
- Time management
- Communication Skills
- Project Management
- Appraisal skills for managers and staff
- I.T. workshops
- Vocational Qualifications NVQs in Business Administration, Healthcare Support, Customer Service, Management, Pharmacy, Information Technology, Skills for Life.
The Academy has a dedicated team of advisers who work with young people aged between 14-19 in schools, colleges and universities across the area.
HNM is working with 16 other partners to support The Building Better Opportunities Stafford and South Staffordshire project, which is jointly funded by the Big Lottery and the European Social Fund. It aims to help those with multiple disadvantages through a tailored program that will increase skills, confidence and experience to increase their chances of finding and securing employment. More than 700 individuals will be helped during the three years that the project will run.
Widening Participation is an agenda that supports workforce planning and development of staff across the NHS. Widening Participation aims to:
- widen access and opportunity of learning, development and employment within Bands 1-4
- promote the wide range of careers and progression routes available within healthcare through information and guidance
- involve healthcare staff in learning by developing a culture of learning
The Trust's commitment to widening participation aims to:
- Support individuals with information, advice and guidance on the opportunities for training and jobs within the Trust
- Improve access to employment opportunities and in developing employability skills
- Facilitate work related learning opportunities and work experience placements
- Promote Apprenticeship opportunities
- Enable individuals to promote personal development and wellbeing
- Collaborate with key stakeholders to increase and diversify resources to support widening participation opportunities
North Staffordshire Widening Participation Project
This project is steered by a 'Widening Participation Lead' whose job it is to keep in touch with local organisations such as Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare, Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and University Hospitals. The aim is to co-ordinate the widening of participation and work experience across health and social care organisations.
The project aims to engage with young people and members of the community who are economically inactive. Local health and social care organisations can help to educate and support their local community. In doing so, they can also raise awareness of the wealth of career opportunities on offer.
Healthcare Careers and Skills Academy, Old Admissions block, Royal Stoke University Hospital, Newcastle Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 6QG.
Tel: 01782 672277
Email: healthcarecareers.skillsacademy@uhns.nhs.uk
Health Ambassadors
A Health Ambassador is a healthcare professional working within UHNM who is willing to inspire and encourage young people to think about the range of career opportunities within healthcare and give them the realities of what it is like to work and study in these professions.
Health Ambassadors act as role models to young people, have enthusiasm, commitment, confidence, the ability to identify with young people, a passion for their work and the wish to inspire others to achieve their full potential. They can be involved in various activities to support the Healthcare Careers and Skills Academy such as:
- presentations in a school setting with groups of students
- support a careers session offering guidance and advice on career opportunities
- help to facilitate events and work experience programmes
- departmental visits
- STEMNET activity (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network)
The Academy's STEM activities aim to ensure that all young people, regardless of background, are encouraged to understand the excitement and importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in their lives, as well as the career opportunities to which the STEM subjects can lead to.