UHNM supports 26 young people from care into NHS careers in pilot partnership project

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has supported twenty-six young people who were brought up in care into careers in the NHS as part of a national pilot programme. 

The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care System (ICS) was selected as one of five national pilot sites for a new NHS England-funded initiative to help young people from care backgrounds into entry-level roles in healthcare. 
 
Through the programme, UHNM, working in partnership with the ICS, has offered domestic services, ward assistant, and catering roles across both the Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital, Stafford.
 
The project was led by UHNM’s Estates, Facilities and PFI Division’s Soft Facilities Management (Soft FM) team, in collaboration with the Trust’s Recruitment Team, who facilitated multiple recruitment events and supported the young applicants throughout the process.
 
One of the young people to gain employment through the project now works as a domestic assistant in the Royal Stoke’s older adults wards.
 
The 20-year-old who had been in the care system for eight years, said: “The best part of my job is the people I work with, talking to them and building friendships and connections. I also enjoy speaking to the patients as I help to keep the wards clean and tidy.
 
“I’d like to say thank you to everybody involved in the project. There’s not many opportunities out there for care leavers, but they have dedicated a lot of work to helping us. There’s so many people that have benefitted, it’s incredible.
 
“It’s been a long journey to get where I am now, but I feel like I’m making progress every day.”
 
 Another care leaver now employed by UHNM is now able to commute independently from home to his role as a kitchen assistant at the Royal Stoke.
 
The 23-year-old said: “Through my different shifts I’m able to meet a range of different staff and patients from across the hospital which I really enjoy. 
 
“I’m grateful to everybody involved in the project because I didn’t think I’d get a role within the hospital, but now I am hoping to progress at UHNM and become a porter.” 
 
To celebrate the success of the project, those involved were presented with UHNM’s Chief Executive Award. 
 
Dr Simon Constable, chief executive, said: “This joint working is just the sort of thing we should be doing, and ticks so many boxes for our people and local population. The project has proven to be a fabulous opportunity to change the lives of these enthusiastic young people, supporting them in becoming independent and fulfilling their full potential.” 
 
Lorraine Whitehead, director of estates facilities and PFI, said: “It’s the team that makes it happen. When I asked if this was something we could support, I immediately saw the potential benefits for UHNM, especially given our past experience working with young adults through initiatives like Project SEARCH. As soon as I reached out to the team, they were absolutely thrilled to get involved.
 
“At UHNM, we’re passionate about supporting young people into employment, regardless of their circumstances. As one of the largest employers in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, and as an anchor institution, we have a responsibility to reach into our communities, not just in terms of health but also by helping improve people’s future prospects.
 
“Sometimes you have to go above and beyond to make initiatives like this happen. The fact that the team has willingly put in extra hours and gone out of their way to support this is a real testament to how much they care about UHNM, the services we deliver, and about ensuring our recruitment is inclusive and aligned with our Trust values and people strategy.”

Ruth Beard, outreach and inclusion manager at the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care System, said: “UHNM were immediately keen to support the programme and have, thus far, recruited an incredible total of 26 individuals into B2 entry level posts within domestic services, catering and as ward assistants at both Royal Stoke and County Hospital sites. UHNM’s recruitment team have also really gone the extra mile, facilitating multiple bespoke recruitment events and supporting the young applicants throughout the entire process. 

“Stoke-on-Trent has the highest number of children in local authority care in England, meaning that it’s selection as one of five national pilot sites has been particularly impactful for our community.  Our ICS has been nationally recognised by NHS England as an exemplar of great partnership working throughout this project and, having already met the original target of employing 26 care leavers, it is hoped that the we and UHNM will continue to support young people with the right values into roles within health.”  

Emily Foxall, head of recruitment, said: “Being part of this project has been incredibly special. Our teams often work behind the scenes, so to receive the Chief Executive’s Award for something so impactful means a great deal.
 
“When we interviewed the first group of care leavers, their enthusiasm was overwhelming. For many, working in the NHS was a lifelong dream, and hearing that this opportunity was the biggest moment in their lives so far was deeply humbling. Some didn’t even have the bus fare to attend the interviews, yet they arrived smartly dressed and eager to contribute.
 
“This has been a hugely successful pilot, and we’re hoping to expand the programme in future. It’s shown us just how much untapped talent and dedication exists, and how vital it is that we remove barriers and create opportunities.”