Scheme will bring new blood into NHS
A pioneering scheme to breathe fresh life into the region's NHS workforce has been launched. The NHS Apprenticeships project will see people from the Yarmouth area signing up to a wide range of courses to address a looming skills gap in the health service and to create jobs.
A pioneering scheme to breathe fresh life into the region's NHS workforce has been launched.
The NHS Apprenticeships project will see people from the Yarmouth area signing up to a wide range of courses to address a looming skills gap in the health service and to create jobs.
Yesterday's launch at Yarmouth College was the first stage of a strategic health plan to create at least 500 apprenticeship posts across the east of England. Yarmouth College will offer the apprentice courses - covering skills including business administration, catering, portering, hospitality and plumbing - to high school pupils, school-leavers, college students and NHS staff.
The work-based apprenticeships last up to two years and have been set up because the NHS is facing a skills gap as its workforce starts to age. The average age of staff at NHS Yarmouth and Waveney is 47.
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The launch is also part of a government plan to create jobs during the economic downturn.
All apprentices will be paid an NHS salary that is higher than normal apprenticeships, and they will be guaranteed jobs at the James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston, and with NHS Yarmouth and Waveney.
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Diane Palmer, Yarmouth College's director of development, said: “It is about responding to employers' needs as many of them have an ageing staff and are facing a skills gap. They have employees in their 50s and are looking to replace them, so the apprenticeships will help bring in fresh blood.”
The apprenticeships are funded by the Learning and Skills Council and NHS East of England.
David Edwards, chairman of NHS Yarmouth and Waveney and a former apprentice, said: “My own exper-ience has shown me what an excellent stepping stone an apprenticeship can be to a long and fulfilling career. Apprentices will be given a huge amount of support as they complete their training and will gain valuable experience in the world of work by earning as they learn.”
All people applying for an apprenticeship will have to pass the normal NHS recruitment process before they can go on to study
NVQ 2 or advanced NVQ 3 courses.
Other apprenticeships include school nursing and healthcare assistant roles, laundry work and public health and well-being posts.
For more information on the NHS apprenticeships scheme email
gyw-pct.apprenticeships@nhs.net
