Widening Participation is a strategic framework for the development of the healthcare support workforce, it has been developed by Health Education England, supported by the national Social Partnership Forum.
Central to the philosophy of Widening Participation is partnership working at all levels. By working together, we can ensure that the healthcare support workforce receives the investment and development it needs, be highly skilled and flexible, and able to meet the future healthcare challenges.
The Widening Participation strategy within Mersey Care has programmes with foundations in opening more doors to employment and training in the NHS. Attracting people with the right values and ability to do an excellent job and gaining the benefits of a diverse and experience workforce.
Within Mersey Care we run a number of programmes to integrate Widening Participation within our day to day operation of the Trust. Providing opportunities for individuals to understand what we do as a trust, and can offer so much more to show that we are more than just healthcare and we can offer so much more to work-based placements than just photocopying.
The aim of the Public Sector Trainee Programme is to provide 16 to 24 year olds, who are seeking work or seeking a career change with an opportunity to undertake a period of work experience and training, to give them the best opportunity of entering an apprenticeship or employment. Further information can be found here
Supported internships are structured study programmes based primarily at an employer. They are intended to enable young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to achieve sustainable, paid employment by equipping them with the skills they need for work through learning in the workplace. Internships normally last for a year and include unpaid work placements of at least six months. Wherever possible, they support the young person to move into paid employment at the end of the programme. Students complete a personalised study programme which includes the chance to study for relevant substantial qualifications if suitable, and English and maths to an appropriate level with their education provider. Further information can be found here
A pathway that has been developed to prepare people who are looking for a career change or looking to enhance their job opportunities through meaningful work experience. Aimed at anyone from the age 16 upwards, this is a great opportunity for the trust to open up doors to find individuals with the right skills and drive to work in the Healthcare sector who may otherwise not apply for NHS vacancies. Further information can be found here
EDIT : Placement opportunity form (Service or Devision offering placements)
T levels: what they are
T Levels are new courses which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to 3 A levels. These 2-year courses, which launched September 2020, have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training or study.
T Levels offer students a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of at least 315 hours (approximately 45 days).
In time, students will be able to take a T Level in the following subject areas: Introduction of T Levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk
For more information here
The Programme will offer young people, studying Health and Social Care, the opportunity to take their first steps towards becoming qualified nurses and healthcare practitioners.
The placements will allow the students to gain valuable hands-on experience with patients, providing exposure to a range of different areas and roles within the NHS. Further information here
A clinical attachment is a voluntary Clinical position designed to give an overview of medical processes and systems in the UK, specifically in the NHS, by observing a consultant in a relevant speciality at work. Further information can be found here
For further information on any of our talent for care programmes please contact TalentforCare@merseycare.nhs.uk