A scheme to help local people find work at a Liverpool hospital is proving to be a major success.
Liverpool in Work and Alt Valley Community Trust have been supporting Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to recruit nursing assistants and fill temporary staffing roles.
The Hospital Trust worked with the two organisations to ensure that local communities and unemployed people could be engaged more effectively in the recruitment process.
Twenty people were invited for an interview and of the 17 who attended, 15 have been offered a position. Five are unemployed and eight live in the area near to the hospital
Unemployed people were given additional support during the application process, and support is also being arranged for those not shortlisted. Pre-employment training is also being organised for unemployed people to help them for future vacancies
What they say
Sue Green, Director of People and Corporate Affairs at Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have engaged successfully with Liverpool in Work and Alt Valley Community Trust in this process which has meant that local people have been recruited into nursing assistant posts and we look forward to continuing this relationship.”
Councillor Nick Small, assistant mayor and cabinet member for education, employment and skills, said: “We have worked alongside the Hospital Trust to engage people who may otherwise have not have considered applying for these posts. It is encouraging that we are able to help local people into work and will continue to offer help and support for when future vacancies become available.”
Norris Green Councillor Barry Kushner, said: “These job opportunities have come about as a result of the work Councillor Small and I have done in the last two years, reaching agreement with the hospital to target these jobs at local residents. We have brought in Liverpool In Work and Alt Valley Community Trust have been supporting Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to recruit nursing assistants and fill temporary staffing roles
“These jobs and the ongoing recruitment offers residents from Norris Green and neighbouring areas good jobs with excellent prospects. I have been campaigning against zero hours contracts and exploitative agency work. Aintree Hospital Trust’s decision can be followed by other hospitals in the city, and also shows the kind of quality jobs with decent terms and conditions that we want to see all employers offer our residents in the area.”
Gill Mason Principal of the college at Alt Valley Community Trust said; “We are delighted that this has been such a success and look forward to continue to work in partnership with Liverpool In Work and Aintree Hospital, to ensure that local unemployed residents gain rewarding careers through access to relevant pre-employment training and support.”
Michelle Chan, one of the people who has been recruited, said: “Liverpool in Work have been really great! Very friendly and helpful service, they have been in contact with me throughout about my interview and letting me know I was one of the successful candidates. Liverpool in Work have supported me and given me information to apply for some funding which will help me towards getting back into work. I am very excited to start my new job as a nursing assistant”.
And Margie Jamieson, another recruit said: “I would like to thank Liverpool in Work Services for helping obtain a job as a nursing assistant at Aintree Hospital, plus helping me return to work. The staff have been very welcoming and have guided me through the process of obtaining the vacancy which is something I’m very thankful for. I look forward to starting my new job very soon’.
Joy Jones obtained a post as a nursing assistant in May, having previously completed a NVQ Level 2 Preparing to work in Adult Social Care, via Liverpool In Work. She said: I’m loving every minute of my totally new career. I really enjoyed learning and developing my knowledge on the ADULT learning Course which with the in-put I had from my own previous experiences enabled me to have greater confidence to apply for the position.”
Pictured (l to r) Sue Green, Cllr Small, Michelle Chan, Margie Jamieson,Cllr Kushner, Emma Donaldson fromLiverpool in Work and Kate Gillon, Head of Resourcing, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
