There was a real buzz at an event this week where colleagues joined together to share ideas about our new apprentice strategy.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was a film showing our apprentices in a starring role in the introductory film.
The idea was to promote more awareness about apprentice roles and around 40 colleagues attended. At the start they were asked to rate how much they knew about apprenticeships. Only 13 colleagues classed themselves as confident, with 24 saying they were less so. By the end every single person said they felt more confident in their knowledge!
Our Director of Workforce, Suzanne Dunkley said: "It’s been fabulous today and we’ve created some exciting plans which will all be incorporated in the new strategy.
“It’s been so inspiring that we can gather any group of CHFT colleagues together knowing they’ll be enthusiastic about continuous improvement, patient care and looking after each other as colleagues and friends.
“I’m looking forward to launching the strategy in the autumn with all the ideas put forward today”.
The event - labelled a Hot House event – organised by the Workforce and OD team - was the first of a reformed workforce committee approach. The plan is to bring people of all levels at CHFT together quarterly looking at various topics such as learning and development, health and wellbeing and more during the year.
More apprentice facts you might not know:
- 111 new employees joined CHFT in 2017/18 as an apprentice.
- Existing staff completing an apprenticeship for career progression retain their pay, terms and conditions throughout. In some cases, they may even be paid more.
- The apprenticeship levy DOESN’T fund salary or backfill costs, but WILL fund the full amount (in most cases) of the training fees for the apprenticeship.
- At CHFT we recruit 16 year olds into non-clinical posts but for clinical roles, individuals need to be aged 18 or over.
- 20% of time must be spent in off the job training, though this does not always mean day release to College or University every week.
In preparation for the strategy launch, we've filmed 12 current and former apprentices in total and we'll be using them all to promote our fab apprentice scheme later in the year. You've already seen some, here are the others who will feature at a later date. Huge thanks to them all:
- Nick Stock, Therapy Asst, CRH
- Mary Kate Heaton, HCA Ante Natal Clinic HRI
- Sarah Kenningley, HCA Ortho OPD (though Sarah started her nursing associate role this week)
- Sobia Qamar-Taylor, Medical Laboratory Asst Pathology HRI
- Lauren MacNamara, Asst Theatre Practitioner , Theatres HRI
- Holly Smith, Therapy Asst, HRI
- Keenan Simpson, Admin Asst (THIS), HRI