North East England and Cumbria

Best Practice

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Step into Work The Step into Work programme at North Cumbria Integrate Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) is aimed at those looking for a supported entry point into the NHS, and is made up of classroom based activities, Core Skills Framework eLearning and a clinical placement. The trust works closely with JCP to recruit candidates, but individuals can also self-refer.

Step into Work is designed to assist the unemployed into a career in health care. The six week programme, includes three weeks of training, such as team building and interview preparation, and three weeks of placements in the hospital. The recruits are all supported to prepare for the workplace and work towards their care certificate - an agreed set of standards that sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of specific job roles in health and social care. Bridge to the Bank The Bridge to the Bank programme is a three week pre-employment programme that was created by NCIC to help nurse cadets and health and social care students gain the required experience and training to work for the NHS as health care assistants.

The Bridge to the Bank programme is available for those aged 18 and over who are currently studying BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in HSC or CACHE Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social care. Placements are allocated at hospitals and community settings across the trust.

After three weeks training and a week’s worth of shadowing placement, the students are guaranteed an interview to join the Bank as Health Care Assistants. The trust now has a number of staff on apprenticeships who started via this route.

The Bridge to the Bank programme was shortlisted for the Healthcare Recruitment Award at the Health Business Awards 2021.

The six week programme, includes three weeks of training, such as team building and interview preparation, and three weeks of placements in the hospital.