Trust teams up with college to support workforce development

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust has partnered with Derby College Group to support its administration and clerical workforce development plans.

Under the new collaboration, the college has launched a short course for adults wanting to apply for administration and clerical roles at the trust.

The three-week programme will start on Monday 25 April, with modules including an introduction into the NHS, on-site work experience placements and accredited qualifications in customer service and digital skills.

Everyone who completes the course will be guaranteed an interview for an administration role at the trust.

Moving forward, the two organisations will be working together to ensure Derby College Group students are prepared for administration and clerical roles at the end of their study programmes with the skills, knowledge and support to enable them to apply for full-time roles at the trust and wider NHS.

Full-time students will have the opportunity to complete the short course after they complete their study programmes.

Carol Dixon, the college’s director of employer partnerships, said: “Derby College Group has worked with the trust for more than 20 years, including developing and delivering a wide range of training programmes for their staff.

“Hundreds of our health and social care students have also benefited from work placements at the trust over the years.

“This new collaboration takes our working relationship to the next level with a senior member of their team working to co-design and co-deliver our curriculum to support both our full-time students and adult learners into vital roles within the NHS.

“Our goal is to support the NHS’s recruitment goals and to ensure that our students have the knowledge, skills, experience and behaviours to successfully transition into full time roles.”

Roger McBroom, head of patient access and administration at the trust, said: “With some 700 entry level administration and clerical posts across our organisation and a turnover of about 40 staff per quarter, it became obvious that we had to find a new, more efficient approach to securing and training our future administrators and managers. This tie up with Derby College Group should go a long way to achieving this.

“I have been hugely impressed by the welcome and support provided by our Derby College Group colleagues as well as the quality of students who have already shown an interest in a future career in the NHS.”

For more information about the three-week pre-recruitment course starting on Monday 25 April, visit https://www.derby-college.ac.uk/course/pre-recruitment-training-for-support-job-roles-within-the-nhs/.