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South Tyneside pilot programme just the tonic

A pioneering pilot programme has proved just the tonic for promoting professionalism in teenagers starting careers in the NHS in South Tyneside.

The first group has completed the newly-created, three week skills and work awareness course, which tackles issues such as absenteeism, timekeeping and motivation.

Partners in the pilot are South Tyneside College, Training in Care and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust.

The scheme, taught at the college by lecturers and created by South Tyneside training provider Training in Care, aims to rid youngsters of adolescent schoolroom habits and instil adult attitudes and a hard working nine-to-five mentality.

Health bosses were concerned that some school-leavers and others joining them up to the age of 18 did not always show the maturity needed to adapt to the world of work. They have been impressed with the work ethic of all nine new apprentices who underwent the scheme before winning their places.

The partnership course has proved so successful that it will be run for the Trust later this year.

And such is its potential that Training In Care believe it may become a benchmark for business sectors outside of the health service looking for employees with established professional skills.

Julie Sloanes, work based learning manager at South Tyneside College, said: “The Trust is delighted with the positive attitude shown by the apprentices in terms of their punctuality, attendance and overall attitude. They have settled in very well.

“This pilot has been very successful for the Trust, the College and Training in Care, so much so that it will be run again.

“The programme has given learners a portfolio of skills evidence which are easily transferable and many have gone on to apprenticeships with the NHS.”

Carole Plowman, learning and development manager with South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, added: “As a major employer in South Tyneside, we have a responsibility to give young people the best opportunity to establish their careers through the right support.

“Many young people come straight to us from school and quickly have to learn that there are certain standards of behaviour that must be met.

“We identified this opportunity to prepare and support them to make this transition from school into work.

“It is obvious to us that our latest apprentices have been very well prepared through this course. We are very happy with its results.”

And Dr Angela Brown, chief executive of Training In Care, based at Boldon Business Park, said: “We have created a great partnership with the college for the benefit of the local NHS.

“South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust told us that lots of young people want to work within it but they didn’t always have the basic work skills.

“This pilot can be adapted for other sectors and for other organisations for workforce development.

“We invested a lot of time in designing the programme and are delighted it has been so successful.”

Training in Care and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust built the programme after examining the roles of apprentices within the health service and elements of team building.

The college then implemented it through classroom-based learning and role play, as well as research tasks, mock interviews and presentations.

NHS representatives also gave a talk about job roles.

In all, 22 teenagers took and passed the Skills Funding Agency-funded and Sector Skills Council-endorsed course at South Tyneside College’s Westoe campus in South Shields.

Each gained a level 1 health and social care qualification, with nine being offered apprenticeships in administration and health care at South Tyneside District Hospital in South Shields.

Others have gone into employment elsewhere in the NHS or in the private sector, and some have started college or university courses.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Graham Vincent .