THE Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals have recently funded placements to nine new young apprentices in health and social care who have begun working on the wards. This is in partnership with Bournemouth and Poole College.

The apprentices have been recruited to support the Trust’s workforce planning for the future. It also ensures the Trust secures additional Healthcare Assistant positions during the winter months when demand for hospitals services increases.

The Trust first welcomed a group of young apprentices in March 2010. The majority of the apprentices are health and social care students working on the wards. The Trust, however, also has business administration apprentices who work within the Training and Occupational Health Departments.

These apprentices are beginning to qualify as apprentices in health and social care and the Trust is delighted with the success of the scheme. Four of the current health and social care apprentices have successfully secured employment with the Trust as Health Care Assistants over the winter period.

The business administration apprentices have also been working hard. For example, one apprentice recently managed a project to raise awareness of dyslexia in the work place. They designed an information stand and spoke to staff, visitors and patients about their own dyslexia or how to support colleagues or family members who have dyslexia.

The Trust also has 12 young people working at the hospitals as part of the government’s ‘Future Jobs Fund’ scheme. This involves people aged 18-24 having the opportunity to work at the Trust for 25 hours a week, in partnership with Bournemouth Council and the Prince’s Trust. These young people work within a number of areas of the Trust including portering and security, housekeeping, health records and human resources. If the candidates prove successful and are interested in progressing, it is hoped there would be scope for them to develop and undertake apprenticeships at the Trust in the future.

The Trust continuously supports and encourages staff development and has a number of staff undertaking apprenticeships in business administration, customer care and support service. The largest staff group to be involved is housekeeping with 12 employees currently carrying out apprenticeships and an additional 15 starting in January.

Jan Ryan, Training Manager at the Trust, commented: “The Trust is very committed to helping local young people get in to work during this difficult time where experience in the workplace is priceless.

“The apprenticeships are a fantastic scheme which we are pleased to be able to offer – they are an excellent opportunity for young people to earn a wage while gaining practical hands-on experience and continuing to learn and achieve nationally recognised qualifications at the same time.“