Care2Career Project- NHS Universal Families
Throughout 2024-25, Carefree has hosted The NHS Care 2 Career Project to promote opportunities for young people to understand how to access employment within the NHS.
The NHS Universal Family
As one of the largest employers in Europe, the NHS plays a crucial role in setting an example and demonstrating a commitment to diversity, inclusion and social responsibility. In recognition of this responsibility, NHS England made a bold commitment during National Care Leavers Week 2022 to sign up to the Care Leaver Covenant and officially launched the NHS Universal Family Programme in the following January.
The Care 2 Career Project launched in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in 2024, with the aim to help develop the level of support available to care leavers in the NHS and social care, from education to employment. The Project’s goal is to increase the numbers of care experienced young people who are working in the NHS or health and social care environment.
The project has worked to build relationships between Carefree, Cornwall Council and the NHS Recruitment team and to also implement changes to the NHS TRAC recruitment system to enable young people to disclose their care experience and access support from recruiters and managers in the NHS.
What have we already done?
Linking up with Cornwall Air Ambulance: The Care 2 Career Project has supported the link up of Carefree and Cornwall Air Ambulance to provide opportunities for groups of young people to visit the Air Ambulance HQ. Young people who attended these sessions were able to tour the site, including the helicopter, They also met the crew and found out more about pathways into the various jobs available within this amazing charity.
NHS Job Fair: Carefree and Care 2 Career supported a number of young people to attend NHS Job Fair at Truro College. Young people interested in exploring a career in the health and social care sector were able to get see all of the different roles on offer, and find out about the pathways and support available into these roles.
NHS Universal Families Steering Group: The Care 2 Career Project has enabled the creation and implementation of a long term steering group to bring together professionals working with young people who may be interested in a career in the NHS and also professionals within the NHS who can support with this.
Internal Resources for the NHS: The Care 2 Career Project has supported the creation of management toolkit for the NHS, to support managers to understand what support a care experienced young person may need as they enter the workforce. This will include a film which outlines the benefits of treating care experience as a protected characteristic and what considerations should be made my line managers and supervisors. A huge part of this process has been lobbying for the national NHS recruitment system (TRAC) to have care experience included in their application process, so young people can identify themselves and be offered support. This should be live nationally at the end of March 2025.
Focus Area for the Project for 2025
In 2025, Carefree will deliver a series of activities and events for young people through the Care 2 Career Project and the Universal Families Steering group will bring together key parts of the system, to develop new support pathways in the recruitment process and develop the workforce.
Resources & Information
Apprenticeship Bursaries
If an apprentice is care experienced, they could be entitled to extra support during their apprenticeship. Young people beginning an apprenticeship on or after 1 August 2023, could be eligible for a £3,000 bursary. More information can be found at Skills for Health: https://haso.skillsforhealth.org.uk/news/care-experienced-apprenticeship-recruitment/
Useful Pages:
NHS Job Search: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/search
South West Health & Care Career Pathways: https://swhealthandcarecareers.co.uk/
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CFT) Recruitment: https://recruitment.cornwallft.nhs.uk
NHS South Western Ambulance Service (SWAS): https://www.swast.nhs.uk/get-involved
Proud to Care Cornwall Jobs: https://www.proudtocarecornwall.org.uk/
University of Plymouth Career Open Days: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/open-days
St Johns Ambulance Volunteering Film