As an Anchor institution, the NHS has a responsibility to engage in supporting the local community with regards to refugees that have arrived from a number of difficult environments. We also want to address the challenges we face regarding the outstanding numbers of staffing vacancies. The NW London Refugee Employment Programme is a pioneer programme that was created to explore opportunities for the NHS and partner organisations to engage with the large number of ‘in country’ refugees from various countries, who are actively seeking employment within the NHS.
In addition we support Asylum Seekers and refugees who wish to become volunteers in the NHS to access those opportunities. We have been successful in finding volunteer opportunities in the NHS for many asylum seekers and jobs (clinical and non-clinical) for refugees many of whom have lived in the country for a number years.
Some of the noticeable benefits of this programme have been to reduce health inequalities, reducing social isolation, tapping into a diversity of skills, talents and experiences, increased collaborative working within the public and the 3rd Sector and promoting integration for new comers in North West London.
- To create a rapid recruitment pathway for appropriately qualified and documented refugees to find employment and volunteering opportunities in the NHS and partners
- To continuously build relationships with partners to facilitate the flow of referrals and information about candidates
- To provide ‘pastoral care’ to newly recruited staff to ensure retention and enable a fulfilling career path for them
For Candidates/ Refugees
- Support to access jobs in the NHS and other programme partners
- Support to access volunteering opportunities in the NHS for asylum seekers and refugees
- Access to training, employability support (CVs, Interview skills and NHS application forms
- Pastoral care for successful candidates
For Partner Organisations
- Cross referrals for support of employment related services.
- Participation in joint events to support refugees and asylum seekers.
- Information sharing
- Reporting structures and collaboration
Bite Sized Sessions
1. How to apply for NHS jobs (Making strong applications)
2. Career progression –(Awareness progression routes in the NHS)
3. Pastoral Care (Engage with OD and Education departments NHS Trusts in NWL to support this).
Sessions will be delivered virtually (online) –throughout autumn and winter, please visit back later for more information or email us at wlm-tr.nwl.volunteers@nhs.net to find out more.
For more information please contact Anthony Sembatya, Project Manager, Refugee Recruitment NW London anthony.sembatya@westlondon.nhs.uk.