Sandwell College is launching a brand-new hospital programme for people ambitious to work in the healthcare sector and transform their career.
Working collaboratively, Sandwell Council, the Department for Work and Pensions and Sandwell College have developed the SWAP (Sector-based Work Academy Programme) with the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust to ensure new applicants gain the skills required to become Ward Service Officers.
The three-week training course starts on June 19 and is free to unemployed residents over the age of 19, living in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area. The SWAP aims to provide an alternative path to an NHS profession.
Successful participants will work closely with nursing staff to carry out food service duties, including reading and understanding patient menus, special diets, catering print outs and serving meals to patients. They will also be trained in customer service, health & safety, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), communication skills and infection control awareness.
Simon Griffiths, Executive Director of Strategy and Development at Sandwell College, said: “We are delighted to be working in a close delivery partnership with the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust and to play a critical role in ensuring local residents can access jobs and careers with such an important and well recognised employer.
“Sector-based work academy programmes are just one of the many ways Sandwell College helps the adults in our local communities to gain employment, learning new skills and achieve qualifications. It is important that as Sandwell’s college, we strengthen a local workforce and encourage more businesses to think about the benefits of working with, and training up, people from our diverse communities.”
Meagan Fernandes, Deputy Chief People Officer for Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, said “Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust are pleased to be working with Sandwell College, DWP and Sandwell Council on this programme as we work together to support our local communities in gaining access to education through skills development and meaningful employment opportunities with us as we prepare to open our new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.”
Anyone interested can come along to enrol at the Learning Works, Smethwick (B66 3TA), on Tuesday June 13 from 9:30am – 1:30pm.
Click here to register.
