Trust’s vocational and young workforce lead named NHS Inclusivity Leader of the Year

Gail Richards, Northern Devon Healthcare Trust’s vocational and young workforce lead has been named NHS Inclusivity Leader of the Year by the South West Leadership Academy. This is in recognition of her work in engaging and developing learning disability interns across the Trust.

Gail has been a key influence in establishing and delivering a number of workforce programmes that support young and less advantaged people, many of whom would not normally consider a career in health or social care. Many of these people have gone on to fulfilling careers within the Trust.

Darryn Allcorn, Director of Workforce Development said, “We are tremendously proud of Gail. This is a superb achievement and worthy recognition of her passion for inclusivity in the workplace. Gail is a motivational leader who understands the challenges of the local community. She has been inspirational in leading programmes that have supported the development of young people, particularly those with learning disabilities.”

Gail works with education providers and external groups to provide opportunities for young people across a wide area within the Trust. Her successes include:

• Establishing Project SEARCH at the Trust. This is a supported internship programme that gives 18 to 24-year-old students with learning disabilities the chance to try a wide variety of job roles in a hospital setting. The aim is to increase employability while building confidence, developing life skills and encouraging independence. Over 85% of the Trust’s interns go on to secure employment.

• Building a strong apprenticeship scheme which recruits over 100 apprentices annually across all areas of the Trust

• Working with Petroc College of Further and Higher Education to set up the Care Academy which gives health and social care learners a prestigious six-month work placement at North Devon District Hospital

• Working with the community in areas of deprivation, where higher than average numbers of individuals are not in education or employment. Gail has built links with potential employees through local networks and developed programmes that have helped reverse trends and increase inclusivity

• Setting up work experience programmes for Year 10 students and work shadowing projects

Darryn Allcorn said, “The Trust is committed to developing close working relationships with schools and colleges, supporting careers and pathways at all levels. Thanks to the remarkable work of Gail and the team, we have seen increased numbers of young people choosing careers in health or social care. This has the benefit of increasing recruitment of higher-skilled staff, not just within the Trust but also within the wider healthcare community, which can only be a good thing for patient care.”