As with all public sector organisations, the equality and diversity of our workforce and services is at the heart of the NHS strategy, and there are many examples about how we are delivering this.

  Currently the phlebotomy team is working and HR and PATH Yorkshire to ensure their workforce reflects their   patients and also to open up NHS careers to black and minority ethnic (BME) groups.

  Ian Legg, Haematology Service Manager, realised that the make up of his workforce was impacting on their ability to deliver services to our diverse communities and asked HR how he could address this problem. Employability project manager, Mohammed Rawat, suggested that the PATH project could be an ideal solution and it has proved to be very successful for all parties.

  A discussion with PATH gave them an understanding of NHS issues and initiated a recruitment process, which included community awareness events and local promotion and is within the Race Relations Act.

  In June following the recruitment process, Nighat Noreen and Jaspreet Ojla started their 12 month placements, at Dewsbury and Pinderfields respectively. During the placements we provide a training allowance and also developmental support. PATH Yorkshire also give ongoing support and mentoring to address any difficulties and ensure that at the end of the placements the individuals have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to obtain a substantive position, hopefully within the NHS.

  As a result of the placement one of the individuals has successfully got a full time substantive post with another Trust, whilst at Dewsbury, Nighat is enjoying her placement.

  “Before I started this placement I had been volunteering at Dewsbury and enjoying working in a hospital environment and so this seemed an ideal opportunity. I get a real sense of satisfaction from being able to help patients, especially in terms of language, as I know it means a lot to them to have someone that they can relate to and who can relate to them” said Nighat.

  Ian said: “The Path project has worked really well for us. We have had two very good individuals with us on placements who are able to relate to the needs of our patients, I wouldn’t hesitate to use the scheme again to address diversity issues within my workforce and would encourage another managers who are experiencing similar issues to also consider it.”

  PATH Yorkshire is a skills development agency which addresses the under-representation of BME groups to create a diverse and representative workforce. They are involved with other public sector organisations but we are one of the few NHS trusts currently working with them. Any other departments who would be interested in working with PATH to increase the diversity of their workforce should contact Sonia Hines Placement Development Officer on 0113 2624 600 or visit  http://www.pathyorkshire.org.uk for more information.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats have a diverse mix of players on the field, and their grounds lie close to a large Asian community, however their workforce still experience a BME under-representation. Mark Winder, Learning Zone Manager oversees their PATH Traineeship, "The whole process has been beneficial for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. We have had a positive role in showing the community that we are an equal opportunities employer" Chief Executive, Steve Ferres endorses their partnership with PATH. " Wakefield Wildcats have benefited from employing a PATH Trainee, we are an equal opportunities employer and would encourage anyone to use PATH to increase opportunities for ethnic minorities"