



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"