Healthcare Support Workers in Mental Health

A successful partnership has been developed between Jobcentre Plus (JCP), Bradford District Care Trust (BDCT) and Shipley College in order to support the recruitment of Healthcare Support Workers in Mental Health throughout Bradford and Airedale. A number of meetings took place between the three Partners to discuss the job requirements, skills and training and the decision was made to use the JCP sector based work academy (sbwa) route in order to fill these job roles.The sector-based work academy (sbwa) lasts up to six weeks and has three key components: Pre-Employment Training relevant to the Job Role which provides a qualification in Introduction to Health and Social Care, First Aid, Food Safety and Employability Skills. A Work Experience placement – this includes a visit to the employer and meeting the current staff who undertake the role.A guaranteed job interview The key feature of the sbwa is that it offers a flexible approach and can be adapted to meet the needs of the Trust. Participants remain on benefit throughout, and JCP pay travel and childcare whilst they are taking part in the academy.  There is no direct cost to BDCT for the sbwa as the costs are covered by government funding. The eligibility consists of unemployed people on Jobseekers Allowance/Employment Support Allowance (Work Related Activity Group only), who are aged 19 and over and are not already qualified in Health and Social Care. Applicants are referred to an Assessment Event where all three Partners describe their roles in the process, the Job Roles and the benefits of the academy.