2019 is certainly off to a positive start for the staff at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust (TSDFT).
The Trust have celebrated being accredited as Gold standard for the third consecutive year for delivering high quality work experience.
TSDFT is one of just six trusts across the country to be awarded with Gold Standard award and is the only trust in Devon and Cornwall to pick up the achievement.
Fair Train, the organisation that accredited the trust, was created in 2009 to address the lack of take up for apprenticeships in the community and voluntary sector.
Promoting apprenticeships
Over the past 9 years Fair Train has promoted apprenticeships to a point whereby now the Kite mark is a well known and respected seal within the industry.
The national accreditation provides external quality assurance and recognition of the high quality experience and employability programmes provided in the Trust.
An awards celebration was held and attended by Sir Richard Ibbotson (TSDFT Chairman), Mark Wilson (Health Education England), Governors, local Education Providers, Volunteers and Trust staff.
The honour of presenting the award to Suzy Hubbard (TSDFT Apprenticeships and Widening Participation Manager) fell to Councillor Parrot (Executive Lead for Adults in Torbay).
Speaking at the event Sir Richard Ibbotson said:
I was very proud to attend the recent celebration event for being awarded GOLD level reaccreditation (for the third consecutive time) from Fair Train. This is affirmation that the high quality work-based learning throughout the Trust, has been nationally recognised and is therefore an inspiration to others, flying the flag for NHS in the South West.
As the largest employer in the area, the Trust uses the resources that it has available so that the whole community of Torbay can benefit.
By using the local resources available the programme also ensures that no one is excluded, discriminated against or left behind.
It is the goal of the trust to be a fully inclusive organisation, where diversity is valued, respected and built upon.
As a result of this the Trust has developed the Employability Hub which assists in the development of a local labour market which is equipped with the skills that employers need.
Kevin Foster, MP for Torbay commented:
“It is great to hear our local NHS Trust has received the Gold Standard for Work Experience for the 3rd year running. There is a vast range of careers within our local NHS awaiting future job seekers. A good work experience can not only give people a taste of what they can expect, but also inspire them to see where their future could lie.”
If you’re looking for work experience and you’re in full time education you can speak to your school/college about work placements at the Trust.
Lastly if you’re an adult, work experience placements are available on a adhoc basis and you can apply by visiting the Trust’s website.
