5th June 2025
The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) is opening new doors into NHS careers for local people.
Through a fresh approach to recruitment, the Trust is supporting more individuals across Greater Manchester to take their first steps into healthcare roles, regardless of previous work experience.
In the past, recruitment into key roles such as health care support workers (HCSW) sought applicants with strong work experience, either in the NHS, primary care or within nursing homes. This often meant that job applicants with lived experience, transferable skills, and a genuine passion for helping others were overlooked from the process.
To address this, the NCA widening participation team worked with local partners, including the Local Authority to introduce regular community recruitment events to reach local people who are new to healthcare, but show strong potential to succeed in a variety of care-based roles.
Since launching these events, the Trust has engaged with over 450 local residents. Of these, 184 have secured employment or joined a pre-employment programme to help build the skills and confidence needed for a healthcare career. Many have gone on to become healthcare assistants, porters, and domestic staff - all of which are vital roles within the NHS.
Azeez, health care support worker, recently celebrated his one-year anniversary with the NCA and reflected on his journey into the organisation:
“I had plans to be a veterinarian, but four months in a hospital bed profoundly changed my perspective. Experiencing healthcare firsthand gave me a deep insight into the care system and inspired me to care for others."
"I was fortunate to secure employment via an event in April 2024, and this journey has since opened so many doors for me. To the entire team at Salford Royal, the Northern Care Alliance, and the NHS - thank you for giving me a second chance, and the platform to give back with dignity, compassion, and respect. I care because I have been cared for."
Rohema Khan, head of people development at the NCA, said: "By reaching out through our community events and looking beyond the traditional healthcare background, we're finding people with real stories, real passion, and a genuine drive to care. This is making our teams stronger, more diverse, and committed to a life-long NHS career."
These events continue to take place across our communities, offering local people the opportunity to explore current vacancies, register for interviews, and access pre-employment training. For more information, visit: Pre-employment programmes :: Northern Care Alliance Careers
