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.

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