Cadet Nurse Training Scheme
In a partnership formed between Health & Social Services (H&SS) and Economic Development a new course designed for school leavers wishing to pursue a career in Health has been created.
Entitled: The Cadet Nurse Scheme - it follows discussions between the TEP (Training and Employment Partnership) and H&SS and was conceived in response to two main problems facing Jersey - the lack of career opportunities for local 16-19 year olds and the difficulties facing H&SS in recruiting qualified nurses. Added to this is the aging population of the Health workforce, both locally and nationally.
The initiative began with the project to bring Nurse training back to the Island. This was achieved in partnership with the Open University and Southampton University in 2004 and the first cohort of student nurses will qualify in 2008. The project focussed on local HCA (Health Care Assistants) being able to access this training by gaining NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) level 3 in Care as an alternative to GCSEs.
Following the success of this initiative, H&SS Education Centre were bombarded with enquiries about accessing this training, particularly from 14-16year olds who were looking at a career in Health. The project is only open to those who currently work for H&SS and this sowed the seed for the introduction of a Cadet Nurse Scheme.
The training programme would recruit 15 learners, run over two years and be delivered at the Harvey Besterman Education Centre, based in the General Hospital, by the H&SS NVQ Centre.
Stuart Syvret, Minister of Health and Social Services said: “Any initiative which gives young people new and sustainable career opportunities - with plenty of scope for promotion and advancement in future years - simply had to be good for Jersey”
Mike Pollard, Chief Executive of Health and Social Services added: “We are led to believe that such an initiative will be so hugely popular that Health and Social Services is now deciding how we will handle the anticipated deluge of enquiries and completed application forms from enthusiastic and well-motivated youngsters”
Senator Philip Ozouf, Minister for Economic Development said “The benefits of this proposal are clearly apparent. Recruitment of qualified staff from the UK is a costly process. This initiative enables us to address recruitment problems and that of the increasing age of the Island’s workforce. The savings in future years will fund the investment in these young people who are required to deliver such a core service to us all.
The centre has a record of excellence in delivering health training schemes therefore it is logical step to empower them to forward such an excellent initiative”
The Head of Vocational Training said “This proposal meets many of the States Strategic aims - furthermore learners will be guaranteed employment at the end of the training programme whether they step off as specialist HCAs or continue the full programme and become Registered Nurses. Whichever option is chosen, there is guaranteed employment, sustainability of Island workforce and lifelong learning with career prospects. “
