A programme devised to access the skills of former military personnel to meet skills shortages within the NHS, is set to receive an award of recognition from the Officers’ Association (OA).
The Step into Health recruitment programme connects employers within the NHS to the pool of talent available from within the veteran Armed Forces community.
With over 350 plus career opportunities available, half of which are non clinical, Step into Health aims to capitalise on the training, leadership and personal qualities of former Service personnel to fill this roles. The programme uses work placements, insight days, webinars and career path workshops to enable veterans to match their skills sets with the job opportunities available.
“Without this scheme in place, I would never have known how to navigate my way into the NHS. Traditionally, the NHS doesn’t always understand the veteran’s transferable qualities, and the veteran then lacks direction and understanding on where to pitch themselves. The Step into Health scheme has provided the opportunity to find a role with a sense of purpose and meaning, and now as a director, the ability to dip into highly skilled talent pool. In such an uncertain and pressurised environment, the resilience, work ethic and values driven approach needed is found in every Service leaver,” said Palmer Winstanley, who served in the Armed Forces for nine years as a captain in the Rifles. He is now divisional director at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust.
