MORE than 40 people have been helped into employment after enrolling on a work experience programme at north Cumbria's hospitals.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trusts’ Step into Work scheme is designed to assist the unemployed into a career in health care, by providing first-hand NHS work experience.

Placements are provided at both the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle and Whitehaven's West Cumberland Hospital.

To date, the trust has run seven cohorts of the programme and has enabled more than 40 people to gain employment within the organisation.

Among them is Stacey Harper, of Carlisle, who was part of the latest cohort.

The 28-year-old completed her placement on Beech D ward at Cumberland Infirmary and has since been successful in joining the bank as a health care assistant.

"I have really enjoyed the programme, it has helped me to find myself again as a person. I had lost my confidence and this programme has helped me to get that back," she said.

"I have met new people who I share the same interests with and I have learnt so much about health care, patients and their differing needs and how to care for them."

James Manser, the trust's learning and development facilitator, said the six-week programme gives people a foot in the door and an opportunity to learn and develop.

"Stacey proved to be a really valuable team member and patients loved her, some of the positive compliments we received about her are just brilliant and I think she will go on to have a very successful career in NHS.

"It is a testament to Stacey and the other participants who jumped straight in to work and learn more during the covid-19 pandemic. It gave them added motivation to help patients during these testing times and to be a part of something great and rewarding," he said.

Stacey is now aiming to complete her training with the trust as a health care assistant and is looking forward to gaining experience on a range of wards.

She added: “My advice to other people is, if you are empathetic, enjoy caring for other people, then get into health care - this programme is a great route in. It is hard work but it is so rewarding.”

The six-week programme, includes three weeks of training, such as team building and interview preparation, and three weeks of placements in the hospital.

The recruits are all supported to prepare for the workplace and work towards their care certificate - an agreed set of standards that sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of specific job roles in health and social care.