Decade milestone for NHS course

NHS Lanarkshire and Cumbernauld College have worked together to deliver the clinical support course, which is run in partnership with Skills Development Scotland, and since its launch 10 years ago, 40 courses have run training more than 600 people.

The eight-week course involves training with college lecturers and NHS staff, and finishes with a four-week placement in an NHS Lanarkshire hospital.

Once the course is completed the participant has the opportunity to join NHS Lanarkshire’s staff bank, as a clinical support worker.

Liz Grant, learning assistant at Cumbernauld College, has jointly run the course since it began.

She said: “This course has a real job focus – it’s one of very few that can guarantee a job at the end. The course is hugely popular, we run three a year and there is always a waiting list of people eager to complete the programme.

“Every year it has just gone from strength to strength and has gained a very solid reputation.

She added: “Over the last 10 years we have run 40 courses and trained more than 600 people. About 88 per cent have gone on to secure full-time employment, which is just brilliant.”

Some of those participants on the first course run 10 years ago are still employed in NHS Lanarkshire.

Many have gone on to undertake other training including several who have trained as registered nurses and one has trained as a midwife.

The course has intakes in February, May and September and involves training on employability training interview skills, IOSH managing safely qualification and clinical skills training, tissue viability, infection control and CPR.

The course is open to those who have been unemployed for six months and live in Lanarkshire.