NCIC bids new recruitment strategy for healthcare support workers
LONDON, ENGLAND — North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) NHS Foundation Trust has implemented a new recruitment approach over the past 18 months in response to the demand for health care support workers (HCSW).
To ensure that prospects’ values align with the institution’s mission and vision, the recruitment process was managed in-house.
Advertisements and promotional materials were released on social media and local media stations, where emphasis was placed on the role being values-based rather than the focus being on prior experience and skills.
During recruitment day, applicants attended informal discussions about the roles available. These are designed to make the candidates comfortable and prepare them for the interview.
Most of the interviewers do not have copies of the candidates’ application forms to help remove bias. Instead, the panel listens carefully to the candidates’ answers to learn more about their values.
This new approach has led to an effective series of volume recruitment days that continue to gain popularity across the trust. In 2023 alone, NCIC appointed 344 healthcare support workers across five recruitment events.
Additionally, it filled in vacancies via its Step in Work scheme, which promotes skills development and offers coaching to potential staff.
Thirty-four candidates from the recruitment events have been enrolled in the program and have attained a workforce bank position upon completion.
The institution now has a healthy labor force bank, which relieves over 100 shift hours. This covers sickness, annual leave, and any other unexpected gaps in the workforce or patient surges.
