Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW)’s Project Choice team have been working in partnership to support young people gain valuable work experience.
The team have worked alongside the Newcastle Psychiatric Liaison Team, based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, to offer one of their students a two-week work placement.
Project Choice works with young adults with a learning disability, disability, mental health issue or learning difficulties or autism to gain work experience and improve their employability and independence.
Now in its third year at CNTW and NTW Solutions, the programme provides internships within healthcare settings and other NHS partner organisations helping to get people ready for the working world. Support is tailored to each individual with employment options matched to a person’s skills.
Jordan has been working in the admin team, supported by Admin Manager Jacqueline Bryant.
Gayl Keddie, Project Choice Area Manager, said: “We know at the moment that areas across the Trust have been affected by many difficulties, including staffing challenges. After speaking with Jacqueline regarding placement opportunities, she creatively took it upon herself to develop a short-term job description to enable Jordan to work within the team for a two-week period.
“This enabled him to gain valuable administration experience in the NHS environment, matching with his long term goals of working in an admin office. This placement is much more than just a short-term experience, Jordan was also able to attend formal RiO Database Training which has boosted his skills and confidence.”
Jordan supported the team with administrative tasks including creating valuable patient information packs and putting into practice his training on RiO Patient Information System.
Admin Manager Jacqueline Bryant said: “It has been a great pleasure having Jordan with us on placement. He is an amazing young man and turned up at work early every day with tonnes of enthusiasm. We gave him a variety of tasks to undertake – some he did with great ease and for times he was struggling he always let us know so we could provide further support. He never gave up.”
Working relationships with other teams are essential to Project Choice as they create opportunities to young people in need of valuable workplace experience.
Of his placement, Jordan said: “I just want to say I am fully grateful for being accepted to carry out a placement at the RVI. Everyone around me – family, friends, and relatives – are all proud of my work.”
Jordan also thanked Admin Team Lead Yasmin Asghar for her help during the placement.
Placements are supported across the whole Trust and any department is welcome to get in touch with the Project Choice team to enable students to gain positive workplace experiences.