Ambitious NHS pilot scheme to help unemployed into work

An
initiative to help unemployed people find work in the NHS was announced today
by work and pensions minister Andrew Smith.

The
‘Ambition:Health’ pilot scheme will provide support and training to help the
unemployed into jobs in the NHS and will start in Merseyside in September 2004
and in South Yorkshire in the New Year.

The
programme has been developed by Jobcentre Plus and the National Employment
Panel, along with the NHS and the Learning and Skills Council.

The
scheme is being targeted at areas of high unemployment that also have NHS
skills shortages, and will offer in-work support to encourage career
progression.

"[The
scheme] is a carefully targeted, sector-based initiative that has already
helped around 2,000 people into sustainable jobs in construction, energy, IT
and retail," Smith said.

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"The
programme has also helped employers alleviate skills shortages and recruitment
difficulties in their sectors."

By Michael Millar