Advice on careers in healthcare available at local Jobcentre Plus

February 21^st, 2003

Staff from the West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust will be available at Bury St Edmunds Jobcentre Plus on Wednesday 5th March from 9am until 4pm to help people who are interested in a career in healthcare.

The initiative is part of a week-long drive to boost healthcare-staff recruitment throughout Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Jobcentre Plus will be promoting job opportunities at Suffolk West Primary Care Trust and Local Health Partnerships NHS Trust as well as at West Suffolk Hospital.

The West Suffolk Hospital currently has vacancies for many staff groups, including qualified nurses, auxiliary nurses, administrative and clerical staff, health visitors, hotel services staff, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Information about all of these vacancies will be available at the Jobcentre Plus, which will also promote careers in healthcare with posters and leaflets.

Jan Bloomfield, Director of Personnel at the Trust, said staff would be on hand at the Jobcentre Plus to help people with their inquiries and to give out information about careers at the Hospital. The aim is to inform people about the many different roles in healthcare and to promote working for the West Suffolk Hospital as a rewarding and worthwhile career.

"The NHS is the largest and one of the most important organisations in the country, and few professions can offer the level of variety and job

satisfaction that working in healthcare provides," said Jan Bloomfield.  "We want to highlight the benefits of working for the NHS and encourage local people to think about a career at the West Suffolk Hospital.

"We believe that the best care for patients is provided by a happy and fulfilled workforce. Creating the opportunity for flexible working patterns and introducing family friendly policies is so important in recruiting and retaining valuable staff.

"West Suffolk recently became the first NHS Trust to achieve the Work-Life Balance Standard, which is a significant step towards our aim of becoming an Employer of choice¹.

"Flexible working hours, personal training and development programmes, a Career Break scheme, a future on-site nursery and childcare vouchers are just some of the initiatives introduced by the Trust to improve the working lives of staff."

* If you are interested in working for the West Suffolk Hospital but cannot attend the Jobcentre Plus on 5th March and would like more information, contact 01284 713 702.