European Social Fund in England

Opportunities at Addenbrookes

Opportunities at Addenbrooke’s is a unique European funded project which has been providing those in long-term unemployment with an opportunity to gain experience, training and confidence to help them apply for jobs.

The project is run by the hospital and offers people who have been unemployed for a year or more, the opportunity to take part in a 13-week scheme with a work placement in a non-clinical role within Addenbrooke’s.

In addition to the placement, beneficiaries are given support and training to enable them to apply for jobs and attend interviews.

The project, which is being part-funded through European Objective 3 money and works in conjunction with Jobcentre Plus, was started in October 2005 after it was found that many applicants for jobs at the hospital were failing to even get shortlisted.

Many of those in long-term unemployment already had many of the required skills and experience but were lacking in confidence and technique. Opportunities at Addenbrooke’s sought to address this by providing work placements for people to gain knowledge about the hospital and work on training and interview skills.

To date the project has been extremely successful, with 57 people having taken part in the scheme with around 40% of those successfully gaining employment.

Andrée Bowmer, Opportunities at Addenbrooke’s Scheme Co-ordinator, said: “Addenbrooke’s is very keen to widen participation and help people gain work in the hospital. People choose to take part in the scheme and can receive placements in anything from working in the medical records department to being ward assistants.

“Many have moved on into jobs but by far the most successful outcome is the amount of confidence that people gain.”

Beneficiaries of the project have to go through the normal application and interview process for jobs and receive no unfair advantage over other candidates. Jobs are therefore only secured through the applicants’ own merit and boost in confidence.

Lee Taylor joined the Opportunities scheme in February 2006 after being unemployed for a year, having left his previous job due to ill health.

Despite an excellent work history, recent life changes had left him lacking in confidence and with a fear of stressful situations such as job interviews.

On the scheme, Lee was placed in the Sterile Services Department, checking and inspecting clinical instruments and preparing these for use in operating theatres. He proved himself to be a real asset and impressed the team with his methodical and reliable work.

Whilst on the scheme he worked on his interview skills and application techniques and even took the opportunity to upgrade his qualifications and IT skills.

When a subsequent vacancy came up within the department, Lee applied and was successfully appointed in August 2006.

Annette Grove also suffered considerable health problems and had been unemployed for two years when she joined the Opportunities at Addenbrooke’s scheme.

She had trained as a nurse 30 years previously but her health problems prevented her from returning to nursing and she lacked self-esteem and confidence when taking on new tasks.

Annette was placed as a Ward Clerk with the Short Stay Emergency Unit. This was a busy, front-of-house role that offered a mix of administrative duties with high levels of visitor patient and staff contact. Annette gained much confidence during this time and thoroughly enjoyed working on the wards again.

Determined to get a job, Annette applied for numerous reception, ward clerking and administrative jobs and eventually in September 2006 she was appointed as an Occupational Therapy Assistant at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

The Opportunities at Addenbrooke’s project will run until November 2007.