Following a successful first phase, a programme to give disabled
graduates employment opportunities in NHS Scotland will be run
for a second time.
The NHS Professional Careers Programme will offer up to 22
disabled graduates across Scotland the opportunity of a paid two
year work experience placement and help to secure permanent
employment at the end of the programme.
Launching the second round of the programme, Social Security
Minister met current and former
trainees in Glasgow.
Ms Freeman said:
“We are committed to delivering transformational change in the
lives of disabled people in Scotland. A key focus of our activity
is tackling, head on, some of the barriers which prevent disabled
people from gaining work experience which can lead to full-time
professional careers.
“The NHS Professional Careers programme not only provides
graduates with the opportunity to learn and develop the necessary
skills to allow them to have an equal chance of competing in the
labour market, it does so in a supportive environment which
allows their talents to flourish.
“We know from the results of the first cohort that programmes
like this are successful. Of graduates who joined in 2015, six
have progressed into permanent employment, one has been accepted
onto a highly prestigious PhD course at Groningen University and
16 are in placement.
“If we are to deliver real change in the field of employment, the
public sector must lead the way. So it’s great to see the NHS
embrace the challenge and have such success in helping disabled
people fulfill their potential.”
The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and NHS
boards, and run by the Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living
Equality Academy (GCILEA).
, a former graduate and now
employed as Partnership and Engagement Officer with NHS 24, said:
“Being part of the GCIL programme has been an extremely enriching
and inspirational experience, which has opened up many doors for
future employment.
“I would thoroughly recommend this to any disabled graduates
looking for support and direction to take their career to the
next level.”
John Spiers, National Development Manager, Glasgow Centre for
Inclusive Living
Equality Academy, said:
“Building on the huge success of the first cohort, GCIL Equality
Academy is delighted to embark on the next stage of the disabled
graduate traineeship programme in partnership with Scottish
Government and NHS Scotland.
“This partnership approach offers life changing opportunities to
disabled graduates, whilst demonstrating the commitment of the
Scottish Government to challenging the barriers that disabled
people face in the pursuit of their career ambitions.”
