Jobseekers flocked to our virtual recruitment fair
Recently, the Trust worked in partnership with Bradford District Care and Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trusts to deliver an innovative and exciting virtual recruitment fair.
Prompted by the unique working conditions of the Covid-19 pandemic, recruitment professionals recognised the need to do something dynamic and Covid-safe in order to reach job applicants who have an interest in working in mental health and learning disabilities.
Supported by West Yorkshire & Harrogate Health and Care Partnership and many partner organisations, the event attracted 549 attendees from a wide range of backgrounds and with many different skills and experience.
Event visitors were impressed by the significant number of partners who took part in the event and there was an opportunity for attendees to pose questions direct to them at 15 virtual recruitment booths. Participating partners included University of Huddersfield – Learning disability Nursing, PATH Yorkshire, NHS Employers, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, People matters, Princes Trust Wakefield College, Recovery and wellbeing colleges, Voluntary Action Leeds, South West Yorkshire Partnership Foundation Trust staff networks and Generation UK.
Delegates were also really impressed by the choice of 22 webinars offered at the event.
Highlights included:
- Health Education England’s well attended apprenticeships webinar
- Nathanael Paynter (Bradford District Care Partnership NHS Foundation Trust) delivered two live sessions. The first was a myth busting session about work within the mental health field and the other about his personal journey as a mental health nurse
- Kirklees council delivered an information session about careers in adult social care
- The Princes Trust delivered an engaging and well attended session on how their organisation can support young people into to work
- Huddersfield University’s webinar was entitled ‘a day in the life’ of a learning disability nurse
- Darryll Monroe, the Rainbow Alliance Chair within Bradford District Care Partnership NHS Foundation Trust talked with passion and enthusiasm about inclusivity and diversity in the NHS.
- Paul Casson talked about the carers passport
- Julie Bhagat from the employability team at Huddersfield Uni gave two sessions: the first, on effective application form writing and the second, on interview hints and tips
- Wakefield council also got involved and talked about the many different roles in social care
On average, 75 people attended each online webinar.
The event attracted hugely positive feedback from attendees and participating partners. One person who heard Nathanael’s personal story about his work within mental health commented: “your presentation has ‘made my mind up’ that this is what I want to pursue as a career.”
Liz Greenough from Huddersfield University said: “We were delighted to participate in the virtual recruitment fair, which provided the opportunity for us to deliver a session where we could showcase the career of learning disability nursing and what this involves, as well as clear up any misconceptions people have about the career.”
Mark Brooks, interim chief executive officer of the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said “ I am so pleased that so many prospective job candidates have found our first virtual recruitment fair to be so helpful to them. In the current climate, it is difficult to meet prospective job applicants face to face so this fair offers a unique and interesting proposition to people who would like to work in the field of mental health. I would encourage anyone who has questions about working with us to attend the next recruitment fair in January 2022.”
Registrations will open soon for the next recruitment fair and if you are interested in working with us, please do get directly in touch with the respective Trusts.
