Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) has created a new Application Support Hub to support candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds through their recruitment process.
CNTW, one of England’s largest mental health trusts, developed the hub after an internal report found white applicants were more likely to be appointed than candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds.
It is designed to improve the application experience of people from a diverse range of backgrounds, including people from ethnic minority backgrounds and people with learning disabilities but the resources are useful for anyone interested in applying for a role at CNTW.
This week we are excited to launch our new Application Support Hub, where those looking to join our Trust will find lots of useful information to support their application process.
Lynne ShawExecutive Director of Workforce and Organisation Development
Lynne Shaw, Executive Director of Workforce and Organisation Development at the Trust, says: “It’s a great time to join us here at CNTW as we continue to modernise our services creating some fantastic new opportunities.
“This week we are excited to launch our new Application Support Hub, where those looking to join our Trust will find lots of useful information to support their application process.”
Freely available on the CNTW website, the hub takes applicants through the recruitment process, sharing advice and detailed explanations at each stage. It includes a detailed explanation of what to include on the application form and how to present the information; tips on how to prepare for an interview; examples of common interview questions; and suggestions for follow up questions to ask at the end of an interview.
A list of job fair events and a qualification comparison table as well information on the Trust’s recruitment incentive for Medics, Nurses and Pharmacy staff can be found on the hub.
CNTW is also encouraging anyone interested in working for the Trust to get in touch. We plan to provide individual and group sessions throughout the year to support applicants through the application process and offer advice about opportunities at CNTW.
CNTW’s work on improving recruitment diversity has already won an award at the regional Royal College of Nursing Awards after the Trust hosted a four-day event for all stakeholders to consider barriers to equality, diversity and inclusion in the recruitment process and how they could be removed. More than 100 ideas were identified then streamlined and taken forward by a working group, including the development of the Application Support Hub.
The Application Support Hub can be accessed on the CNTW website.
Current vacancies, for both clinical and non-clinical roles, are also listed on the CNTW website. If you would like help with an application, please contact [email protected].