East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has been awarded the NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award for its support to international nurses and midwives.

The national award scheme was launched last year to recognise organisations with high-quality care and wellbeing support for new people joining the NHS from overseas.

The trust has a dedicated recruitment and induction programme helping healthcare professionals from around the world start their career with the NHS in East Lancashire.

The wrap-around care starts from the moment of interest and continues for as long as people need it, including personalised educational support as they complete professional UK assessments.

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Chief Nurse at the trust, Pete Murphy, said: “The NHS offers fantastic career opportunities and we have many different ways we recruit and attract people to work at ELHT, from working with local schools and colleges or the Prince’s Trust right through to nationwide and international campaigns.

“However people join us, we always pride ourselves on providing a warm welcome and the right support.

"We are really proud that the work we have done with overseas recruitment has been recognised through this award.”

A dedicated team has been set up at the trust to provide pastoral support.

They take care of everything from travel arrangements and providing accommodation during their first two months, practical help with finding schools or opening a UK bank account through to support with local information about transport and places to eat.

Part of this unique support also helps them prepare for professional assessments in the UK that simulate clinical environments and patient scenarios which all registered nurses and midwives are likely to encounter. 

All recruits are expected to be able to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for the different scenarios and each international recruit receives a personalised plan to support them in their learning and development.

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Mr Murphy explained: “Our overseas colleagues are a valuable addition to our team, helping us provide safe, personal and effective care to communities in East Lancashire.

“We appreciate how challenging and daunting it can be to uproot your life and move thousands of miles from your home, sometimes having to leave behind families.

"That’s why we do everything we can to make the experience as stress-free and welcoming as possible.

“Our support goes beyond the practical things that are needed when someone relocates, we are there for as long as we are needed.

“We are particularly proud of the educational support that we offer as part of a wrap-around package of care and assistance.

“We want to help them build a fantastic life with an exciting career at our trust.”

The in-depth support is a key reason why the trust attracts around 600 overseas nurse applicants every year, with 20 recruited every month.

They include Jisha Anu Varghese, a Staff Nurse in the Critical Care Unit who is originally from Kerala, South India.

She has worked for the trust since October 2018 and said: “The level of support I was given during my application process back in India was absolutely incredible.

“In fact, the support I received from the beginning right through to today is the main thing that keeps me working for the trust and why I would encourage any overseas nurse with the relevant skills and knowledge to join our team.”