BHR Academy hosts ‘grow your own’ career event
The BHR Health and Care Academy hosted its latest virtual event on Wednesday 26 January, which focused on looking at new integrated and sustainable career pathways in the health and care sector. 
The Academy highlighted the need for our local communities to be able to see, not only achievable health and social care careers, but also the learning and development opportunities such a job can offer them.
Kathryn Halford, Chief Nurse for our Trust and Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the BHR Academy, said: “We’re big employers across our three boroughs, it’s important we recognise our responsibility as ‘anchor’ organisations.
“We provide good, secure jobs with good terms and conditions – which isn’t always the case for people in other environments.”
The Academy, which launched in September, is a new training initiative which aims to offer rewarding careers in healthcare for local residents.
It also highlights the needs for a more diverse, younger workforce as it focuses on attracting and retaining staff.
Kathryn highlighted the role our Trust is playing, alongside partner organisations, including North East London NHS Foundation Trust and Barts Health NHS Trust, to offer unique pathways for local residents.
“We’re passionate about nursing being a great career, and while we’re committed to growing our workforce, we recognise people don’t always have the qualifications to go the traditional route into nursing.
“So, we’re supporting paid apprenticeships to become nurses, it’s a great opportunity which includes university study – which we support staff to do – and placements such as actually working in a ward.
“There is a wide range of opportunities for people with various areas for them to work in.”