Writing for The Mirror, Duncan Burton, England’s chief nursing officer, says it is only right that everything is done to help nursing and midwifery graduates find a job
It takes years of hard work to become a nurse or midwife, and when students finish their training they should be able to move straight into a job.
Yet even though the NHS and social care needs them, the path into a job is not always clear or quick enough and many of our newly qualified nurses and midwives have faced uncertainty at this crucial career stage – and that has to change.
27 years ago, I finished my nurse training and got my first job as a nurse so I understand how important it is that newly qualified nurses and midwives feel supported, valued and able to get on with the job they trained so hard to do. It is only right we do everything in our power to guarantee a job for every one of them to apply to after qualifying.
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Today, the Secretary for State for Health and Social Care has announced a guarantee that addresses this directly. We are unlocking thousands of additional roles and supporting NHS trusts to bring forward recruitment, so staff can be hired before vacancies are formally advertised.
That means newly qualified nurses and midwives can start work faster and trusts can enhance the care their communities need. For midwives, we are temporarily converting vacant maternity support worker posts into entry-level band 5 midwifery roles, backed by £8 million of funding.
This will help ease pressure on maternity teams and make sure newly qualified midwives are not left waiting to begin their careers – as well as most importantly providing support for mums, babies and families. Our online student hub is designed to support newly qualified nurses and midwives as they apply for their first roles.
It brings together a range of job sites to make finding vacancies easier. For nurses, it offers links to opportunities across a variety of settings, including the NHS, social care, the independent sector and charitable organisations.
The hub also provides practical advice on writing job applications, preparing for interviews and getting ready to start work. The NHS now has more nurses and midwives than ever before, providing vital care and support to patients, and fewer are leaving.
That is a sign of real progress and a tremendous achievement. Yet this success has created an unexpected challenge: fewer traditional vacancies for new graduates.
We must make sure our newest staff get the same opportunity to put their skills and passion to use. Newly qualified nurses and midwives represent the future of health and care, and we are proud of the vital contribution they make every day.
These changes are about making sure they can get on and do the jobs they trained to do, in every setting and community, and that they feel welcomed, supported and valued from the very start.
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