Chief People Officer for NHS Black Country, Shajeda Ahmed, has signed the Care Leaver Covenant on behalf of the Black Country Integrated Care System.
The Care Leaver Covenant is a national inclusion programme through which organisations from the private, public, and voluntary sectors pledge to provide support for care leavers aged 16 to 25 to help them to live independently.
In committing to the covenant, health and care organisations in the Black Country ICS will provide care leavers with the opportunity to enter the world of work through work experience placements, internships and apprenticeships.
Care leavers will be given educational and training opportunities that will improve their vocational and educational profile and open up future employment opportunities in health and care in the Black Country, as well as additional support in various aspects of their lives. This includes financial guidance and career and employment guidance.
The pledge also contributes to NHS England’s three-year ambition of recruiting 1,000 care experienced young people into NHS careers, through internships, apprenticeships, roles or professional careers.
Shajeda Ahmed said: “For many young people the transition to adulthood is a time of excitement as they gradually spread their wings and build skills that prepare them for the future. However, for those in care, this is often a time filled with anxiety and uncertainty as they leave the care system and find themselves suddenly faced with a life of independence.
“Joining a workplace can be intimidating for any new starter but for care leavers, without the necessary support, the experience can be overwhelming. That’s why we want people leaving care to have better access to a career in the NHS.
“By signing the covenant, we are committing that care leavers will have improved access to employment, education, and training in a welcoming environment across the Black Country. This is a huge opportunity for us as a system to continue to address inequalities in health outcomes, experiences and access by enhancing career development opportunities for those leaving care.”
