Heartbeat: Trust’s flexibility is a draw to new recruits at lively open days

December 14, 2019

The beginning of November proved to be a busy one for recruitment at our organisation with two events taking place at Sandwell General Hospital’s Education Centre.

Members of both the medicine and emergency care and surgical services teams were on hand to welcome potential newcomers to our Trust. Both events were said to be buzzing with energy. There were interviews, compliance checks and job offers on the day.

The first event for medicine and emergency care took place on 2 November. They held 24 interviews and appointed 24 candidates of “excellent calibre” including 15 Band 5 staff nurses. The second, a week later, proved even more successful with 29 candidates offered positions, 21 of which were staff nurses.

With it being half-term flexible working and family-friendly working was a key message. Both events had colleagues and candidates bringing in their children to engage in activities organised by the nursery team. The one-stopshop element of ‘selling’ both areas and the organisation, through to on the spot job offers meant that candidates felt “reassured and welcomed.”

Speaking on the first event, Group Director of Nursing, Julie Thompson remarked to Heartbeat that the recruitment event was “a prime example of team working and collaboration which enabled a successful day. The flexible working approach worked well with children being entertained while their parents were successfully recruited.” Head of Engagement and Retention Amir Ali explains further: “We wanted to really sell for both of these events the benefits we’re offering that are not available at other Trusts and organisations. We offer flexible working options – 7.5-hour shifts, twelve-hour shifts, weekend, day or night-only shifts. We’re flexible and we want to let recruits know that this is a wonderful place to work with heaps of employee benefits available relating to personal wellbeing and more material benefits.”