Getting back into work after a period of unemployment can be hard. This has only become harder due to the pandemic, with the amount of job seekers increasing and businesses shutting down. This is where the Kickstart Scheme comes to the rescue. The Kickstart Scheme is a programme set up by the Government to boost post pandemic job recruitment, and to help to get people at risk of long-term unemployment off of Universal Credit. Kickstart gives you access to a six-month paid job where you will receive valuable experience to build up your CV, and helps you get into your new career! While on a Kickstart job you will work 25 hours a week, and get paid at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage depending on how old you are. Along with this, you may be able to continue to receive Universal Credit once you start work if you need the extra help. The Kickstart Scheme is open to people that are aged 16-24, so it's a great way to launch into your first real job or use it as a chance to change career.

So, what makes doing a Kickstart with Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust different? While working for us we will provide you with the standard benefits of a Kickstart placement, along with a pension. In addition to this, you will also receive the benefits which we offer to all staff at the Trust; from free counselling to savings on your shopping. Lastly, we also offer support and guidance on employability skills to help applicants progress further in their new careers.

There are 2 pathways and a total of 3 job titles that we offer roles in:

 

Clinical Pathway:

 

Healthcare Support Workers -

This role would involve you working in our wards with our wonderful teams. Your day to day would be helping the nurses and other clinical staff in routine work associated with patient care, for example; making beds, sorting clean linen, distributing menu cards etc and maintain patient personal and oral hygiene.

Activity Assistants -

This role would have you support the wellbeing of people staying on our wards. While working as one of Activity Assistants, you will be working with a multidisciplinary team to run recreational, social and educational group and individual activities with the service users during their stay. You would also help service users to participate in leisure activities as appropriate to their individual social and emotional needs.

Alongside with working in both the roles mentioned above you will be enrolled onto the Care Certificate. The training would run for 12 weeks, and is a training requirement for those who are new to the health and social care sector. It's been designed to help standardise the training and aims to ensure that everyone is delivering consistent and high-quality care, alongside meeting the legal obligations and essential standards set out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). You will also obtain the Level 2 Award in Employability Skills. Both of these qualifications ensure you finish the Kickstart scheme equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to apply for and work within a care setting.

 

Non-Clinical Pathway:

 

If you are not interested in a patient facing role but still want to work in a rewarding environment, we have administration roles in the scheme. While working as an admin role, you would be providing business support to our clinical and non-clinical staff.

Like the Clinical roles with offer, we also offer extra training while doing admin roles for our trust. While doing your placement, you will beenrolled onto the Level 2 Certificate in Employability Skills which develops and enhances the essential skills required for the working environment. The course would help you to; understand your customers, improve your ICT for employment and understand your responsibilities in the workplace.This hopefully with help you improve your confidence and employability within Admin based roles.

While working in any of the roles motioned above you will be given a Mentor. This ensures that you are getting the support required to carry out the Kickstart development activities to a high standard.

 

At the end of any of the roles mentioned above, provided you complete the Kickstart to a satisfactory standard, you will be offered an apprenticeship contract. This could be either be a Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship or a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship. You are not forgotten about after your placement ends with us, instead we want to inspire you to join us and help us to improve mental health care across the country.

 

 If you would like to know more about the Kickstart programme click here