Recruitment event helps 21 Wirral residents start careers in the NHS
A successful partnership recruitment event at Arrowe Park Hospital has helped 21 Wirral residents secure job offers as Healthcare Assistants, allowing them to take their first steps into a career in the NHS.
The event, delivered jointly by Wirral Council, Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH), Involve Northwest and Jobcentre Plus, focused on making the recruitment process more accessible for people currently out of work.
This meant replacing the traditional CV and online application form with in-person, values-based conversations, giving candidates the chance to show their passion, potential and suitability directly to the WUTH resourcing team and nurse managers.
This applicant‑centred approach was inspired by the council’s Early Opportunities Pipeline project, which aims to remove recruitment barriers for entry‑level positions, and was delivered collaboratively through strong partnership working between WUTH, the council’s Economic Growth team, Involve Northwest and Jobcentre Plus.
Key changes to the standard recruitment process included holding the event on a weekday, inviting residents being supported back into work by partner organisations, giving decisions on the day, and moving the online application stage to after job offers were made. These steps supported residents who may otherwise have struggled to apply using the traditional approach.
The impact was clear from the feedback received. One care-experienced young person who was offered a role said:
“For a single mum of two children this is a fantastic opportunity. I am beyond excited about starting work and feel it will make a massive change to me and my children. My mum and dad never worked but my kids will see me working and they will expect to work. They will also have a better life.”
Another participant, supported by the ReachOut employment support service delivered by Involve Northwest, expressed how valuable the in-person approach was:
“I can’t believe I have secured a job within the NHS. I wouldn’t have been able to get this job online as I didn’t believe I had the skills to apply. I am so happy and looking forward to starting work very soon.”
The collaborative effort behind this event highlights the powerful impact of inclusive recruitment and the difference it can make for local residents. Supporting people to find meaningful work is a key priority, and with our partners we are committed to building on this success and helping to offer more opportunities like this that can change lives.
This was a fantastic example of partnership working that has enabled us to offer roles to people taking their first steps into their career in the NHS. We are delighted that our new recruits will be starting with us as Healthcare Assistants and our teams will give them a very warm welcome. I really wish them all the best in what I know will be a very rewarding career.
This recruitment approach supports key priorities in the Wirral Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Wirral Economic Strategy - including growing an inclusive economy, improving access to good work and strengthening opportunities for care-experienced young people. It also supports the ability to deliver quality healthcare to residents of Wirral.
