Solution: Inform

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Key recommendations:

• Advertise healthcare opportunities through specialist "By and For" charities and volunteer centres.
• Ensure HR and recruitment staff attend community hubs to share information about careers.
• Develop personalised health career coaching through community organisations.
• Provide support with job searching, understanding role requirements and interview preparation.

For Migrants / refugees / asylum seekers specifically:

• Support asylum seekers to access roles on the shortage occupation list where eligible.Provide tailored information about healthcare careers, including:
  • Role responsibilities
  • Required skills and attitudes
  • Pay and progression routes
  • Workplace culture and expectations
  • Team structures and hierarchy

Solution: Inform

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Key Recommendations:

• Develop accessible job information with minimal jargon and greater use of visual content.
• Raise awareness of financial support schemes, bursaries and assistance with childcare, accommodation and travel.
• Create recruitment checklists to support applicants through recruitment and onboarding.

For D/deaf and hard of hearing individuals:

• Produce British Sign Language (BSL) videos explaining:
  • What it is like to work in healthcare
  • Available workplace support
  • How to access support
  • Experiences of existing deaf staff

For neurodivergent people:

• Co-design easy-read recruitment packs and job advertisements.

For migrants / refugees / asylum seekers:

• Review recruitment agencies and ensure transparency around English-language requirements.
• Avoid placing individuals into roles they do not feel equipped to undertake.

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Solution: Develop

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Key Recommendations

• Create clear progression pathways for staff from under-represented groups.
• Review job descriptions and person specifications to improve accessibility.
• Keep recruitment information concise and relevant.
• Advertise opportunities beyond NHS and local authority platforms.
• Develop practical support programmes that help people stay in work.

For Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers

• Provide immigration casework support for international staff.
• Create tailored support packages including:
  • Contract checking
  • Financial transition support
  • Appropriate work clothing schemes

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Solution: Develop

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Key Recommendations

• Develop buddying schemes for neurodivergent employees.
• Create personalised workplace support plans.
• Develop communities of practice for sanctuary seekers.
• Provide culturally informed employment support and supervision.

For Black, Caribbean and African Heritage Communities

• Improve access to culturally tailored wellbeing and employment support.
• Address stigma surrounding mental health and workplace wellbeing.

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Solution: Encourage

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Key Recommendations

• Attend careers fairs and community events.
• Deliver talks in schools and colleges.
• Create workplace coaching and advocacy roles.
• Promote role models from under-represented communities.
• Deliver skills-enhancing workshops.

For Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers

• Increase access to employment support training, including CV writing and interview preparation.

For Neurodivergent People

• Explore job carving approaches that align roles with individual strengths and abilities.

For Young Carers and Young People

• Collaborate with programmes such as NHS Cadets to improve pathways into health and care careers.

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Solution: Encourage

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Key Recommendations

• Train staff on Access to Work schemes.
• Develop supported apprenticeship programmes.
• Create dedicated pathways into employment for groups with additional needs.
• Make role-specific training courses free wherever possible.
• Co-design learning opportunities with communities, VCSE organisations and colleges

For People with Caring Responsibilities

• Provide flexible training programmes that can be completed online, in person and at an individual's own pace.

For Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers

• Support recognition and transfer of overseas qualifications.
• Create volunteering and work experience opportunities prior to immigration status regularisation.
• Support wider calls for reform of Right to Work policies.

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Solution: Awareness

‍

Key Recommendations

• Train staff on Access to Work schemes.
• Develop supported apprenticeship programmes.
• Create dedicated pathways into employment for groups with additional needs.
• Make role-specific training courses free wherever possible.
• Co-design learning opportunities with communities, VCSE organisations and colleges

For People with Caring Responsibilities

• Provide flexible training programmes that can be completed online, in person and at an individual's own pace.

For Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers

• Support recognition and transfer of overseas qualifications.
• Create volunteering and work experience opportunities prior to immigration status regularisation.
• Support wider calls for reform of Right to Work policies.

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Solution: Awareness

‍

Key Recommendations

• Train staff on Access to Work schemes.
• Develop supported apprenticeship programmes.
• Create dedicated pathways into employment for groups with additional needs.
• Make role-specific training courses free wherever possible.
• Co-design learning opportunities with communities, VCSE organisations and colleges

For People with Caring Responsibilities

• Provide flexible training programmes that can be completed online, in person and at an individual's own pace.

For Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers

• Support recognition and transfer of overseas qualifications.
• Create volunteering and work experience opportunities prior to immigration status regularisation.
• Support wider calls for reform of Right to Work policies.

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Solution: Support

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Key Recommendations

• Ensure access to interpreting and communication support throughout recruitment.
• Make recruitment processes more flexible and accessible.
• Review recruitment practices with people from under-represented communities.
• Use accessible digital platforms and documentation.
• Consider trial shifts and alternative assessment methods.

D/deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals

• Provide:
  • BSL interpreting support
  • Accessible interview environments
  • Communication support workers where required
  • Appropriate assessment accommodations

For Neurodivergent People

• Provide interview questions in advance.
• Clearly explain recruitment processes.
• Allow additional time and interview practice opportunities.

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Solution: Support

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Key Recommendations

• Increase investment in childcare support.
• Ensure workplace adjustments are available from the start of employment.
• Explore preferred communication approaches with employees.
• Provide training whenever workplace processes change.

For People with Caring Responsibilities

• Develop lone-parent and lone-carer policies that include:
  • Flexible working patterns
  • Caring breaks
  • Flexibility during emergencies

For Black, Caribbean and African Heritage Communities

• Explore community-based childcare approaches involving trusted local networks and spaces.

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