Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded the prestigious NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award for its exceptional dedication to providing outstanding pastoral support for international nurses.
This recognition acknowledges the Trust's commitment to delivering the best practice in pastoral care for staff and is an important milestone in their efforts to enhance workforce diversity and excellence in healthcare.
The award was presented by Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England and highlights the Trust's exceptional work in welcoming and supporting internationally educated nurses within the NHS. The award recognises the critical role that enhanced pastoral care plays in recruiting and retaining valuable talent in the NHS.
The Trust provided personalised, one-to-one support for each nurse, from their appointment to the role to helping them settle in to their new lives in the Black Country. Veena, a pastoral support worker, was on hand every step of the way during their journey.
While the nurses were still in their home countries, Veena held one to one meetings with each nurse to find out about their hobbies and interests so she could build a picture of how to support them when they arrived in the Black Country. Alongside this, she was on hand to book flights, sort visas and arrange accommodation close to Trust hospitals, to make the process as seamless as possible for the nurses as they prepared to move to the UK.
Veena also created welcome packs for each nurse, including food and toiletries, along with setting up bank accounts. On the day of each nurses’ arrival, Veena personally picked them up from the airport and took them to their new home, before taking to them to their new workplace for ward visits to help them meet their new colleagues.
The support did not end when the nurses started work at the hospitals. Veena sorted them free bus passes for a month and signposted them to places and activities that matched their interests, such as nearby places of worship, community groups and gyms.
Supporting the nurses to progress in their roles was vital, so Veena was on hand to support the nurses as they trained for their OCSE training and exams, by organising their studies, transport and accommodation. Once each nurse passed the exam, they received their registration to nurse in the UK, allowing them to take band 5 nursing roles which is vital to help them build their career.
Pastoral support did not only involve aiding the practicalities of helping nurses move to the UK. Veena also provided emotional support, drawing on her experience of social work and counselling, to help the nurses navigate the change in their lives. This was particularly needed for nurses who had to leave their families to move to the UK.
This personalised support can be seen through the experience of Kennedy, who moved from Kenya to the UK to follow his passion for mental health nursing. His initial online meeting with the recruitment team offered him reassurance and confidence in his decision to join Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Facing the emotional challenge of leaving his family, Kennedy found comfort in the Trust’s support system, particularly through Veena's pastoral care and the swift visa process, easing his integration into a new country and work environment. Kennedy's experience at the Trust reflects the Trust's commitment to not just recruit, but fully integrate international staff.
The Trust aimed to recruit 15 international mental health nurses from various countries, including Kenya, India, Saudi Arabia, and Tanzania. The first nurse arrived in November 2023 and the 15th has just started working at the Trust.
The project was a true team effort thanks to the hard work and expertise of colleagues involved. Manny Gnanaraj, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at the Trust, has been instrumental in this initiative, having begun his own journey as an international nurse in 2003. He brought his vision to the project and provided invaluable support and guidance to the team.
Matthew Hudson, Resourcing Manager, was pivotal in handling visa and flight payments, as well as orchestrating the OCSE exams. Meanwhile Manny, along with Simon Pownall Recruitment Lead Consultant, diligently vetted thousands of applications and sorted polices and planning.
Departments across the Trust were integral to the project’s success, such as recruitment, finance, ward managers and matrons.
Carolyn Green, Chief Nurse at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: "We are deeply grateful for the dedication and sacrifices made by our international staff. We reaffirm our commitment to growth, learning, and inclusivity, and recognise the role of this initiative in enhancing the quality of care within the region."
The NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award is part of the NHS England International Recruitment Programme, aimed at supporting NHS organisations to develop and expand their international recruitment strategies ethically and sustainably.
Through this accolade, Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust showcases its commitment to providing a supportive and nurturing workplace for its staff. By doing so, the Trust is not only furthering its mission to work towards happier, healthier lives, but also creating a welcoming new home for international healthcare professionals in the Black Country.
As Madelin, one of the nurses supported by the project, said: “You have made me settle in so well and feel supported in a new country where you are miles away from your loved ones.
“Your willingness to go above and beyond to help me during every step of the way means more to me than words can express.”