Health trust recruiters trained to identify values
13 August 2014
A mental health trust is investing in specialist training for those conducting its job interviews as part of an overhaul of recruitment methods.
Thu, 14 Aug 2014
A mental health trust is investing in specialist training for those conducting its job interviews as part of an overhaul of recruitment methods.
The South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) has enlisted the help of children’s charity NSPCC to improve its recruitment practices so interviewers can identify candidates’ personal values.
The decision was made in the wake of the Francis report into care failures at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.
Jocelyn Fisher, SWLSTG director of HR, organisational development and workforce transformation, said the Care Quality Commission had recently highlighted the compassion of SWLSTG staff.
“But, following the recommendations made in the Francis report, we think it is vital that we embed the necessity of certain attitudes in our recruitment process,” she said.
“The work we are doing with the NSPCC will help us to ensure we employ people with the right values and behaviours as well as the right skill set.”
The trust’s new recruitment philosophy focuses on compassion, caring and courage as well as competence in the light of the Francis report.
Interviewers are trained in how to spot these traits in prospective employees.
They also learn interview skills such as questioning techniques to explore candidates’ answers in depth.
The first group of people, from all trust departments, completed the one-day course last week, with more to follow.
It is intended that these people will pass their new skills onto other members of staff.
The trust intends to recruit 70 nurses and a number of healthcare assistants as part of a £2.1million investment in staff.
The trust provides hospital inpatient and outpatient services, social care, community services and support to people in their own homes, and services the London boroughs of Wandsworth, Kingston, Richmond, Sutton and Merton.
The South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) has enlisted the help of children’s charity NSPCC to improve its recruitment practices so interviewers can identify candidates’ personal values.
The decision was made in the wake of the Francis report into care failures at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.
Jocelyn Fisher, SWLSTG director of HR, organisational development and workforce transformation, said the Care Quality Commission had recently highlighted the compassion of SWLSTG staff.
“But, following the recommendations made in the Francis report, we think it is vital that we embed the necessity of certain attitudes in our recruitment process,” she said.
“The work we are doing with the NSPCC will help us to ensure we employ people with the right values and behaviours as well as the right skill set.”
The trust’s new recruitment philosophy focuses on compassion, caring and courage as well as competence in the light of the Francis report.
Interviewers are trained in how to spot these traits in prospective employees.
They also learn interview skills such as questioning techniques to explore candidates’ answers in depth.
The first group of people, from all trust departments, completed the one-day course last week, with more to follow.
It is intended that these people will pass their new skills onto other members of staff.
The trust intends to recruit 70 nurses and a number of healthcare assistants as part of a £2.1million investment in staff.
The trust provides hospital inpatient and outpatient services, social care, community services and support to people in their own homes, and services the London boroughs of Wandsworth, Kingston, Richmond, Sutton and Merton.
