One Year Guarantee
The One Year Guarantee of employment for all newly qualified
nurses and midwives was introduced on 1 September 2002. The
initiative was developed in full partnership with NHS Employers,
universities, professional organisations (incl. RCN, RCM, UNISON),
as well as NHS Education for Scotland (NES) who administer the
scheme. The guarantee is based on the normal recruitment process,
whereby the majority of newly qualified nurses and midwives
secure a job through their own efforts, informed by career aspirations
and their choice of location. If, after trying to obtain suitable
employment, the nurses or midwife has been unable to secure
a job in their part of the register or geographical location,
and if they wish to take advantage of the national scheme, they
can contact NHS Education for Scotland, who will issue them
with information about other locations in Scotland who have
suitable jobs.
The guarantee is designed to ensure that all newly qualified
nurses and midwives have the opportunity to build on the clinical
experience gained during their pre-registration programme. Any
vacancies offered should have at least a one year contract of
employment.
As part of the Partnership Agreement, this initiative has been
extended for a further year from September 2003.
NHS Education for Scotland has carried out two evaluations
of the scheme. The first looked at the experience of those
who used the scheme in 2002-2003, and the second was a random
sample of newly qualified nurses and midwives who did not
participate in the scheme to evaluate how they obtained employment.
Return to Practice
The Return to Practice scheme was launched with a view to
increase the number of nurses and midwives in work across
Scotland. As well as helping to reduce the number of vacancies,
the scheme is aimed at minimising the loss of skills/expertise
invested in to date. Funding was made available in 2002 for
each individual for Return to Practice programmes and is linked
to an offer of employment in NHSScotland, either on a permanent
basis or on a nursing Bank with regular hours of work required.
Up to £1,500 of funding is available for each successful
returnee.
£1 million has been allocated to fund Return to Practice
for nurses and midwives across NHSScotland. To date over 400
people have returned to practice since March 2004.
Nurse Consultants
This represents another commitment within the Partnership
Agreement. An Action Plan to deliver 54 Nurse Consultants
has been developed in partnership with Chief Executives and
Medical Directors to take this forward.
Nurse Consultant numbers continue to expand. A total of 23
posts are now in place across Glasgow, Forth Valley, Tayside,
Lothian, Highland and the State Hospital.
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