Title: International recruitment fellowship: An innovative approach to recruitment and retention and leadership
Abstract:
The International Recruitment (IR) Regional Fellowship is an innovative opportunity that allows International colleagues working in NHS Trust to be part of the NHS England Regional Nursing Workforce Team for 15 hours per month.
As experts by experience, Internationally Educated Nurses, midwives, and Allied Health Professions add significant value to the decision-making process and can influence projects and programmes to deliver ethical international recruitment. Moreover, the fellowship has allowed the fellows to experience working in a Regional role, with NHS England South East Region supporting their professional development. By the end of the programme, all participants have recognised increased confidence in public speaking and presenting, and most of them have progressed in their careers within their organizations. All the nurses who progressed have recognised the importance of this opportunity within their application and interview process.
Following the appointment of 8 fellows, NHS England South East Region has been successfully delivering the first fellowship over the last 18 months. Moreover, the fellows themselves have been delivering the first Regional forum for Internationally Educated nurses and midwives. A recent evaluation of the forum has shown the importance for International recruits to have a safe space that allows discussion of challenges and sharing of good practices. This has been positively impacting on the recruitment process, as well as the retention and professional development of internationally educated of healthcare professionals.
The framework of this initial fellowship has now been shared widely, and different organisations (Including Nursing Associations and Integrated Care Systems) are now applying this new way to professionally develop nurse colleagues.
While the initial approach was developed around International Recruitment, theories of this fellowship can cover a wide range of components and programmes, to enable healthcare professionals across different organization to be involved, and influence, corporate programmes as well as National strategies.
Audience Take Away:
- This approach can be replicated in any local, system, or National healthcare organizations.
- Healthcare leaders will be able to implement this approach, with the learning shared from the presentation.
- The same approach has already shared and replicated with two more organizations within the National Health Service in England.
- This concept can be applied to deliver practical solutions to any programme or challenge, by hearing the voice of service users and/or expert by experience.
- The whole programme focuses on co-design new programme, and review the existing ones.
- Positive impact on recruitment and retention – ability to replicate this approach with limited or no cost.
