News 22/6/09

Healthcare programme makes the double

Not content with sweeping the board at the Glasgow City Council Flourish Awards earlier this year, the East Glasgow Community Health & Care Partnership and John Wheatley College ‘Pathways to Progression’ programme has now scooped the top award in the Scottish Social Work Services Council’s Care Accolades 2009.

Over 200 finalists, guests and representatives from across the social services sector gathered for the Care Accolades 2009 ceremony which is a joint initiative by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and the Scottish Government.

Pathways to Progression Project overall winner

In the category ‘Best involvement of the local community’ the Pathways to Progression Project won and then went on to win the overall winner award at a ceremony in Dundee on 5th June 2009.

An exceptional project ‘Pathways’ supports local unemployed people – in the main, young, single mothers from the East end of Glasgow - to gain the skills and qualifications necessary for sustainable employment beyond entry-level, in partnership with the East Glasgow Community Health & Care Partnership, John Wheatley College and Glasgow East Regeneration Agency (GERA). The project also builds on the role of the CHCP as a provider of high quality jobs.

Project for local young unemployed people

The project recruits local unemployed people from east Glasgow, supports them to obtain the HNC in health care, while working within the CHCP, and provides on going support for individuals who may experience difficulties maintaining training and employment. ‘Pathways’ has led to a full time job for 10 out of the first 12 participants.

Councillor James Coleman, Depute Leader Glasgow City Council and Chair of East Glasgow CHCP said;

I am delighted that the ‘Pathways to Progression’ Project has been recognised for the innovative work it has been doing to meet the needs of local people.  This project gives the additional support to help participants sustain training and access real employment opportunities in local health and social care services.

Mark Feinmann, Director East Glasgow CHCP;

This project shows how local agencies working together can make a real difference and change people's lives for the better by giving them the opportunity to take part in training and move onto employment within East Glasgow Community Health & Care Partnership. We are now looking forward to further developing the programme.

Karie Murphy, Project Coordinator, said;

The Award is an endorsement of the model we've put in place to support people of the East End into employment and is a testament to the character and commitment of the students who have been involved.  Thanks to the vision of Cllr Coleman, Mark Feinmann and Ian Graham who put their faith and support into the programme, we have expanded access to job opportunities for Glasgow's residents.

Ian Graham, Principal John Wheatley College:

John Wheatley College is very pleased that this successful partnership programme has received such recognition yet again and we congratulate everyone involved.  We can now consider, with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, how best to develop similar initiatives to create access to health service jobs.  This will establish a proactive response for local people to secure sustainable employment during a time of recession.

 

 

 

ENDS

For Further information, please contact:

Lesley Lang, Marketing Manager
Tel:  0141-588 1567
email:  llang@jwheatley.ac.uk