Kickstarting your career in the NHS

Omar Hussain is 23 and from East Leeds. He is currently on a six-month placement at the Trust as part of the government’s Kickstart Scheme in the role of Assistant Health Support Worker within our Older People’s Service in Leeds.

The Kickstart Scheme is a government funded programme for 16–24-year-olds who receive Universal Credit and have been affected by unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kickstart offers a six-month placement for young people with little or no experience, as an effort to help them gain new skills and experiences to get back into the workplace. We also work with the Prince’s Trust charity to help these young people raise their confidence and build important employment skills. We welcomed our first group of four young people through the Kickstart Scheme in June 2021, with a second group of five beginning their roles as Assistant Health Support Workers this month.

Omar recently caught up with the Trust’s Widening Participation Officer, Emily Bird, about his experiences on the scheme and at the Trust.

How did you first hear about the Kickstart Scheme?

I was already searching for jobs and came across the Kickstart Scheme. My work coach at the Job Centre helped me find out more about what the scheme involved and how to apply. It really appealed to me as I wanted something that I could start a long-term career in.

Why did you want to get involved in Kickstart and what was it about the role at the Trust that attracted you?

I really wanted to work in the health and care sector, and this seemed like a great starting point to a career path and to get my foot in the door, so I decided to apply and give it a go.

Have you always had an interest in working in health and care?

Yes, I’ve always been drawn to health and care work. I enjoy working with vulnerable people and doing good for them. I enjoy humbling jobs when you get to the end of the day and know that you’ve done a good job and helped someone. Personally, I’ve known people with dementia and how they react, so working in Older People’s Services seemed like a good fit for me.

What has been the best thing about your placement at the Trust?

It would have to be the positive reactions and feedback that I have received from patients and service users. Getting a nice reaction from them, knowing they’re happy is really satisfying for me. One service user I was working with recently said to me “I like you”. That made me feel like I had done a job well done.

The job satisfaction is one of the best things.

What are your career plans after your placement?

I’m not entirely sure. I am keen to work on the Bank within the Trust so I can get experience in different wards and locations across the organisation. I really want to keep working in health and care, but keeping my options open at the moment.

Has taking part in this scheme improved your skills in any areas?

I have always been a sociable person and confident in my skills in chatting to people. But by doing this placement it has made me surer of them. In this role I’ve always had a great team of people around me. It gave me confidence when I was doing things right and if I was ever unsure of anything there was always someone there to help and support me.

Would you recommend this programme to others?

Definitely. My background meant that I had no experience and hadn’t received any formal training or qualifications. I don’t learn as well in the classroom, but I’ve learnt lots on the job practically by observing others around me and putting this into practice.

If you want a career in health and care but don’t have the qualifications, don’t worry, the Kickstart Scheme is a great option – and you get paid!

If you’re interested in joining the Kickstart Scheme, speak to your work coach at your local Job Centre for more information.