Support programmes case study: The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust
The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust (MYTT) has utilised the Stay and Thrive support programme to create a sense of belonging for their internationally educated workforce (IEW).
MYTT provides services across West Yorkshire at Pontefract Hospital, Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, Dewsbury and District Hospital and community health services in Wakefield. The trust employs over 10,000 staff, 400 of which are internationally educated nurses (IENs).
Introduced in 2020, MYTT used the Stay and Thrive programme to help create a more supportive, compassionate, and inclusive culture for their IEW. The aspiration was that this would foster a deeper sense of belonging and help the IEW think about and build a career in the NHS. The trust continued to work alongside their IEW to improve the experience for their international recruits, based on lived experience and honest feedback.
Specific interventions that centre around creating a deeper sense of belonging for their IEW include:
- Offering pre-arrival support.
- Providing free on-site accommodation.
- Delivering wrap around pastoral support to ease integration into the workplace.
- Connecting with local diaspora groups to develop support networks.
- Providing access to their career progression programme, buddy systems, career cafes, mentoring systems, and settlement support.
- Providing time for existing staff to support the IEW programmes of work.
The board recognises the positive impact and learning that has taken place across the organisation as a result of the improved diversity of the workforce, and the subsequent benefit this has on patient experience. In embedding the Stay and Thrive programme at MYTT, existing staff also benefitted from additional leadership development opportunities, either in their capacity as line managers or as mentors within talent management initiatives for the IEW.
Phillip Marshall, director of workforce (far left) with MYTT's Internationally Educated Nurses at the 2022 Celebration Event for IENs. Image supplied by The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust.
Hear from the trust
The Race Equality programme spoke to Phillip Marshall, director of workforce and organisational development, at MYTT about implementation of these interventions and the Stay and Thrive programme, the challenges faced, their impact, learnings for the board, and advice for board members looking to support their IEW.