Why work with us?

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On this page:
Professional Development
A healthy workplace
Our staff networks
Apprenticeships

Professional Development

We are committed to the delivery of high-quality patient care through a highly engaged workforce. The Organisational and Professional Development department supports this vision by strengthening the capacity and capability of our workforce with a range of development programmes and interventions, building the effectiveness of managers, leaders and staff.

A Clinical Nurse Specialist sits in front of a computer screen with wearing a headset

Our training and development programmes set us apart

The Institute of Leadership and Management Levels 3 and 5 accredited courses which empower and enable people managers and leaders supporting them to create high performance teams. We are super proud of the impressive report and feedback we recently received following ILM External Verification visit to our centre in December. In addition, our ‘Coach to Lead’ programme provides a foundation in learning enriching participants coaching ability.

Our Masterclass Programmes are first class

They include practical and interactive courses and programmes (both virtually and in-person) covering a range of topics such; Management Essentials for people managers, Project Management, Appraisal Training, effective team management. Communication skills, Emotional Intelligence, psychosocial safety, coaching and mentoring, among others.

We also partner with external training providers including NHS Elect who provide in-house tailored training to meet individuals’ and teams’ diverse needs. As part of our ongoing commitment to professional development, Medway NHS Foundation Trust are pleased to be able to offer MBA, MA, BA, Executive Education, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes via the renowned Henley Business School.

A healthy workplace

We have achieved a Gold Healthy Workplace award for the wellbeing support available to our colleagues. We have a dedicated Staff Health and Wellbeing Team who take a holistic approach to wellbeing; catering to the physical, spiritual and mental health needs. The team are contactable for one to one support and signposting sessions, debrief sessions, and drop in sessions.

A woman leans on a running machine with gym equipment in the background

In 2021, we opened the Medway Fitness Hub, our 24/7 free on-site staff gym, to support the physical health of our colleagues.

We currently have more than 150 trained Mental Health First Aiders alongside our committed team of Wellbeing Champions. We have trained Menopause Advocates available to deliver training, offer support, and signpost to those in need. We consistently receive positive feedback from all training provided, including Trauma Risk Management, Resilience, and Menopause training. The training provided has been described as “high quality and necessary for our workforce.”

Having these available on site was a game changer because I’ve been struggling to access my GP due to my shift patterns. It was a huge relief to be able to see someone on site who could give me a full MOT.

We have delivered over 180 Health Checks for our colleagues in partnership with Medway Council, allowing for colleagues to be aware of their overall physical health and whether there are any concerns to address.

We also work with Care First, our Employee Assistance Programme. Care First offer 24/7 counselling and advice to colleagues, alongside ‘one off’ or ‘in the moment’ support.

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Support, represent, empower

Medway NHS Foundation Trust has five staff networks. These include staff networks for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people, disabled and neurodisverse people and people living with long term health conditions, LGBTQIA+ people, people from faith communities, women, and staff who are members of the UK’s armed forces community (for example members of the reserve forces, armed forces veterans, and their spouses/partners and dependants).

The purpose of the networks is to support, represent, empower and provide colleagues who are members of the groups with a platform to be heard and reach their full potential – without fear of discrimination or prejudice. They also provide staff with an opportunity to work with the Trust on projects, policies, procedures and strategies so it can become a more inclusive place to work.

Get in touch to find out more

Apprenticeships

We are committed in providing high standards of training through our apprenticeship programme. We work closely with over twenty different training providers, colleges and universities across the country to deliver specialist apprenticeship pathways; helping our staff learn new skills, build confidence and support their career aspirations.

 

A man sits on a sofa in a library reading a book about leadership

“My degree apprenticeship equipped me with valuable theoretical knowledge which I was able to seamlessly apply in real-world scenarios and culminating in a recognised qualification with Chartership to my professional body. Importantly I enjoyed the learning and the format of the course, with 1 day of my work week dedicated to study, allowed me to maintain my work-life balance while studying.”

– Richard, Knowledge and Library Service Strategic Manager

You can be an apprentice at any age and many of our apprentices are between the ages of 30 and 50 years old. Most of our apprenticeships are undertaken by existing staff, but year on year we increase apprenticeship opportunities to external candidates. All our opportunities are advertised on our website and on NHS jobs.

We offer over 28 apprenticeship standards from level 2 to 7 and every year we increase our pathways we offer. Existing Medway staff can express an interest in apprenticeships early on and apply after 6 months in the job.

  • Administration
  • Coaching
  • Healthcare Support
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Nursing Associate
  • Physiotherapy
  • Pharmacy
  • Leadership
  • Engineering

We have an apprenticeship team to support applications, onboarding and monitor progress for apprentices. It is essential that all candidates applying for a level 3 apprenticeship hold GCSE C/4 or above in English and maths (or equivalent standalone qualifications) and meet the entry requirements of the apprenticeship programme.

Our latest vacancies

Find the job that's right for you
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