Published on: 4 September 2023
On World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September 2023), Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is announcing a major recruitment drive for staff to work in its brand new mental healthcare facilities.
Tapping into this year’s theme of “Creating hope through action”, the Trust is holding an Open Recruitment Event at its Kingsway site, Derby, on Saturday 30 September between 10am and 2pm to encourage healthcare professionals to apply for roles in its new inpatient facilities in Derby and Chesterfield.
Arun Chidambaram, Medical Director at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Last year, 5,275 lives were tragically lost to suicide in England alone (ONS), which is deeply concerning. Not all of those will have had a mental health condition, but people living with mental illness are generally more likely to feel suicidal and make a suicide attempt.
“We are committed to playing our part in lowering this number by providing high-quality healthcare to people struggling with their mental health, and want to attract mental healthcare professionals at all levels and at all points in their career to join us as we embark on this new chapter.”
Derbyshire Healthcare is currently building three new healthcare facilities and refurbishing three existing facilities as part of its Making Room for Dignity dormitory-eradication programme. This will offer a more therapeutic environment for Derbyshire people with acute mental health needs by providing modern, single-room accommodation to aid their recovery by increasing their privacy, safety and wellbeing. The £150m project has been funded via investment from national, local and Trust funds.
The project will provide Derbyshire with a much-needed Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, so patients needing the highest level of support can stay closer to home and their support networks. Derbyshire is currently the only county in England without such a facility so patients have to travel elsewhere for treatment.
The new facilities – which have been designed in collaboration with service users, carers and members of staff – will create a wide variety of jobs for healthcare workers, so the Trust is taking a proactive approach to recruitment.
As well as enabling jobseekers to explore career opportunities within the Trust and meet some of the existing team, the Kingsway Open Recruitment Event will offer some same-day interviews for certain roles.
Mental health nurses and allied health professionals such as dieticians, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and social workers should take proof of their qualifications if they would like an interview on the day.
Alex Dougall, Strategic Recruitment Lead at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is an exciting time to join our Trust at the start of a new era of mental healthcare in Derbyshire. Our new starters will have the opportunity to work in brand new purpose-built facilities in rewarding roles within supportive teams.
“We hope our recruitment drive will encourage more people to consider a rewarding career with Derbyshire Healthcare and we look forward to meeting many candidates who could go on to become our new workforce.”
The Kingsway Open Recruitment Event is on Saturday 30 September between 10am and 2pm in the Centre for Research and Development, Kingsway Hospital, Derby. There is free on-site parking.
For more information about roles within the Making Room for Dignity programme and to register interest in working for Derbyshire Healthcare, visit www.makingroomfordignityjobs.org.uk/
