Nursing and midwifery leaders have welcomed a new government scheme to improve job prospects for newly qualified graduate staff.
Wes Streeting, secretary of state for health and social care, announced today the creation of a new “graduate guarantee” for newly qualified nurses and midwives.
“Today’s announcement is welcome news that should provide hope to students as they come towards the end of their education and training”
Nicola Ranger
It aims to tackle the growing difficulties newly qualified staff in finding jobs, according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Nursing Times has previously reported on the impact this has, with many graduates unable to secure a band 5 entry-level post left feeling like they were mis-sold career prospects.
The graduate guarantee will mandate that NHS organisations offer newly qualified nurses and midwives the ability to apply for vacancies before they are advertised formally and support employers to offer vacancies based on projected need.
As well as this, it will see vacant maternity support worker posts temporarily converted into band 5 registered midwife roles with the costs covered by the DHSC.
The newly qualified nurses and midwives themselves will receive further support, the DHSC said, including an online hub which will give advice on applying for jobs.
In a statement accompanying the announcement Mr Streeting said the current state of affairs, with a lack of opportunities for newly qualified professionals, was “absurd”.
“I am sending a clear message to every newly qualified nurse and midwife: we’re here to support you from day one so you can provide the best care for patients and cut waiting lists,” said Mr Streeting.
“This new guarantee will benefit nurses, midwives and patients, helping to build an NHS fit for the future as part of our Plan for Change,” he said, referring to the government’s overall reform agenda.
The DHSC further said that the announcement would lead to “greater certainty and access to a wide and diverse range of roles”, with healthcare professionals deployed “across a wide variety of sectors”.
Chief nursing officer for England Duncan Burton said the new scheme would “unlock” more opportunities for staff and ease in a “smooth transition into employment”.
In a comment piece on the policy for Nursing Times, Mr Burton he was personally committed to making sure newly registered nursing and midwifery staff felt supported and had confidence in securing their role.
The move was welcomed by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary and chief executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, and Royal College of Midwives (RCM) chief executive Gill Walton.
The government said that both the RCN and RCM had been involved in the creation of the graduate guarantee.
Responding to the announcement, Professor Ranger: “Our student members have led the way in calling for ministers and healthcare leaders to provide certainty and clarity on jobs.
“Today’s announcement is welcome news that should provide hope to students as they come towards the end of their education and training,” she said.
“When the health service urgently needs nursing staff, it was absurd to leave people in limbo. The test of this will be if students can find jobs, vacant posts are filled, and patients receive the care they deserve.”
She said the announcement “takes us all a little closer” to the improvements her organisation sought for newly qualified staff. She warned, however, that politicians must “continue listening to nursing staff”.
Meanwhile, Ms Walton said: “We’re pleased that the government has listened to the voices of student midwives who are desperate to start their career, only to find those opportunities blocked.
“I know today’s announcement will come as a relief to so many of the RCM’s student midwife members,” she added.
“These are people, mainly women, who have worked incredibly hard to complete their degree and are trained and ready to support our current midwifery workforce at a time when so many maternity services are under pressure.”
Unison head of health Helga Piles said: “Guaranteeing jobs would recognise the commitment students put in before becoming part of the expanding workforce the NHS needs. Decisive action is needed to stop years of training going to waste.
“Nursing and midwifery graduates deserve a clear path into NHS jobs. But creating more vacancies for them by removing posts for support workers won’t address the overall staffing gaps hampering quality care. Reducing opportunities for people to come into clinical support roles is counter-productive too.”
She added: “Ministers must also deal with a similar lack of opportunities for new graduates in occupational therapy, as well as paramedics and other healthcare professions. These are just as vital to patient care.
“Many of these problems have been caused by blanket recruitment freezes. Trusts haven’t been able to take on staff as they attempt to comply with ministers’ orders to cut budget deficits built up through years of underfunding. Trusts need proper backing if this pledge is to work.”
However, she said: “It’s encouraging to see that ministers appreciate how crucial newly qualified staff are to the future of the NHS and care services.
“The government’s forthcoming 10-year workforce plan must set out a more sustainable approach to planning across the higher education, health and care systems.”
The chief executive of NHS Providers, Daniel Elkeles, said: “It’s good that an important staff concern is being addressed, with better opportunities and support for newly qualified nurses and midwives.
“But – and it’s a very big ‘but’ – it’s not clear how this will be fully funded, nor what it could mean for other staff groups facing similar challenges.
“Trust budgets are already under enormous pressure. There is no spare money,” he said. “Any further unfunded measures risk eating into frontline services.”
He added: “We look forward to clarification so we can be sure this positive step does not have damaging repercussions.”
