GMMH awarded for international nurse recruitment efforts | Press Releases

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) has been awarded the NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award.

This has been awarded to recognise GMMH’s work in international recruitment and its commitment to providing high-quality pastoral care to internationally educated nurses during recruitment processes and their employment.

The NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award scheme is helping to standardise the quality and delivery of pastoral care for internationally educated nurses and midwives across England to ensure they receive high-quality pastoral support.

It is part of NHS England’s International Recruitment Programme. The programme supports NHS organisations to increase and develop their international recruitment plans.

The safe arrival, induction, and provision of support for new people joining the NHS workforce is the number one priority for international recruitment.

It’s important for NHS trusts to prioritise the wellbeing of internationally educated nurses and midwives, making sure they have access to appropriate and tailored support during recruitment and beyond. Enhanced pastoral support has a positive impact on both recruitment and retention and supports staff wellbeing.

The award recognises GMMH’s work in international recruitment and its commitment to providing internationally educated nurses with high-quality pastoral care.

The standards which trusts must meet to achieve the award have been co-developed with regional and trust international recruitment leads and international nursing and midwifery associations. These associations provide pastoral and professional support to international nurses and midwives in the UK.

GMMH’s award was officially celebrated at a welcome event for International Nurses on Friday 28^th July, where a certificate marking the achievement was presented.

The event was attended by both current and newly-recruited International Nurses, alongside the team of GMMH staff who support them, and GMMH’s Chief Nurse, Maria Nelligan.

Maria Nelligan, Chief Nurse at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) said:

“We are delighted to have been awarded the NHS Pastoral Care Quality Award, which demonstrates our real commitment to recruiting internationally educated nurses and supporting them at every step.

“Staff from overseas make a huge contribution to our workforce as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. At GMMH, we are leading the way with mental health international recruitment to help support growing local demands. We are working across the system - as part of a collaborative, alongside other North West providers - to ethically and sustainably recruit, train and embed more international nurses across our footprint.

“Our international nurses have arrived from countries around the world including Nigeria, Hong Kong and India. All are registered mental health nurses in their home countries, and have a variety of experiences from Paediatric, Oncology, Psychiatric Intensive Care and Older Adults. It is absolutely vital to us that they are fully supported throughout their time with us, from recruitment to induction and employment. To lead this programme of support, we have employed a dedicated International Recruitment Lead.

“We are also part of a North West pilot with global accommodation booking site, Homestay. Homestay offers a closed marketplace for international staff to rent quality private rooms from their NHS colleagues at affordable prices.

“We truly value our international nurses and very much look forward to welcoming our next cohort very soon.”

Kahani Awasare, International Recruitment Lead at GMMH said:

“I have worked for the Trust for 20 years on various locations, and I am an international nurse recruited by GMMH in 2003 from India. Working as International Recruitment Project Lead gives me the opportunity to provide Pastoral Care to all our International Nurses. Part of my role is to support and guide them through our Preceptorship programme, Trust induction, and arrange placements and appropriate training. I provide 1:1 supervision and support to our new international nurses to help them settle into living and working in the UK.”

Jincy Jose, a Mental Health Nurse at Woodlands Hospital, GMMH said:

"This is my first clinical experience as a mental health staff nurse abroad. I have been a qualified nurse for the past 10 years, and was working as a Clinical Instructor at a nursing college in India. As I am a Postgraduate in Psychiatric Nursing, I have a good theoretical base but the application of knowledge here in the UK is different. It's been a journey and I am enjoying it. There are a lot of learning experiences, and it will help me climb up my career ladder."

Once trusts have achieved the award, they will be reassessed every three years.

You can find information about the award on the NHS England website.