Scotland’s largest health board is set to continue its participation in a major international project which provides opportunities for people with learning disabilities to gain access to employment and learning for a third year.
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHSGGC), in partnership with Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Clyde College, has welcomed 12 students into roles in the facilities department at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary as part of Project SEARCH.
As part of a 700 strong facilities workforce at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, the students will have the opportunity to learn different work skills in catering, portering and domestic. In addition, they’ll also have daily classroom based learning over the next nine months.
Interns will undertake a maximum of three 10 week rotations with the aim of learning key skills required in today’s job market as well as the softer skills which help integration in the workplace.
Students will also have ‘work buddies’ – members of staff who have volunteered to help and support them in addition to the support from their line managers.
Andrew Robertson OBE, Chairman, NHSGGC, said: “I’m proud that we continue to embrace Project SEARCH and I’m pleased that for the third year running we have managed to recruit 12 highly motivated and enthusiastic young people.
“I am certain they will excel in their new roles and will positively contribute to the service that we provide for our patients.”
Margaret Gilroy, Director of Faculty of Access and Continuing Learning, Glasgow Clyde College, commented: “The College is committed to high-quality training, preparing young people from all backgrounds for employment. We’re pleased that the staff of Glasgow Clyde College can provide support to the students of the Project Search Programme
Councillor Malcolm Cunning, Glasgow City Council’s Executive Member for Social Care, said: “Our partnership with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is proving to one of the most successful Project Search ventures in Europe. We are also working in partnership with Strathclyde University as well as other employers to improve the prospects of people with learning disabilities.
“The initiative is helping us to deliver our commitment to vulnerable people but also on our priority for economic growth in the city. Improving the employment opportunities for disabled people is a core aim of the council and Project Search’s excellent track record for getting people into work is being repeated in Glasgow.”
Project SEARCH was originally developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in America. Since then, Project SEARCH has grown from a single program site in Cincinnati to more than 300 sites across the United States, Canada, Scotland, England, and Australia.