The Recruitment Team have continued to focus on attracting, supporting and retaining people who will build long and fulfilling careers at the Trust. From large-scale preceptee recruitment to partnership working across the city, our approach is increasingly about long-term sustainability, not just filling vacancies.

Preceptee recruitment
This November, we welcomed 123 preceptee candidates to DCHW for dedicated interview days, and we are delighted to have offered posts to 100 candidates.

Looking ahead to the spring, we plan to invite our preceptees to meet with clinical divisions ahead of final allocation. This will allow meaningful conversations about interests, strengths and career aspirations, ensuring alignment with wards and teams where individuals are most likely to thrive, develop and stay with us long term. This approach reflects our ongoing commitment to retention through thoughtful workforce planning and early engagement.

Working together as an anchor organisation
Recruitment at UHP continues to play an active role in the Civic Engagement Group, alongside Babcock, Plymouth City Council and the University of Plymouth. Together, we are working to improve access to employment and create more inclusive, sustainable pathways into and within work across the city.

Key areas of focus include:

• Improving the accessibility and sustainability of commuting options
• Supporting digital qualifications that enhance transferable skills
• Centralising parental support information to better support working families
• Coordinating outreach programmes across organisations
• Maximising the use of the apprenticeship levy
• Promoting best practice for supporting neurodiverse staff

These initiatives aim to help more people access jobs, build relevant skills, strengthen the link between education and work, grow apprenticeship opportunities, and create workplaces that are inclusive and supportive of families.

Upcoming HCSW Interview Day – Division C
We are also preparing for an upcoming Healthcare Support Worker Interview Day to support Division C, with the aim of recruiting over 70 HCSWs. This event will be another example of our, designs to bring motivated candidates into roles where they can make a real difference to patient care and team resilience.