A total of 15 Somali women enrolled on The Women in Motion programme, a four-week employability programme to encourage women from the Somali Community to develop skills and knowledge. Led by the Training Hub, a key aim of the programme was to ensure the women gained significant experiential learning to enhance their future job-hunting prospects.
The employability programme consisted of a useful blend of classroom teaching sessions designed by the Training Hub. Sessions included focus groups involving practice managers and receptionist admin staff as well as practical working experience at GP surgeries. In addition, participants benefitted from online training modules covering relevant subjects.
Special thanks to Care Group’s Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Facilitator Layla Abdi and Widening Participation Project Manager Farduse Islam for leading the delivery of the programme.
Commenting on the programme, Layla Abdi, said: “The programme is a clear commitment to our goal of progressing towards improving diversity in our healthcare workforce.
“The ‘Women in Motion’ programme has been a huge success with eight participants already securing long-term employment and others reporting improvement in confidence level and preparedness to apply for healthcare-based jobs."
“Following the programme’s success, health partners North East London Integrated Care Board has recently funded an at-scale delivery of the programme across the North East London region, targeting employability capability for underrepresented groups in the workforce. This will be mobilised in the new year.”
The Women in Motion programme was funded as part of the Tower Hamlets Together Improving Equity programme, which was supported by East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT). Life QI, an online home for QI projects at ELFT, played a significant role by analysing data and fostering collaboration.
