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Ways to work with us

As well as offering more permanent career opportunities, we as a Trust are proud to provide a range of different alternative work opportunities, for those looking to gain experience and develop skills and for those looking to choose when and where they would like to work.

We have a dedicated Voluntary and Community Development service that provides support across the organisation. Our Volunteering Programme has been awarded the Investing in Volunteers UK Quality Standard. SCFT also offers work experience opportunities, apprenticeships and temporary Work. These can help inform your long-term NHS career by helping to choose the right role for you, and build relationships with us for steady work to help you move into a permanent role.

Temporary Work

Qualified and experienced nurses, healthcare assistants and housekeeping staff are just some examples of available temporary positions, to help meet areas of need and to suit your lifestyle.

Some of the roles include:

  • Healthcare assistants
  • Registered nurses
  • Housekeepers
  • Administrators
  • Occupational therapists
  • Physiotherapists

If you're interested in joining us, please contact our friendly Temporary Workforce Service team on 01273 242227 or email: sc-tr.bank@nhs.net

There are lots of reasons to join the Temporary Workforce Service ‘bank’.

These include:

  • Being paid a 12.5% supplement (at least) on your usual rate
  • Weekly pay
  • Get access to a number of staff and benefits, including the NHS pensions scheme (Find out more about NHS Pensions); The NHS Pension Scheme is still one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK. Every member of the Temporary Workforce Service will automatically receive this excellent package of pension benefits.
  • Get access to training and development opportunities
  • Gain experience of working in innovative services providing solutions to our communities biggest health and care challenges
  • Be treated as an internal applicant if you want to apply for permanent jobs with us
  • Access to our occupational health services

Pay

Temporary Workforce Service members are paid based on Agenda for Change pay rates. Pay is made up of a number of elements including:

  • Holiday pay at a rate of 12.5%, instead of accruing annual leave (WTD)
  • Unsocial hours payments (when applicable) at the following rates:

Band

Saturday and weekday nights (8pm - 6am)

Sunday and Public Holidays

1

Time plus 50%

Double Time

2

Time plus 44%

Time plus 88%

3

Time plus 37%

Time plus 74%

4-9

Time plus 30%

Time plus 60%


Looking to volunteer?

Please join our Facebook page to see what opportunities we have across the Trust.

We have a dedicated volunteer service that provides support across the organisation with just under 550+ volunteers. Find out about our volunteering opportunities.

Volunteering

Volunteering at Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us. Our amazing volunteers play a huge part in supporting the delivery of care to the many people who use our services. We have a variety of roles, and you can play a very important part by helping us enhance the quality of care to our patients and by supporting our staff.

Am I eligible to volunteer?

  • Are you aged 18 years or over? Please note there are some roles available for under 16-17 year olds and each advert will advise of this.
  • Are you able to volunteer regularly on an agreed weekly 1–3-hour shift for a minimum of 6 months? Please note that we cannotoffer any short-term work experience placements.
  • Do you have the right to work in the UK?

If your answer is 'Yes' to all these questions, we would love to hear from you.

How do I become a SCFT Volunteer:

  • You will be required to complete an application form and participate in an informal interview with one of our friendly Voluntary Services Managers.
  • As part of your application, you will need to have 3 pieces of ID to show us that meet NHS recruitment requirements. Please click on this link to see which ID types we can accept: checklist
  • We will organise a Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) for you, free of charge after interview.
  • You will need to provide the names and contact details of two individuals that we can contact for suitable references.
  • You will need to complete our  user-friendly training to prepare you for your volunteering role. 

Want to know more?

Please click on this link to Find your volunteering opportunity 

This link will take you to a separate webpage where you can search by postcode or town to find current roles available within your area. All roles indicate if suitable for 16 to 17 year olds.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please email sc-tr.voluntary-services@nhs.net or phone 01273 242292.

Find your volunteering opportunity


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Apprenticeships

Are you interested in becoming an apprentice at SCFT?

Apprenticeships have changed nationally and are now much more widely available to anyone over the age of 16 who meets the criteria.

An apprenticeship is a genuine job where you earn a wage, with an accompanying skills development programme. Apprentices gain the technical knowledge, practical experience and wider skills they need for their immediate job and future career and gain a nationally recognised qualification. Your course fees will be paid with no cost to you.

Do you meet the criteria?

  • Age 16+ (there is no upper age limit)
  • Not in full time education
  • You must be a citizen of the UK or have been an ordinarily resident in the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) for at least the previous 3 years
  • Graduates can also now apply, as long as it is in a different subject area to their degree and relevant to their current job

What courses are available?

Apprenticeships are available at all different levels from Level 2 to Level 7 (master's degree level) and are a real alternative to university without incurring a hefty student loan. Apprenticeships are available in a broad range of subjects (both clinical and non-clinical) leading to many different occupations within the health sector.

We offer a wide variety of apprenticeship courses at SCFT. To find out the apprenticeships we can offer our staff (depending on current experience and qualifications), please visit this link. You can contact us via our online form if you would like more information about a specific course.

How long does a course take?

Apprenticeships take a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 5 years (depending on level) where you will spend time learning in the workplace alongside formal off the job learning. You will be able to benefit from being in a real work situation where you can practice and develop new skills.

What are the benefits?

  • Receive recognised qualifications
  • Earn a wage and get holiday pay
  • Work alongside experienced staff
  • Gain job specific skills
  • No need to get a student loan if studying at university – no debt!
  • NHS Pension Scheme
  • TOTUM card
  • Join a Trade Union (UNISON)
  • Family and childcare support

Want to get in touch?

Please complete our online form if you have a query or would like to find out more.

Work Experience

What is Work Experience?

Work Experience is a short period spent in the workplace to learn what it is like to carry out that kind of profession, giving an opportunity to gain real life experience in a work setting.

At Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust we offer up to 1 week of Work Experience to school, college and university students, as well as staff looking to go into other areas and individuals who are looking for a career change.

Work Experience can be offered to individuals aged 14-15 in administrative based roles, and 16+ in a wider range of roles. There is no upper age limit.

Due to high demand for Work Experience we are not always able to accommodate specific requests, although we will work with you to search for an alternative.

A Work Experience placement may comprise of work shadowing/observation and work-based projects.

Please note:

  • All placements are unpaid, and the Trust will not meet any costs of travel, subsistence or accommodation.
  • Work Experience applications must come from the applicant themselves or their school/college Work Experience Coordinator. We will no longer be processing work experience applications from parents/guardians unless special circumstances apply.

How do I apply?

If you are interested in Work Experience, please contact sc-tr.workexperience@nhs.net with the following information:

  • Name
  • Age
  • Area of interest
  • Location

We look forward to hearing from you!

Patient Safety Partners

patient safety newsletter social media

The role of a Patient Safety Partner

Patient Safety Partners is a new role which gives you the chance to be the voice of patients and members of the public, and support patient safety across the Trust! You will be part of the Patient Safety Team, and attend key meetings, as well as being involved with key projects delivered by the Patient Safety Team, or the wider Trust.

Location

The role covers the whole Trust. However you will be working with the Patient Safety Team who are based at Brighton General Hospital. The role will be a mix of both virtual and face to face.

Key Tasks

These include attending key meetings and committees including those in relation to learning from patient safety incidents and investigations, supporting the Patient Safety Team with key patient safety projects, and being a voice for patients, ex-service users and members of the public.          

What is in it for you

You will be able to share your voice and opinions to improve patient safety on both a local and trust wide scale. You will receive travel expenses as well as an involvement payment for the time you give (£75 for half a day, and £150 for a full day).

How to apply

**We do not currently have any vacancies for this role.**

If you are interested you can apply for the role please use this application form

Once you have completed the form, please email it to sc-tr.patientsafetyteam@nhs.net or alternatively, you can post it to: 

Patient Safety Team, Quality and Safety Department, Bramber Building, Brighton General Hospital, Elm Grove, Brighton, BN2 3EW.

For further information please see Further Applicant Information.

if you have any questions, or if you require a paper version of the form, please contact:

sc-tr.patientsafetyteam@nhs.net.

Living Well Programme

Join our team of volunteer tutors, helping us to deliver the Living Well Programme.

What is The Living Well Programme?

The Living Well Programme is a 6-week self-management course for adults living with any long-term health condition.

Each session is a duration of 2 hours online or 2.5 hours in person within a community setting.

LWP volunteer tutor criteria

Self-management volunteer tutors are vital to the success of the Living Well Programme. Our volunteers make a real difference to people living with long-term health conditions.

Volunteering can be very rewarding, a great confidence boost and lead you to meet new, interesting and like-minded people.

Essential criteria for becoming a Living Well Programme volunteer tutor are:

  • To be living with a long term health condition
  • To have completed the Living Well Programme course as a participant
  • Willing to attend 4 – 5 days of training to become an accredited Living Well Programme volunteer tutor

Training runs annually in September.

You can read the full tutor criteria here.

How to apply:

Contact the Living Well Team to find out more and/or receive a volunteer tutor application pack:

Email: sc-tr.livingwell@nhs.net

Tel: 01403 620448 / 01273 267545

Visit our webpage for more information on the Living Well Programme.