UNISON Ulearn Northern Ireland

The Dept of Health has commissioned 18 mental health nursing places from the Open University, 15 mental health places from University of Ulster and 15 adult nursing places from Queens University. Recruitment for mental health places will take place over the coming months with a view to start in October. Queens adult places commence in February 2009 and are likely to be advertised around September. OU mental health places hav now opened in the Northern, Belfast & Southern Health Trusts.

The workbased route to nursing is something which UNISON successfully campaigned for and we are delighted that provision has been extended. The first cohort of Open University mental health nurses are graduating this year and will move from the role of health care assistant to nurse over the coming months.

There are a number of Trusts currently recruiting Open University mental health places. The course contains theoretical and practical assessment and those who completed are awarded a Diploma in Mental Health Nursing and can then apply to the NMC for registration.

Entry criteria is as follows.
Applicants must:

Be of Good Character and Health
Be in post in mental health with your employer’s support.
Have experience of care delivery

And have one or more of the following:
NVQ III Care Award Plus a Numeracy Qualification at Key Skills level 2 or Equivalent* K100 Understanding Health and Social Care plus a numeracy qualification at Key Skills level II or equivalent.
5 GCSE’s (including literacy and numeracy component at key skills level II).

*Recognised equivalent qualifications are available here

Northern Health & Social Care Trust
An information session will be held at on Friday 23rd May

10am - 12pm Holywell Hospital Board room

At this event you can collect an application pack.
Closing date 4pm Friday 30th May 2008.
Interviews taking place on Monday 9th June 2008.
For Further Information please contact: Mr Trevor Fleming or Carol Buick on 94413119

Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
Information sessions will take place on 22nd May 2008

10am - 12pm Admin Building, Knockbracken Healthcare Park
&
2pm – 4pm Large Conference Room, Everton Complex

At this event you can collect an application pack.
Closing Date: 4th June 2008 at 12 noon.
Interview Date: 13th June 2008.

For Further Information Please Contact: Mary McShane (BCH site), Cahal McKervey (Knockbracken site), Esther Rafferty (Glendenning)

Southern Health & Social Care Trust
Information sessions will take place on Friday 30 May 2008

10.30 am to 12.30pm Callan Room, St Luke’s Hospital & 1.30pm – 2.30pm Bluestone Unit, Craigavon Area Hospital

At this event you can collect an application pack. Closing date for applications 11June 2008.
Interview date: Monday 23rd June 2008

For Further Information Please Contact:

Mrs Carmel Johnston on 028-38666705 Ext: 4705 or Mrs Bernadette Corvan on 028-37522381 Ext: 2097

Discussions are still continuing between other Health Trusts and the Open University and University of Ulster. We hope to have a recruitment timetable for other Trusts over the next couple of weeks.