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 is currently taking with a view to start in October. Queens adult places commence in February 2009 and are likely to be advertised around September. In addition they have just confirmed, thanks to UNISON’s lobbying, they are going to commission a learning disability nursing workbased route through Queens. OU mental health places have now opened acrioss all 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.

Health Trusts are 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. Following registration you can persue further study to top up to a degree.

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

South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust

Information Session Wed 28 May 10 – 12 noon Conference Room, Cherryvalley, Downshire Hospital Appl Closure Mon 09 June
Interviews Thurs 19 June from 2 pm

Application forms available at information session, no designated contact yet.

Western Health & Social Care Trust
Information Session Tues 3 June 1.30 pm Seminar Room, Gransha

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