Minister visits hospital
MP Stephen Timms, Minister of State for the Department of Work and Pensions visited Northwick Park Hospital to see the innovative work of a project that helps train and employ young people.
Project Search helps students with learning disabilities and autism gain practical workplace experience with the NHS.
The initiative has a 70% success rate in finding graduates paid employment compared to the national average of 7%.
The graduates work in areas including outpatients, pharmacy, medical equipment library, multi professional clinical education, patient dining, portering, post room and Domestic Stores.
The hospital welcomed its first set of interns in 2017 and takes on up to 12 students every September for a period of nine months.
Pippa Nightingale, CEO of LNWH Trust, said: “We know statistically that this group of people struggle to find employment and we hope our actions encourage more employers to follow suit and give these young people a chance.”
Project Search is supported by partners including Harrow, Richmond and Uxbridge College, Kaleidoscope, Medirest, West London Alliance and Harrow Council.