Empowering international clinical talent in the East Midlands
What is the programme?
- The objective of the programme is to support internationally recruited colleagues at all levels - including nurses, allied health professionals, doctors, clinical support workers and front-line workers, in the first 1 to 3 years of their role - to fully settle in, embrace new roles and prepare for growth and development.
- Talent for Care and the East Midlands Alliance launched the programme in September 2024, with 2 cohorts completing the programme to date.
- 27 participants in total have completed the course from 4 organisations across the East Midlands Alliance.
- Outcomes so far have been extremely positive with nearly all participants reporting improved or significantly improved levels of skills and practices, across the core dimensions of the programme.
What was the challenge?
The New Horizons programme is specifically designed to support internationally educated colleagues so they are recognised for the value they bring and supported in their personal and professional growth, in the context of cultural integration.
The second graph shows the improvement in body mass index (BMI) for those who have completed the programme, displaying their starting and ending BMIs.
The programme
The New Horizons programme was launched in September 2024 by Talent for Care and the East Midlands Alliance.
The programme lasts 4 to 5 months. The core elements of the programme include:
- Wellbeing and pastoral support - Facilitated support to share challenges and be heard, valued and supported
- Peer support - Dedicated practice partners providing support
- Cultural integration - Co-led guest sessions by experienced International recruits sharing their stories
- Line Manager Support - Working with their colleagues to encourage connections
- Personal and professional development - Experimental learning techniques to develop core skills and build confidence
- Celebrating diversity - Supporting participants to bring their passions, culture and personality to their role, celebrating difference
Key features of the programme include:
- Mixed cohorts of up to 16 overseas colleagues, from different departments, professions and countries of origin.
- 1-to-1 enrolment through a welcome conversation with programme leaders.
- Interactive programme sessions (1.5 to 2 hours via MS Teams), led by 3 programme leaders and held every 2 to 3 weeks.
- Access to internationally recruited colleagues who have fully settled and contribute to the programme by sharing their experience and helping to deliver specific sessions.
- Practice partners for each participant, to share the support and development journey. A series of practices between each session, to be developed individually and / or with practice partners.
- WhatsApp group for each cohort, lightly moderated, to maximise interaction and sharing among participants.
- A sequence of light, interactive assignments and awareness-raising activities.
- Full CPD accreditation and certificate of completion
- A programme e-booklet, including core material, practices and recommended readings and references.
What were the outcomes?
Participants almost unanimously reported 'improved or significantly improved' levels of skills and practices across the core dimensions for the programme:
- Awareness
- Resilience
- Self expression
- Challenging conversations
- Listening
- Relationships
- Communication
- Support
- Belonging
- Inclusivity
Participants rated feeling valued by their organisation an average of 4.7 out of 5 as a result of being on the programme. 93% improved their sense of belonging to team and organisation. 100% of participants would recommend the programme to their colleagues.
What did participants say about the programme?
Below is some feedback provided directly from participants:
"This programme has been effective in helping me find a sustainable work-life balance in a new culture and country."
"My confidence has grown immensely and knowing that there are other international nurses out there sharing in my experiences helped build my resilience."
"It helped me in my listening skills which improved my understanding of my communication with others and being kind to myself."
"It helped increase my confidence. It allowed me to increase my support system, by giving me an outlet to discuss and share my thoughts, experiences and feelings."
"It has been an eye-opener; I have developed more confidence at my workplace and have that sense of belonging in the team. I have been able to communicate effectively and listen more without judging."
"I noticed a positive change in my mindset and motivation."