NHS Lanarkshire celebrates students' DFN Project Search programme success at graduation ceremony

An inspirational NHS Lanarkshire initiative that helps youngsters with autism and learning disabilities into employment celebrated its latest students’ achievements at a packed graduation ceremony.

DFN Project Search, which has been running since 2010, is an internship programme that has the health board as the host business, supported by ISS, the company that provides facilities management at University Hospital Hairmyres.

University hospitals Hairmyres, Monklands and Wishaw each welcomed seven or eight students during the latest year-long course, with the 23 young adults attending daily employability classes before taking on the challenge of three 12-week work placements.

Professor Jann Gardner, chief executive of NHS Lanarkshire, and NHS Lanarkshire board chair Martin Hill joined families and friends of the students along with representatives from the other Project Search partners - education provider New College Lanarkshire, supported employment providers North and South Lanarkshire councils, and the Project Search organisation.

Professor Gardner said: “I was delighted to attend the event to celebrate the graduation of this year’s students.

“NHS Lanarkshire is incredibly privileged to work with these fabulous young people across all our hospital sites as they gain their first experience of employment, and we’re absolutely thrilled to continue to support them and future students on their journey.”

NHS Lanarkshire and ISS staff who were hospital mentors to the students took to the stage to pay tribute to the graduates during the ceremony at South Lanarkshire Council’s headquarters in Hamilton.

Hotel services manager Gayle Harwood, who oversees the Monklands porters, and Lorna Docherty, domestic services manager at the hospital, said previous Project Search students were now valued members of their teams.

Gayle added: “It’s a fabulous opportunity. The students start out shy and nervous but gain skills interacting with people and become an integral part of the team, getting a chance to show their good work ethic for potential jobs.”

Lorna explained: “They get on well with the patients and other domestic staff. While they’re always nervous at first, they soon come out of their shells and can go and do things on their own.

"They’ve helped our department dramatically with their contribution.”

The programme underlines NHS Lanarkshire’s status as an “anchor organisation” - a large local employer that can have a strong and positive influence on the health and wellbeing of their local communities.

Ross McLaughlin, 19, from Motherwell, said: “Project Search has helped me become more responsible and mature and given me work experience you wouldn’t get anywhere else.

“It has also given me confidence to get a job I want in the future.

"My placements were in catering, pathology and porters.

"My favourite was porters as that is the one I could see myself doing as a job."

Joshua Peattie, 21, from Coatbridge, added: “I have enjoyed my time on Project Search because of all the new people I got to meet, including all of the staff at Monklands, the patients and all the visitors that arrived at the hospital.

“The placements I was on were portering, stores and the Royal Voluntary Service Café. The skills that I have learned have been great.

"The placement I enjoyed the most has to be the cafe; every day was different, always new faces coming in and I like bringing joy to people whether it is serving them coffee or making food or just simply being polite. Being there was really fun and I am glad I got to experience it.

“I am currently aiming to get a volunteering role at Monklands.”

Katie Muir, 28, from Carluke, commented: “I had skills before I entered the course but I put the skills I had into practice and refined them. I’m a bit older than the others and I couldn’t get a job because people with more experience and no learning disability were beating me to it.

“I loved working in medical records - help desk and reception were my favourite placements.

"I worked in the outpatient reception too and my bubbly personality, being friendly and welcoming, really suited that.

“I want to work now. I am ready."

Laura Roberts, 23, from Hamilton, said: “When I started Project Search I wanted to gain more independence and to feel more prepared for working.

"I think I mostly achieved my goals because I have learned how to take the bus and can travel more independently.

“I have learned in my Project Search time that I enjoy working with people. I think I like it more than working on my own. I did like the mop room and healthcare cleaning placement with two former Project Search students who are employed at Hairmyres and were my mentors.

“I have learned that I can do a job and I’m capable of working. I enjoy learning new practical skills. Project Search has helped me to realise that working in a busy environment is not as intimidating as I thought,” added Laura, who is going to university for an animation course.

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