THE Great Western Hospital’s commitment to getting nurses back into work after a break has been nominated for a regional award.

Health Education South West has nominated Great Western Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust for the Employer Award at the annual Return To Practice Awards.

It has provided a popular course designed to get nurses on a career break back into the profession.

The trust’s Return To Practice programme, which runs three times a year in January, May and October, offers local nurses, midwives and health visitors the chance to get back into work after taking time out from the profession.

Shelly Knight, the Return To Practice lead, said: “Being nominated for this award is a fantastic achievement and is a testament to the trust’s strong record of enthusiastically helping healthcare professionals return to work.

“Our Return To Practice programme, as well as our Return To Acute Care programme, which offers support to health workers in care homes and other community settings who want to make the move to hospital working, is a fantastic way of bringing in talented and experienced staff who already have the skills and values we look for.

“Everyone who takes part in the course is paired with an experienced mentor who can help develop a person’s confidence and skills which can get them ready again for life on a ward.

“We know that returning to practice can be daunting, especially after a long break, which is why we will offer the support, guidance and training needed to develop a fulfilling and exciting career.

“After successfully completing the programme staff will be offered a diverse range of roles in both our acute or community teams."

The awards ceremony was held in Taunton on Wednesday.

The next Return To Practice course, run at the Great Western Hospital by the University of the West of England, will take place in October 2015.

Bursaries of up to £1,000 will be available to those who choose to return to practice after successfully completing the course.

Anybody wanting to take part in the October course must apply by contacting Shelly Knight on 01793 604437 or shelly.knight@gwh.nhs.uk

A special coffee information session will be held in the Academy at the Great Western Hospital on Wednesday, September 9 between 3pm and 6pm for any nurses with a lapsed registration who may be interested in returning to work.

The Return To Practice programme is just one of the ways the trust is trying to increase the number of staff on its wards at GWH and in the community.

A recruitment drive which started in 2013 has already attracted more than 490 nurses. 68 midwives and 85 doctors.