Two mums who gained NHS jobs aimed at parents have praised the special initiative that got them employment.
NHS Lanarkshire’s Demonstrator Programme supports mums and dads to enter employment or upskill through paid NHS placements.
Aligned with the Scottish Government’s “No One Left Behind” agenda and the health board’s role as an Anchor Organisation, the latest programme welcomed 35 participants aged 18 and over.
They took on roles across NHS Lanarkshire and its facilities management partner ISS, in partnership with North and South Lanarkshire councils and Routes to Work Ltd.
Mona Narang (pictured above left), who joined NHS Lanarkshire’s recruitment team and has since secured a promoted role, said: “The highlight has been gaining confidence and feeling fully capable in my role as a clerical officer.
“Being able to contribute effectively to the team, complete tasks independently and see my own growth over the programme has been incredibly rewarding. It has been motivating to know that I can balance returning to work with personal responsibilities while making a positive impact in the workplace.”
Shamaila Maqbool (pictured above right), who completed her placement in domestic services at University Hospital Monklands and secured a permanent role, added: “The highlight for me was receiving great support from my manager and colleagues, who were approachable and always willing to help.
“There was guidance provided throughout the programme, including regular check-ins and feedback, which helped me improve and stay on track. The supportive environment made a big difference in building my confidence and skills as well as getting support to apply for a permanent job for the end of the programme, which I am delight to say I have got!”
Placement opportunities across the programme included roles in administration, healthcare support (community and acute), domestic services, portering, catering, and assistant technical roles in pharmacy and cardiology. The programme also expanded to include healthcare support worker placements within physiotherapy teams, further diversifying the experience available to participants.
A flexible approach to working hours is central to the programme, helping parents balance employment with childcare commitments. Participants also benefit from comprehensive wraparound support delivered by our employability team. This includes a structured induction, regular one-to-one coaching sessions and group workshops covering goal setting, career planning, application skills and interview technique, alongside opportunities to build peer support networks.
NHS Lanarkshire Senior Employability Advisor Nicole Grant said: “I can’t thank our managers enough for their continued support over the past four years.
“With each cohort, we’ve refined and strengthened the programme, and the impact is clear in the increasing number of positive outcomes year on year. It’s incredibly rewarding to see parents grow in confidence, skills and networks throughout their placements. We’re extremely proud of what has been achieved and look forward to welcoming cohort five in the coming months.”
Outcomes have continued to improve year on year, with 80 per cent of the third cohort progressing into employment or other positive destinations, rising to 90 per cent of those who completed the programme in the most recent cohort. Participant feedback has also been overwhelmingly positive, with 100 per cent rating the programme as good or very good. Reported benefits include improved financial stability, increased confidence and enhanced health and wellbeing.
If your team is interested in hosting a placement as part of the Demonstrator Programme, please contact Nicole.Grant@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk.
