New initiative offers NHS job guarantee for Brighton graduates

Student mental health nurses at the University of Brighton will have a guaranteed offer of NHS employment when they graduate as part of a new pilot programme.

The programme strengthens the long-standing partnership between the University of Brighton and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) to deliver health degrees including Nursing (Mental Health) BSc (Hons).

Students on this three-year degree course spend around 50% of their time on placement with community teams who work with mental health recovery, in-patient mental health services, older adults both in the community and on inpatient wards and in child and adolescent mental health services.

Many of these placements are with SPFT, which looks after a population of more than 1.7 million people and is the seventh largest health facility in the country. From summer 2024, successful graduates will be guaranteed a position with SPFT without the need for an interview.

The new initiative was introduced to the newest cohort of student mental health nurses at University of Brighton’s Falmer campus.

Guests for the launch including Dr Jane Padmore, Chief Executive at SPFT, Mark Smith, Chief People Officer at University Hospitals Sussex, Funmi Onamusi, Chief People officer at SPFT, and Teresa Barker, Chief Nursing Officer at SPFT.

Professor Debra Humphris CBE (left in photo), Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton and a former Registered Nurse, said: “If there’s ever a time in the world where we need skilful, thoughtful mental health practitioners it’s now. We’re proud that our students can be the future workforce for our local NHS partners, which is nothing less than they deserve. I’ve always known how capable and well trained our graduates are, and our confidence in their skills is reflected in this programme guaranteeing them job offers.”

Dr Jane Padmore, Chief Executive of SPFT (third from left in photo), said: “As the CEO of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and as a registered mental health nurse, I am personally committed to championing all the Mental Health Nursing students at the University of Brighton and ensuring they have a guaranteed job in the Trust, when registered.

“The three years of their training is a time for us to support them to ensure they find their place in SPFT. I am looking forward to being part of their journey to beginning a fulfilling career as a Registered Nurse.”

Find out more about nursing courses at the University of Brighton.