The HSE has launched the pilot phase of a new scheme in the Western region aimed at preparing people in administrative grades V, VI and VII for career development.

The scheme was developed to improve the level of applications for promotional posts, and aims to create an individual personal development plan (PDP) for each participant. The PDP identifies individual strengths and areas for development, and will result in a plan for career progression.

Fórsa official Pádraig Mulligan sits on the steering group for the pilot scheme. He explained that the union’s participation in the scheme was to ensure that members could benefit directly through improved career development opportunities.

“One of the consequences of the long moratorium on recruitment in the HSE is that there is currently a low number of applicants when a post is advertised within these grades.

“Part of the reason for this is that potential applicants haven’t had the opportunity to audit their own skills and haven’t gone through a job application or interview process for a very long time.

“This pilot scheme aims to address that. A completed PDP is based on individual skills and development needs that will provide members with opportunities for their professional and personal development.

“Fórsa is involved in order to ensure this, and it adds value to union membership by creating a pathway to career progression for our members.

“Succession planning by the HSE is key to ensuring that their own staff are provided with the training and opportunities to compete with external candidates. An important part of this will be release for coaching and placement in order to gain relevant experience in other areas of the service,” he said.

Members who are interested in taking part in the scheme are advised to discuss the programme with their manager and fill out an application form.

Application forms are available by contacting the HSE Programme Lead Dermot Cunningham at this address.

The deadline for completed application forms is 10th October 2019, and more information is available HERE.