Forty colleagues celebrated graduating from Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust’s Resilience, Intelligence, Strength, and Excellence (RISE) programme.
They are the third cohort to complete the customised talent development programme for colleagues from black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds.
It supports staff working in any roles from bands 2 to 8b to progress their careers and enhance their leadership skills.
They also have the opportunity to carry out quality improvement projects to make changes that enhance the quality of care we provide for people who use the Trust’s services.
RISE is part of our commitment to creating a fair and inclusive workplace for all and to provide equitable representation and opportunities for all staff members.
So far, 140 colleagues have completed the programme. A third of participants said they had fully achieved their goals and just under 58% had mostly achieved their goals. Nearly 90% said it had a significant personal impact.
It has also contributed towards improvements in the Trust’s performance against seven indicators for the Workforce Race Equality Standard in 2023.
A number of keynote speakers, along with EPUT’s Chief Operating Officer Alex Green and Chief People Officer Andrew McMenemy, joined colleagues at this year’s RISE graduation event at Stock Brook Manor in Billericay on 10 July.
They included Liz Fenton OBE, who is Director of Nursing and Midwifery at NHS England, and Dr Joan Myers OBE, a consultant in nursing services, a Queen’s Nurse, and fellow and trustee of the Queen’s Nursing Institute.
Graduates shared their experiences, with many expressing increased confidence and enhanced leadership skills.
Mary Ogaziechi, a Lead Heart Failure Nurse, said: “RISE has been one of the best steps in my career. It has opened new pathways and helped me understand myself better, even on a personal level.”
Vee Muzonde, a Programme Manager, said: “RISE has helped me navigate my career pathways and enhanced my skills. I feel more confident, and I encourage my colleagues to take the step of joining the RISE programme.”
EPUT’s Chief People Officer Andrew McMenemy said the RISE programme helps to increase the diversity of people in senior leadership roles, which in turn contributes to the delivery of improved patient care.
He said: “It’s clear listening to the graduates that they’ve already seen developments within their careers, they’ve seen promotions, and they may go on to even bigger and better things.
“It’s really important for us to create that career pathway and succession plan to support our sustainable workforce and the diversity of our workforce going forward.”
Moriam Adekunle, Director of Safety and Patient Safety Specialist and RISE programme lead, said: “I am delighted to celebrate the achievements of our graduates. The RISE programme empowers individuals and ensures that leadership potential is recognised and fostered at every level of our organisation, making the NHS a better place to work.”
Lorraine Hammond-Di Rosa, Director of Employee Experience, said: “The RISE programme is a wonderful tool to make people self-aware of their talents and strengths. I have witnessed first-hand the immense talent within EPUT and believe that everyone’s voice can be a catalyst for change.”
The Trust has shared learning from the RISE programme with other NHS Trusts and continues to develop and expand the programme based on feedback from participants.