Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) has offered roles to more than 60 nurses from Botswana.
The Recruitment team at EPUT spent eight days in Botswana interviewing hundreds of nurses interested in a career with the NHS.
Nesta Williams, Director of Workforce Transformation and International Recruitment, said: “We’re delighted that 66 nurses have chosen to take the next step in their nursing career with EPUT.
“The interview panel was impressed by the applicants’ commitment to their patients, understanding of good team working, and their approach to providing excellent care.
“Some of the nurses are trained in both mental health and physical health, and this means they could choose to work in a range of services.”
Nurses make up the largest clinical workforce in the NHS, and play a key role in providing person-centred care.
Professor Natalie Hammond, Executive Nurse, said: “The last two years of the pandemic have been extremely challenging. A robust nursing workforce helps us provide safe care, meet the needs of our communities, and is key to achieving our vision be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.
“The nurses joining us from Botswana will reduce the number of nursing vacancies at our Trust, resulting in better patient experience, and more support for our current staff.
“It’s an exciting time; our EPUT clinicians will have opportunities to share their experience and expertise with our new colleagues from Botswana.”
The exchange of skills and experience is one of the benefits of international recruitment, and will allow nurses working in the UK and nurses from Botswana to learn from one another.
Following successful recruitment checks, the nurses will be joining the Trust from August.
The Trust’s international recruitment is aligned with the World Health Organization’s Code of Practice, which sets out how recruitment can take place ethically from overseas.
On arrival to the UK, pastoral care assists with things like opening a bank account and helping the nurses to settle in the UK.
Before joining the Trust’s wards, the nurses must undertake a practical exam which looks at clinical and communication skills, which the Trust will support them to prepare for.