A colleague described as a ‘little bit of fairy dust’ and provided employment, learning and developing opportunities for hundreds of people has been named as East Lancashire Hospital NHS Trust’s January ‘employee of the month’.
Sue Lang, Vocational Pre-employment Co-Ordinator at the Trust, was nominated for her work delivering Pre-Employment Schemes, which help people who have not worked for some time into roles across the Trust’s healthcare services and settings in Blackburn, Burnley, Accrington, Clitheroe and Pendle.
Sue’s work also involves linking with the Princes Trust and local job centres, as well as the Kick Start scheme which initially started as pilot. In the last five years, 225 people have participated in the schemes and of those, 85% have gone on to secure a permanent job at the Trust.
Gill Cairns is Sue’s manager and nominated her for the award. She said: “A large proportion of people that come to the Trust through these schemes have not been in employment for a long time and have experienced challenges or hardships in their lives.
“Sue is a little bit of fairy dust, changing so much for these people. Her willingness to help, remove barriers and be non-judgemental makes all the difference. She seeks to create opportunities that fit people's strengths and she believes passionately in second chances.
“If I was someone whose life had unravelled, I would want to meet someone like Sue who could help me pull it back together.”
Sue’s work on Pre-Employment Schemes has been showcased at national forums, including by NHS Employers and two of the young people who participated have been awarded The Princes Trust Young Achiever of the Year. It has never previously happened that the winners for two concurrent years came from the same employer.
Interim Chief Executive Martin Hodgson presented the award to Sue, said: “I am so proud Sue has been nominated as our Employee of the Month and of everything she has achieved in her role. It is incredible that she has been able to influence the lives of so many people so positively and to gain two Prince’s Trust Awards in this way has never been done before.
“I feel strongly that the Trust is here to provide safe, personal and effective care for our patients but we do have a role as one of the biggest organisations and employers in Pennine Lancashire to ensure there are opportunities for local people too.
“That these schemes support some of the most vulnerable in our community, providing learning opportunities, secure employment and a chance for people in East Lancashire that really need it is just brilliant.
“Sue’s tireless work has given the Trust a great new cohort of colleagues who are passionate about their work. Huge congratulations and thank you to Sue – you are a brilliant example of what makes us an ELHT family.”
