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Posted on 9 Dec 2016

Two of Nottingham’s largest employers are combining their strengths to develop innovative solutions that help address major issues facing mental health and community services.

Nottinghamshire Healthcare and Nottingham Trent University have signed a strategic partnership agreement in order to cooperate more closely and address the challenges that the NHS is currently facing. Work will be undertaken to share knowledge and experience in a wide range of areas such as skills and talent development, student support, empowering people approaches, research and innovation, and the mutual use of facilities and equipment.

One area of focus will be workforce recruitment, retention and skills development. The University will work with the Trust to develop new pathways to enable individuals to convert or upgrade their skills. In turn, this will enable students to carry out specific project work as well as undertake work placements and experience within the Trust, leading to enhanced employment opportunities.

In another area, the partners will work together to develop a more joined up approach to student support that will improve ease of access to counsellors, deliver a more personalised approach to mental health support and provide linkages to student development and career progression.

Ruth Hawkins, Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire Healthcare, said: “We are really pleased to be partnering with Nottingham Trent University. As the NHS faces the struggle of recruitment and retention of staff in these austere times it will be good to be working together to enhance the employment offer we can make and to support students in their early careers. Wellbeing is important to everyone and this will be a major part of the offer we develop together.”

Professor Edward Peck, Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, said:

 “We are delighted to be signing this agreement with Nottinghamshire Healthcare  which generates so many opportunities for both partners. It will deliver benefits to our students in both their educational development and their health and wellbeing.”

This agreement is one of a series of new compact agreements the University is planning to sign with partners. This is part of its commitment to match the expertise of its academics, staff, students and graduates to the needs of a range of public and private organisations in both the region and beyond.

Prof Peck said: “As a university, we are ideally placed to work closely with partners to address our respective business needs. This strategic approach means we are able to best align our areas of strength to generate mutual benefit and future success.”