East Cheshire NHS Trust receives Pastoral Care Quality Award for international recruitment

East Cheshire NHS Trust has been awarded the Pastoral Care Quality Award, in recognition of the ongoing support and dedication provided to international nurses at the Trust.

The prestigious award recognises the commitment the Trust has made towards international recruitment and the high-quality pastoral care provided to internationally educated nurses and midwives during the recruitment processes and their employment. 

Shamshy Salehin, Pastoral Support Facilitator at East Cheshire NHS Trust, said:

“I am very proud of the work we do to support our internationally educated nurses and midwives and for our achievement in gaining this significant award.

Shamshy continued:

The award is a recognition of all the Trust’s work in international recruitment and our commitment to providing high-quality pastoral care to all our internationally educated nurses and midwives during their recruitment process and employment.”

The Trust, which manages Macclesfield District General Hospital, Knutsford and District Community Hospital and Congleton War Memorial Hospital, along with the area’s community services, has successfully appointed 192 internationally trained nurses, six midwives and several AHPs to its existing workforce.

Jester Borja, who works in the Emergency Department at Macclesfield Hospital, moved to the UK from the Philippines three years ago and praises the Trust for the support he received during this transition.

He said:

“When I came into the UK and specifically Macclesfield, I felt like I was already home. This is a place where I feel like I’m going to be staying for the rest of my nursing career.

Since I have been here it’s about opening yourself to different experiences and being ready for the challenges you may face. At Macclesfield Hospital you will get all the support you need.” 

The Pastoral Care Quality Award scheme was launched in March 2022, and aims to standardise the quality and delivery of pastoral care for internationally educated nurses and midwives across England.

To achieve this award, East Cheshire NHS Trust has met a set of standards for best practice pastoral care, which have been co-developed with regional and Trust international recruitment leads and international nursing and midwifery associations.

Pictured - Staff from across the Trust proudly display the Pastoral Care Quality Award.