Trust adopts apprentice charter


Devon Partnership NHS Trust has become the latest employer to sign up to an apprenticeship charter drawn up by public services union UNISON.


Under the charter, the trust has pledged to do everything it can to grant apprentices’ rights to an employment contract and a job offer once their apprenticeship is complete. It also agrees to develop apprenticeships along with trade unions.


The UNISON branch’s representative, Caroline Emery, said: “We have been working towards this for the past two years. We are proud to have been the first South West branch to get to this point and we hope our work can be a model for future agreements.”


Devon Partnership Trust’s head of education and training Dr Floraidh Rolf said: “The programme offers lots of opportunities to both recruit and retain employees by enabling new staff to join and existing staff to up-skill.”