Elysium Healthcare, a provider of mental health, neurological, learning disabilities & autism, children & education, and private patient services, has celebrated the arrival of its 500^th International Nurse this month as part of its award winning Overseas Nurse programme.

The care provider launched its programme in November 2018 to address staffing shortages by recruiting international nurses who share its culture and values of kindness, teamwork and excellence.

Joy Chamberlain, chief executive, said: “Elysium Healthcare has a long history of recruiting overseas nurses, some of whom have achieved career progression to ward manager and lead nurse. The Overseas Nurse programme has enabled numerous talented nurses to adapt effectively to UK life and culture and begin to build lasting carers within our healthcare system. The UK nursing shortage is well known, so we are incredibly proud to have reached this landmark and to have contributed 500 skilled nurses towards changing lives here in the UK.

“International nurses who have stayed throughout this programme have ensured vacancy numbers have reduced and provided invaluable continuity of care, not to mention additional benefits such as sharing multicultural events, lunches, foods and dress with their colleagues, who have gained new knowledge of other cultures. We look forward to continuing to provide opportunities to those who share our values of kindness, integrity, teamwork and excellence.”

The programme has included combining learning & development and international workforce teams, creating a brand-new training programme featuring OSCE coaches and rolling-out two dedicated training venues to relocate, train and pass the Objective Structured Clinical Exam, which is required for all nurses working in the UK.

Since the programme began, under 13% have decided not to remain and 211 have gone on to achieve promotions in their new workplaces. The time to qualify has reduced from twelve weeks to six and 87% now achieve a first-time pass, with 100% passing the second time if needed. When compared to the cost of employing agency nurses across the same period, each hire represents a significant saving.