I am in full agreement with her question

I write to support of Lorraine Wood - '˜Qualifications do not add up', Star, September 22. The logic behind the reason for the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust turning down her application(s) for employment in its care service certainly does not add up, neither does its common sense in dealing with her.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Sep 2017, 06:36 BST
Updated 26th Sep 2017, 06:42 BST
Sheffield Teaching HospitalsSheffield Teaching Hospitals
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals

This lady has considerable experience of working as a support worker with Sheffield Health and Social Care, and is currently working at a residential care home in the private sector. She has a level two National Vocational Qualification in social care which required her to pass a mandatory maths and English entrance examination. At 60 years of age and having left school 45 years ago without these qualifications, she is now required by the trust to supply certificates proving her skills in these subjects - in spite of her passing them in her NVQ level two.

Mark Gwilliam, the trust’s director of human resources and organisational development, should hark back to the days when his job title would have been personnel director, and look at the personal aspect of Lorraine’s application. He acknowledges that she has previous healthcare experience yet cites her ‘not having an appropriate level of maths and English because they have to record data and information which is critical to patients receiving safe care.’

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Does a clinical support worker have to have a degree in Rocket Science before the trust will employ them? Would they employ a maths and English language graduate in this position without previous healthcare experience? An employer with common sense should consider the related experience of the applicant for the job. Did they have to record data and information?

If there is any doubt the applicant should be given a basic test of their ability to perform these tasks in relation to their job. Are all trust employees required to work a probationary period before their permanent employment is confirmed? If so, Lorraine’s ability to do the job can soon be assessed.

I agree with her question ‘how many of the people who get this sensitive post will be able to show the compassion and empathy needed for this role.’ If I needed end-of-life care, I would welcome being comforted by a woman with considerable experience, able to record data and information in spite of not having a modern day maths and English qualification. And, most importantly, the compassion and empathy she may possess, allied with that gained from her previous experience - rather than an academic genius with little or no previous experience of this type of work!

Cyril Olsen

Busk Meadow, Sheffield, S5

Related topics:Sheffield