Most people know The Christie for the life-changing care we provide to patients and families every day. Less well known is the work taking place behind the scenes to ensure that the opportunities within our organisation are accessible to everyone. Through partnerships with schools, colleges, charities and community organisations, we create opportunities for people to discover NHS careers, gain valuable experience and see themselves in roles they may never have thought possible.
Many of the people we work with have faced challenges that can affect access to employment and development opportunities, whether through disability, caring responsibilities, financial hardship, disrupted education, reduced confidence, or simply never having seen themselves represented within NHS careers. Our role is not to lower expectations, but to work alongside individuals and partners to address structural and systemic inequalities, challenge assumptions and co-design programmes where everyone can thrive.
This summer, Career Development Practitioner Lydia Botley partnered with WorkFit, the Down's Syndrome Association's employment programme. WorkFit supports people with Down's syndrome to access meaningful work-related opportunities while helping employers build the confidence, knowledge and practical skills needed to support them. Despite bringing a wealth of skills and talents, people with Down's syndrome remain significantly underrepresented in employment, including within the NHS. We saw this as an opportunity to learn from lived experience and adapt and enhance our existing employability programmes. We co-created opportunities that reflected individual aspirations and ensured the support was responsive to different needs, circumstances and ways of engaging.
To kick things off, we invited a WorkFit employment coach to deliver a training session for colleagues interested in supporting young people on work experience placements. The session explored effective communication approaches, practical ways to support people with Down's syndrome in the workplace and sparked important conversations about how recruitment and workplace practices can sometimes unintentionally limit opportunities. Colleagues also heard about two young people referred through WorkFit, whose experiences and aspirations helped bring these discussions to life and shaped the support we would go on to provide.
One of the young people referred through WorkFit was Joe, who was keen to gain valuable workplace experience during the summer before returning to college in September. From the moment Joe arrived, he brought enthusiasm, curiosity and a fantastic sense of humour. Working closely with WorkFit and Joe's family throughout his 12-week placement, we designed an experience that balanced the right level of support with opportunities for independence. Hours were adjusted to meet his needs, lunch arrangements and supervision were carefully considered, and most importantly, Joe was given the autonomy to make decisions and experience the workplace in a way that worked for him.
What made the placement such a joy was the enthusiasm and support shown by colleagues across the Trust. Collaboration across The Christie is the heartbeat of our widening participation work, and Joe's journey demonstrated what can be achieved when teams are open-minded, welcoming and willing to create opportunities for others. In return, he brought energy and curiosity to every team he joined, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who worked alongside him.
Joe started his placement in the Education Centre, working beside Dave Glover, Education Events Manager and Technical Lead, exploring the technical delivery of live and virtual events. With an interest in sound engineering, he quickly immersed himself in learning about equipment and event technology.
Joe then joined the Portering Team, gaining insight into a service that is fundamental to the smooth running of the hospital. He spent time shadowing porters involved in the delivery of blood samples, patient transport and waste management across the Trust. He quickly developed a first-hand understanding of the responsibility, coordination and teamwork required to support patient care and keep a busy specialist hospital running every day.
Alongside the practical experience, Joe built a fantastic friendship with his placement buddy, Mike, sharing plenty of laughter throughout his time with the team. His time with the Portering Team showed how a true sense of belonging is created through everyday moments of teamwork, conversation and friendship. Through these relationships, Joe became more than a visitor on placement; he became a valued member of the team.
For the final stage of his placement, Joe joined the Digital Refresh Team, where Aamir, Jake and Mohamed involved him in organising equipment, stock management and IT-related tasks.
From our team, it was an absolute pleasure working with Joe. He gave us far too many laughs for the short amount of time he was with us, and he was so eager to crack on, pick up whatever he could and learn.
Jake, Digital Refresh Team
Perhaps the most significant outcome came at the end of the placement, when Joe began speaking positively about the possibility of paid employment in the future. For Joe, this reflected a growing confidence in his abilities and a belief that meaningful employment could be part of his future.
While the placement was designed to help Joe develop workplace skills and confidence, it also provided colleagues with an opportunity to see the value that different experiences and perspectives bring to our teams. Diverse voices bring richness, insight and new ways of thinking, strengthening not only our workforce but also our ability to serve the people who rely on our services.
We are incredibly grateful to have been part of Joe's journey. His placement has reminded us of the importance of creating a sense of belonging and recognising talent in all its forms. Ultimately, experiences like Joe's help shape the kind of organisation we aspire to be: one that listens, learns and values the contribution that every individual can bring. By challenging assumptions, broadening access to opportunities and valuing every individual's contribution, we will continue to build a stronger Christie for our colleagues, our patients and the diverse people we serve.
Referrals and enquiries
All widening participation initiatives are managed by Lydia Botley. For referrals, collaboration opportunities or to speak with the team, please email the-christie.workexperience@nhs.net