AIREDALE Hospital has teamed up with Keighley College to train new health care apprentices.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and the college will jointly train more than 36 Health Care Support Worker apprentices over the next 12 to 18 months.

The trust will recruit three groups of apprentices to work towards a vocational qualification in health and social care while being employed and trained in practical health care skills.

College staff working within the hospital in Steeton will train and assess the apprentices in their working environment, while they are also being trained in practical patient care skills by experienced hospital staff.

After 12 months the apprentices will have the qualifications and experience to take up a permanent health care support worker post at the trust.

Applicants are this month being invited to apply for the apprenticeships, which are being advertised in three phases on the NHS Jobs website at jobs.nhs.uk.

The first wave of recruitment remains open until October 5, with further recruitment planned for the end of this year and the spring of 2017.

Keighley College said the partnership bolstered its commitment to offering inclusive training opportunities for students that increased their personal development and skills for employment.

Chris Stott, its head of business engagement, said: “The partnership between Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and Keighley College has created a hybrid, best-of-both-worlds training model.

“Apprentices will benefit from high levels of support from college staff on a range of health care, literacy and numeracy skills.

“In addition, they will have access to Airedale General Hospital’s excellent training facilities including state-of-the art simulation suites and have the opportunity to learn from experienced health care staff.”

Ian Hargreaves, assistant director at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said he was delighted about the formation of the partnership.

He added: “This is a key part of our education, training and recruitment strategy to be an inclusive employer, developing new talent in partnership with a local college and creating genuine career opportunities for local people to help us provide the best possible health care for our local population.”