The community health apprentices project – the outcomes of an intermediate labour market project in the community health sector

Abstract

This paper reports on the outcomes of the Community Health Apprentices Project, an intermediate labour market (ILM) project delivered in two neighbouring areas of Bradford, England. The project was illustrative of current UK policy in its attempt to both address unemployment and health inequalities. The aim of the paper is to improve understanding of the type and range of outcomes that can result from ILM projects based in the community health sector. A qualitative evaluation was undertaken and interviews were carried out with three groups of stakeholders: the community health apprentices, key informants in the placement organisations and the delivery partners. Findings show that both anticipated and unanticipated outcomes occurred in relation to increased skills for work, improved health and well-being and improved organisational capacity. While there are contextual factors which make this project unique, the findings illustrate the potential range of outcomes that can be achieved when social and emotional support is offered in tandem with work experience. The findings further highlight the organisational benefits of investing in local people to deliver community health work. The paper concludes that in order to build an evidence base for ILM approaches, a broader understanding of outcomes needs to be developed, taking into account social and health outcomes as well as economic indicators.

Este trabajo informa sobre los resulatados del proyecto, un proyecto del mercado laboral intermedio (experiencia laboral) realizado en dos barrios vecinos de Bradford, Inglaterra. El proyecto fue ilustrativo de la política británica actual en su intento de tratar el desempleo y las desigualdades sanitarias ambos. El objective del trabajo es mejorar el entendimiento del tipo y ámbito de los resultados que pueden resultar de los proyectos del mercado laboral intermedio basados en el sector de la salud comunitaria. Una evaluación cualitativa se emprendió y entrevistas se realizaron con tres grupos interesados: los aprendices de salud comunitaria, informantes clave en las organizaciones que proporcionaron los apredizajes, y las organizaciones socias. Las conclusiones muestran que unos resultados tanto anticipados como no anticipados ocurrieron en relación a habilidades laborales ampliadas, salud y bienestar aumentados, y habilidad organizacional aumentada. Aunque haya factores contextuales que distingan este proyecto, las conclusiones ilustran el ámbito posible de resultados que se pueden alcanzar cuando el apoyo social y emocional se proporciona junto con la experiencia laboral. Las conclusiones destacan más los benficios organizacionales de invertir en personas locales para realizar el trabajo sanitario comunitario. El trabajo concluye que para construir un base de evidencias para enfoques del mercado laboral intermedio, hay que desarrollar un entendimineto más amplio de resultados, tomando en cuenta resultados sociales y sanitarias tanto como indicadores econónmicos.

Keywords:

• intermediate labour market
• health inequalities
• community health work
• health outcomes

Palabras claves:

• mercado laboral intermedio
• desigualdades sanitarias
• trabajo sanitario comunitario
• resultados sanitarios

Acknowledgements

The Community Health Apprentices Project was funded through Neighbourhood Renewal (NRF), European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) and the Lottery Fund (through HALE). It was also supported by North Bradford Primary Care Trust (now Bradford and Airedale teaching Primary Care Trust). The Centre for Health Promotion Research, Leeds Metropolitan University was commissioned through the project to conduct an independent evaluation. The authors would like to thank Helena Hughes, Natasha Thomas, Sue Hodgson and Pauline Bland for their invaluable contributions to the evaluation and all those participating in the research.