GRADUATES of a pilot programme by an NHS Trust to stop people with health degrees leaving the profession due to a lack of jobs have started work.

Staff at Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust started the scheme after they found that graduates with health or science degrees could not find jobs and were leaving the sector.

Now 22 former students have finished a year-long placement in mental health and been employed by the trust, including Ponders End graduate Richard Hazlett.

The 25-year-old said: “I originally did a degree in herbal medicine at Middlesex University and heard about the graduate scheme during my final year.

“I was interested in mental health and worked in several areas of the trust before settling on psychosis where I now work one-to-one with clients who are just starting to experience conditions such as bi-polar disorder or schizophrenia.

“I like the fact that you can work closely with people and make a real difference to people’s lives.”

During the placement, which included a postgraduate diploma, students studied for two days a week at Middlesex University and spent the rest of the week in forensics, dementia care, and crisis and emergency.

Chief executive of the trust, Maria Kane, said she thought the unique scheme was a solution to filling vacancies caused by negative stereotypes of mental illness.

She added: “In reality, it’s a rewarding career where you can make a real difference to people’s lives as well as having access to a variety of often well paid positions that offer great career progression both in and outside the NHS.

“We saw an opportunity to bring graduates into the fold by removing some existing barriers instead of losing them to other professions.”