Blogs
on September 11, 2025
<br>Among the organized chaos of medical professionals in Birmingham, a young man named James Stokes navigates his daily responsibilities with subtle confidence. His smart shoes move with deliberate precision as he acknowledges colleagues—some by name, others with the familiar currency of a "how are you."<br>
<br>James displays his credentials not merely as institutional identification but as a testament of inclusion. It hangs against a pressed shirt that betrays nothing of the tumultuous journey that led him to this place.<br><img src="https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/themes/nhsengland/static/img/nhs-uk-logo.svg"; style="max-width:430px;float:left;padding:10px 10px 10px 0px;border:0px;" alt="" />
<br>What distinguishes James from many of his colleagues is not immediately apparent. His bearing gives away nothing of the fact that he was among the first recruits of the <a href="https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/nhs-universal-family-programme-quick-guide/">NHS Universal Family Programme</a>—an effort crafted intentionally for young people who have spent time in care.<br>
<br>"It felt like the NHS was putting its arm around me," James says, his voice measured but revealing subtle passion. His remark encapsulates the essence of a programme that aims to revolutionize how the vast healthcare system perceives care leavers—those often overlooked young people aged 16-25 who have emerged from the care system.<br>
<br>The statistics reveal a challenging reality. Care leavers often face higher rates of mental health issues, money troubles, housing precarity, and lower academic success compared to their peers. Beneath these impersonal figures are individual journeys of young people who have maneuvered through a system that, despite genuine attempts, often falls short in providing the supportive foundation that forms most young lives.<br>
<br>The NHS Universal Family Programme, launched in January 2023 following NHS England's pledge to the Care Leaver Covenant, signifies a significant change in systemic approach. Fundamentally, it accepts that the entire state and civil society should function as a "communal support system" for those who haven't experienced the constancy of a typical domestic environment.<br>
<br>A select group of healthcare regions across England have charted the course, developing frameworks that reconceptualize how the NHS—one of Europe's largest employers—can extend opportunities to care leavers.<br>
<br>The Programme is detailed in its methodology, starting from comprehensive audits of existing procedures, forming oversight mechanisms, and securing executive backing. It understands that successful integration requires more than noble aims—it demands tangible actions.<br>
<br>In NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB, where James started his career, they've created a reliable information exchange with representatives who can provide assistance and counsel on wellbeing, HR matters, recruitment, and EDI initiatives.<br>
<br>The traditional NHS recruitment process—formal and often daunting—has been intentionally adjusted. Job advertisements now emphasize personal qualities rather than numerous requirements. Application processes have been reimagined to address the unique challenges care leavers might face—from not having work-related contacts to having limited internet access.<br>
<br>Perhaps most significantly, the Programme acknowledges that beginning employment can present unique challenges for care leavers who may be managing independent living without the safety net of family resources. Issues like commuting fees, proper ID, and banking arrangements—taken for granted by many—can become major obstacles.<br>
<br>The brilliance of the Programme lies in its meticulous consideration—from explaining payslip deductions to helping with commuting costs until that critical first wage disbursement. Even ostensibly trivial elements like coffee breaks and workplace conduct are carefully explained.<br>
<br>For James, whose career trajectory has "revolutionized" his life, the Programme offered more than a job. It gave him a perception of inclusion—that elusive quality that develops when someone senses worth not despite their history but because their particular journey enriches the workplace.<br>
<br>"Working for the NHS isn't just about doctors and nurses," James observes, his gaze showing the modest fulfillment of someone who has secured his position. "It's about a collective of different jobs and roles, a team of people who truly matter."<br>
<br>The <a href="https://hnycareershub.co.uk/employer-resources/">NHS Universal Family Programme</a> represents more than an employment initiative. It exists as a bold declaration that systems can adapt to embrace those who have known different challenges. In doing so, they not only change personal trajectories but improve their services through the distinct viewpoints that care leavers contribute.<br>
<br>As James moves through the hospital, his presence quietly demonstrates that with the right assistance, care leavers can succeed in environments once deemed unattainable. The arm that the NHS has offered through this Programme represents not charity but acknowledgment of untapped potential and the essential fact that all people merit a family that believes in them.<br><img src="https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/universal-family-programme-peer-support-2048x2006.png"; style="max-width:440px;float:right;padding:10px 0px 10px 10px;border:0px;" alt="" />