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Newcastle Health Innovation Partners (NHIP) is pleased to welcome two graduate trainees to the team over an eight week period.

Lauren Scrafton and Elena Smith join us from the NHS Graduate Training Scheme (GMTS) which introduces graduates to health service management, providing support in developing knowledge and skills, including hands-on experience.

Lauren joins us to support NHIP Academy after starting the GMTS in September 2022. She brings with her experience from recruitment roles and the Operational Human Resources team at James Cook University Hospital (South Tees Trust, Middlesborough). Here she was involved in being a primary link with one of ten clinical collaboratives and supporting on case work as well as change implementation projects.

Over the past year she has achieved a PG Cert in Healthcare leadership and completed the first half of her CIPD accredited PG Diploma in HR.

Lauren said:

“I am delighted to be working at NHIP alongside the academy team for my flexi placement. I look forward to contributing towards the key objectives of supporting career development and increasing research engagement.

“I hope to apply my learning with NHIP Academy into my next placement when I return to an NHS trust in a strategic HR role.”

Elena also joined the NHS GMTS in September 2022 on the General Management specialism. This has provided her with the opportunity to experience both operational and strategic placements as well as a trainee-organised flexi placement. Having already gained knowledge across varied organisations within the healthcare sector, including an operational role as a Deputy Service Manager at a local acute Trust, Elena will support NHIP with project mapping.

She said:

“I have been fortunate enough to secure my flexi placement at Newcastle Health Innovation Partners and I am really looking forward to getting involved in project mapping across the partnership and wider region to enhance collaborative working and support our collective strengths to advance healthcare solutions and improve population health for our citizens.

“I am keen to gain experience with NHIP and implement that into future roles including my next placement in a strategic role at a commissioning support unit.”

Hannah Powell, NHIP Chief Operating Officer, said:

“We are thrilled to have Lauren and Elena with us over the coming months. Starting my career on the GMTS myself, I know first-hand how valuable it is to have experience in a variety of different workplace environments.

“They have got off to a fantastic start and we are delighted to be a part of their career pathway. We hope to provide as much experience as possible to assist them in their future career placements and beyond.”