A total of 20 newly-qualified mental health staff have started work at the region's mental health trust to help further improve the care which people with mental health difficulties receive.
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) adult central acute services, which includes the Thurne, Waveney, Rollesby and Glaven Wards at Hellesdon Hospital in Norwich, has welcomed 14 of the new nurses.
And a social worker has joined the crisis resolution home treatment team. The remaining five staff are working in a variety of teams across the trust.
The 14 new appointments on the wards mean vacancies within the acute service have nearly been filled, which it is hoped will help the trust reduce its use of agency staff, in turn offering patients a greater continuity of care.
As soon as they have finished their induction, the nurses will begin caring for patients with a range of acute mental health needs, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression and severe anxiety.
Charlie Loades, acting deputy matron based at Hellesdon Hospital, said: 'To have 14 new nurses and a social worker joining our team is incredibly exciting and fantastic for our service as it represents a significant increase in recruitment and means nearly all of our vacancies have now been filled. 'Nearly all of the new recruits completed placements within adult central acute services, so it is a testament to the welcome they received and their experiences on the wards that they have chosen to come back to start their nursing journeys with us.
Throughout their first year in post, the nurses and social worker will attend special sessions at NSFT's newly-qualified nursing academy, which aims to provide newly-qualified staff with the right support to transition from university to work. They will also receive monthly peer support from colleagues.
Dawn Collins, deputy director of nursing, said: 'It's great news that these newly-qualified staff have chosen to start their careers with our trust, and we are delighted to welcome these new recruits to NSFT. Their appointment will help reduce our use of agency staff, which means our patients will receive continuity of care from an established team of permanent staff.'
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