The Inclusive Recruitment steering committee
Norwood is proud to announce an innovative scheme which will ensure that the people who use our services are integral to the appointment of new employees. The Inclusive Recruitment initiative has already been successfully trialled across Norwood services in Berkshire and London and is set to be rolled out across the organisation by April.
Under the scheme, the people who use Norwood’s services will be encouraged to participate in its recruitment campaigns in a number of different ways. For example:
• People will have the opportunity to sit in on interviews and ask questions of prospective employees.
• Those who are unable to communicate verbally will be asked to draw up a ‘wish list’ describing their ideal candidate.
• Others will contribute to job descriptions, review interview questions, and assess how applicants interact with people who use the services.
The launch of this exciting project is being overseen by a steering committee which includes staff from across the organisation and, of course, a selection of people who use Norwood services.
Norwood support worker Karolina Snopek, who works in Redbridge, was recently recruited under the initiative. She said: “I think this is the best way for a charity like Norwood to find suitable employees. It also gave me a better idea of who I would be working with.”
Shoshana Bloom, Jewish Cultural Manager for Norwood, was also hired using the process. She said: “My second interview was almost entirely led by a Norwood service user, which felt entirely appropriate given that my role very much revolves around the needs and wants of service users across the organisation.
“I have worked for not-for-profit organisations for twelve years, but this was the first time that a beneficiary of the organisation has been involved with my recruitment. It was a very different experience to other interviews and, although it felt more challenging, it ultimately made getting the job more rewarding.”
Stuart Walsh, Norwood HR Manager, said: “Norwood’s new Inclusive Recruitment scheme is being launched to ensure that the needs and wishes of the people who use our services will be reflected in the way we hire new employees. The steering group committee is still meeting regularly to give service users and managers the chance to refine the interview experience and ensure our methods are as effective as possible.”
