A Project SEARCH intern based at Forth Valley Royal Hospital has won SERCO’s employee of the month award – while on placement with the support services company!
Hazel Griffiths – who is currently working with the catering team at the hospital on her placement which forms part of the innovative course that Forth Valley College is participating in - received the SERCO Star award for December after being recognised as excelling in the pride and care values that SERCO ‘live by’.
Her nomination stated: “Hazel was busy working with the tray trolleys in the restaurant, and when I returned my tray, she said ‘thank you Miss and said she hoped I enjoyed the rest of my day. I stood watching as Hazel went on to give the same greetings to every single person who returned their tray, offering a smile, a thank you, and her wishes for people to have a lovely day. Customer service is at the heart of what we do, and Hazel is a real credit to the team in the restaurant. Polite, friendly, and really living the Serco values. She is a credit to the team.”
Hazel, said: “This was absolutely unexpected. I feel very proud that I have won it and I will continue to do my best to make the most of this brilliant opportunity that Project SEARCH has given me.”
Alan Ritchie, Lecturer in the Department of FVC’s Business and Communities Department, said: “All of us at Project SEARCH are very proud of Hazel and her award. It not only recognises her hard work and dedication but also the work of the wider intern group who are striving hard to succeed. Well done Hazel.”
The Project SEARCH initiative helps young people with learning disabilities in the Falkirk area to find a job. The one-year internship programme – a partnership between Forth Valley College, NHS Forth Valley, SERCO, Falkirk Council Employment and Training Unit and Skills Development Scotland is now in its second year and supports young people with learning difficulties to gain skills and experience aimed at helping them move into sustainable employment.
On-site, interns are assisted throughout by a college lecturer (Alan Ritchie) and a job coach (Jean Allan) - as well as hospital staff and supervisors. The programme helps interns to learn transferable job skills that will prepare them for work by rotating them through a variety of different work placement experiences. This work-based learning is then supported by classroom activities each day, as well as regular discussion and feedback from supervisors throughout the programme.
Anyone wishing to find out more on the course should contact FVC on 01324 403000.