HUNDREDS of schools in the North East are to receive clinical-quality ‘mini scrubs’ during the Autumn term as part of a project to spark children’s curiosity and interest in working in health and social care.

There are more than 350 different job roles under the umbrella of health and social care. The mini scrubs packs delivered to schools will feature 25 of them, helping to open the eyes of young people to the number of jobs available, many of which are non-clinical.

Funded by Health Education England North East, it is hoped that the mini scrubs will support schools in the four council areas of Northumberland, Gateshead, Newcastle and North Tyneside with their delivery of careers learning.

Ruth Auton, head of education, learning & organisational development at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Education and widening participation are so important to us, forming part our trust-wide Community Promise, which is why we were delighted to be chosen to lead this project on behalf of health and social colleagues across the North of Tyne and Gateshead.

“The health and social care sector is so important to the North East not just in terms of the support it provides to our communities, but as an employer, so we’re really keen to showcase all of the opportunities that are available to our young people.”