SIX trainee mental health care workers are preparing to experience life on hospital wards as part of a pilot scheme.

The sextet will work alongside experienced staff on the mental health ward at Airedale Hospital, and at Lynfield Mount in Bradford.

The trainees are part of a 14-week programme, staged by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust and Bradford College, aimed at giving young people the skills to pursue a career in the health and social care sector.

They are moving onto wards having completed a month-long stint of college-based learning, which has included brushing-up on maths and English.

Each trainee, recruited through City Training Services, will work on the wards with an assigned 'buddy'.

On successful completion of the project, they will receive an NCFE level 2 certificate in awareness of mental health problems and a care certificate.

They could also be added to the care trust's staff bank register and potentially take paid shifts.

And there could be the opportunity to progress to an apprenticeship in health and social care.

Among the trainees is Keighley mum-of-one Danielle Turner.

The 20-year-old hopes the course could be her route into a career in mental health.

"I am really excited to get started on the wards," she said.

"I have always had an interest in mental health. It is an area that is underfunded, understaffed and under researched.

"My hope is to progress to the apprenticeship and establish a real career for myself in this field."

Neil Harris, the care trust's staff bank resourcing manager, said the traineeship was a "great way" of attracting people into the profession.

"Being a short course it gives the trainees a glimpse into the work without them committing to a lengthy programme," he added.

"If they enjoy it and see a career for themselves, they can progress.

"These are the mental health nurses of the future. It may take them time to get there, but it is possible.

"Outside of this programme they might not have had the chance to do an apprenticeship or have the qualifications to do a degree.

"And with a need to cut down on agency costs, it is great that these trainees could be joining the pool of staff in a number of weeks.

"Hopefully this pilot will be the first of many courses."

Wesley McGlinchey, head of health and social care at Bradford College, said: "We are proud to be working with the trust on this new traineeship and to be helping develop the future workforce to serve the local community.

"The course offers a great combination of classroom-based learning and on-the-job training to enhance the trainees' employment prospects and career options.

"I want to congratulate the trainees who have impressed us with their efforts and enthusiasm in the classroom and we wish them well for the hospital-based element of the traineeships."