Why not consider an apprenticeship to start your career in healthcare?

During National Careers Week, Northamptonshire Health and Care Partnership (NHCP) is highlighting the many benefits of taking an apprenticeship route into a healthcare career for people of all ages.

Apprenticeships offer people on the job training and the chance to earn and learn. Apprenticeships lead to nationally recognised qualifications and are a unique stepping-stone into a chosen career.

NHCP has recruited a record 300 apprentices in the last 12 months into a variety of health and care roles including nursing degrees and nursing associate roles, as well as pharmaceutical, engineering and administrative roles in business, IT, HR and finance.

Laura Lydia Watts, Project Manager for Apprenticeships and Work Experience at NHCP said, “This National Careers Week we want to highlight the many varied apprenticeship opportunities in health and care. For school leavers looking to develop a career in healthcare, but who don’t know where to start, an apprenticeship can offer an opportunity to develop self-confidence, gain valuable work experience and to earn while learning.”

One young apprentice is 20-year-old Casey Brown, who has just completed a Children and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMMS) apprenticeship at Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust.

Casey is currently on a two-year apprenticeship and has recently submitted her final piece of work. As well as working on a ward, Casey has one study day off every two weeks to complete assignments and meet her tutor.

Casey says, “I really enjoy the work environment and I love working with patients from the first time they come in and are not feeling well, to the point of them being discharged and seeing the fantastic improvement.

“During the apprenticeship I’ve received great support from the people around me who have always shown interest in what I’m trying to achieve. I had a brilliant mentor on the ward and guidance was also always available from nurses whenever I required it.

“Apprenticeships are well suited to people who prefer hands-on experience rather than classroom-based work.  Through the course, I met a range of healthcare experts and had real-life experiences on the ward which really helped with the assignments.

“I now find it easier to communicate with other people and feel less nervous and more confident. I am working alongside nurses who engage with patients and their families and they help me deal with any challenges that may arise.”

Another young apprentice is 21-year-old Elanor Jones, an ESR Administrator (Workforce Systems Administrator) who has been working at Kettering General Hospital since June 2019. Elanor did not have any qualifications when she left school so getting a qualification from an apprenticeship programme is a huge bonus for her.

Elanor says, “I really love my role and the way the hospital motivates you to develop and build your career. The support I’ve received from the team and my manager has been amazing and training is ongoing to help me progress.

“There are great career opportunities for apprenticeships in healthcare, with the variety and diversity of roles within the NHS, which makes it such a great place to work. The best thing about being an apprentice is getting the experience as well as getting paid.”

For apprenticeship jobs please visit: www.jobs.nhs.uk

To ‘find your future career’ in health and care, please visit: FindYourCareer.

Several of Northamptonshire’s health and care providers are part of the ‘Best of Both Worlds’ recruitment campaign, which unites the University of Northampton, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust, Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (KGH), Primary Care and St Andrew’s Healthcare in recruiting doctors and nurses to relocate and live and work in Northamptonshire.

Part of the campaign is focused on recruiting apprentices across the county. For more details on apprenticeships available visit: www.bestofbothworlds.uk.net/northamptonshire-apprenticeships/

For more information on other vacancies visit: www.bestofbothworlds.uk.net