North Hertfordshire College’s Health and Social Care students have had the opportunity to work with industry experts on the 10-week NHS Care Academy programme, developing their skills and knowledge of their future career paths in the industry.
The project is made possible thanks to the support of NHS Health and Care Academy Engagement Officer, Nicola Galvin, and the long-standing and successful partnership with the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust and Lister Hospital.
Our students worked with Lister Hospital throughout lockdown, going on placement in the hospital to support with demand at a difficult time. This also provided much needed placement hours and experience for our students. This partnership continued after lockdown, with Lister Hospital working with the College to continue to grow talent for the hospital with our student groups.
As part of the NHS Care Academy programme within North Hertfordshire College, students met several practitioners. Every week they were visited by professionals from Lister and Queen Alexander Hospital NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex trust to showcase elements of practice in the NHS.
These specialists highlighted skills and career opportunities available to our students. For example, guest specialists included Operating Theatre practice staff who identified how they work as part of the anaesthetic team, and paramedics and the midwifery team where students were using the simulator mannequins to give students a go at helping someone give birth. All sessions were practical based and have given our students the opportunity to use equipment that would be part of their role in industry.
Nicola has also supported students looking at NHS vacancies, offering interview practise sessions to ensure students know what to expect and help them secure their positions. Subsequently, a number of students have applied for vacancies to start their careers when they’ve finished their course. Nicola took students through the website and looked at different job roles they’d be able to go straight into after completion of the level 3 course and the 10-week Academy programme. A broad range of progression routes were also highlighted, with students able to apply for roles that would lead onto advanced apprenticeships in the sector.
Cheryl Hall, one of North Hertfordshire College’s Health and Social Care tutors, said: “The NHS Care Academy has been really beneficial for our students, with around 70% of all students having interviews and many receiving job offers as a result of their work on the Academy. This is because they’re able to show the skills that are needed in the roles they’re applying for. The Academy has given clarity for our students to allow them to realise exactly what they want to do and which areas of the NHS they want to work for. In addition, it also made some students realise what was involved in nursing and that they wanted to focus on the social care side of the programme. Overall, it was a really positive opportunity for all of our students”
Shannon Davis, one of NHC’s Level 3 Health and Social Care students, said: “The NHS programme was very helpful for me. It helped me learn more about the apprenticeship degree they provide and progression opportunities. I learnt lots more about different careers I can progress into, as well as the midwifery and nursing which I am passionate into going into and developing my midwifery career.”
If you’re interested in starting your own career in the healthcare sector, check out North Hertfordshire College’s Health and Social Care courses! With NHC, you can stay close to home and benefit from our amazing partnerships, helping you go far in your future.