Our apprentice, Becky Webb, tells us how taking part in the apprenticeship scheme helped her to kick-start her career in the NHS.
After returning to full-time work at SCW following a career break for my children, I felt I needed to update my skills to assist me in my role supporting the Associate Director Of Planning and Programmes and the Director Of Commissioning Performance. I also hoped this would boost my career.
There are many apprenticeships available at SCW, but I felt the Level 5 (foundation degree equivalent) operational management course would be the most appropriate for my role, and an area I'm interested in.
Having supported my assistant, Lucy in her business administration apprenticeship through to completion I was aware of what it entailed from a learner and manager perspective.
The set up was easy once we found a provider for the courses, which the apprenticeship website can assist you with.
Apprentices have to dedicate 20% of your working hours to your apprenticeship each week if work-based (some day release are available), however as daunting as this sounds, it can easily be made up of work-related projects. You do have to do a few workbooks along the way you need some time out for.
For level 3 apprenticeship standards and above, there are now endpoint assessments which I am yet to sit.
Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust are now providing apprenticeship support so I have recently swapped over from Eastleigh College as they offer masterclasses once a month. Here I can mix with operational and department managers within the NHS doing the same apprenticeship as myself, which I hope will broaden my knowledge of more NHS areas as well. If I’m successful in obtaining my Level 5 I can top up to a Level 7 (masters degree level).
From a managers perspective, I had to complete four witness statements over the year for Lucy, attend a couple of meets with her tutors but mainly she got on with it herself and I was here for support if she needed it.
I fully recommend an apprenticeship for those wanting to increase their knowledge in a work-related area. There are management, project management and HR courses from level 2 up to master’s degree level available. You don’t need to be new to the organisation and for me, it’s given me a great confidence boost as I haven’t studied for 17 years!
SCW has a protected levy pot to fund our staff to do these courses so if you and your manager agree this is appropriate, and you can build the 20% time allocation needed (this can include work projects/learning/coaching) into your work time then I’d say go for it!