STAFF at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will have increased opportunities to progress their careers thanks to the Trust becoming a training provider for apprenticeships.
The Trust, which runs Andover War Memorial Hospital, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, recently received accreditation from the Education and Skills Funding Agency to become a main provider of apprenticeships.
Diane Pittard, associate director of nursing for professional development, education and workforce development , said:
Becoming a training provider of apprenticeships is really exciting. It enables us to grow our own workforce and deliver the highest standard of training.
We see our apprenticeship programmes as a real opportunity to respond to the Trust’s training needs, develop programmes that exceed in quality and delivery, and invest in our staff so they are well equipped to meet the needs of our patients.
The first group of apprentices to receive their training exclusively from Hampshire Hospitals’ in-house training team are a group of healthcare support workers. They have embarked on an 18-month course, which will result in them gaining a Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support and a Level 3 Apprenticeship as a Senior Healthcare Support Worker.
The apprentices will follow a carefully designed and developed programme facilitated by professionals from numerous areas within the Trust and their education will take place in a variety of ways including simulations, learning from clinical specialists, online learning, attending classes and applying and embedding their knowledge on the wards.
The opportunity can also be the first step towards a career as a nurse, with students able to obtain the necessary qualifications for the nurse degree programmes, including the Level 3 diploma and Level 2 English and Maths, if required.
Diane added:
I am delighted to see our first group of healthcare support worker apprentices begin their learning journey.
Through the course our apprentices will gain the knowledge, skills, competence and confidence to provide outstanding care to our patients. When they have finished this course, they can then be considered for further progression along a career pathway into the nursing profession.
In-house apprenticeships at Hampshire Hospitals will continue to grow. Business administration and team leader/supervisor apprenticeships will be the next to be rolled out to new and existing staff.
PHOTO: The first group of internal healthcare support worker apprentices in class