An apprenticeship was the perfect mix of being paid to work and developing my knowledge through university

As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week (8-14 February) at Nottinghamshire Healthcare, we highlight some of our fantastic apprentices and the value and opportunity apprenticeships bring to individuals and organisations.

Kayleigh Wain - Occupational Therapist Apprentice

Apprenticeships are a great way to learn and gain experience whilst gaining a qualification and still earn. If you’re not sure whether an apprenticeship is right for you then our blog from 26-year-old Kayleigh Wain, Occupational Therapist Apprentice, may inspire you to go down the apprenticeship route.

“I’m part of the second cohort for the occupational therapy degree apprenticeship working at Lings Bar Hospital in West Bridgford, near Nottingham whilst studying at Sheffield Hallam University” explains Kayleigh. “The course takes two and half years plus six months to complete the end point assessment.”

“I always knew I wanted a career in healthcare. I had been exposed to the world of the NHS due to being born with Pierre Robin Syndrome, a condition where babies are born with a small lower jaw, have difficulties breathing and I had a cleft palate. I also lived alongside my grandparents for 18 years of whom experienced a variety of illnesses and NHS services. 

The journeys and transformations to patients’ lives was inspiring

“Initially, I thought nursing was the right path for me, but soon realised I was needle phobic and couldn’t even watch an episode of Casualty before feeling faint” says Kayleigh. “From this, I focused on careers that encompassed a more holistic approach to healthcare, this leading to my role as an Occupational Therapy Assistant within a local mental health team. I had the privilege to learn and be supervised by Fiona Wright, an incredible Occupational Therapist (OT) within the Trust. I always admired how compassionately she advocated for the role of OT and made a tangible difference to patients’ lives by empowering them to look beyond their diagnosis and to engage in the activities that had meaning to them. The journeys and transformations to patients’ lives was inspiring, and highlighted how the role of OT was lifechanging, reaffirming that this was the right career choice for me.  

“Due to already completing both an undergraduate and master’s degrees, I was financially unable to complete the standard university pathway to qualify as an OT.  Plus, I didn’t want to lose clinical experience of working with patients which I really enjoyed. So, when the apprenticeship was offered, it was the perfect mix of being paid to work as a support worker whilst developing knowledge through university blocks. 

Managing work/home life balance

“Occupational Balance! I’ve set boundaries and do the majority of my work on the weekly study days, and then set some time to just relax (remember you can’t pour from an empty cup)!! If things have ever felt too much, communicating with lecturers, student peers, and work-based supervisors and managers to give you that motivational boost always helps!! 

Adapting to meeting patients’ needs throughout the pandemic

“By working through the pandemic, both at work and during placements, it gives a real insight to how services are adapting to meet patients’ needs, whilst personally developing creative problem-solving skills, clinical reasoning, flexibility and strengthening bonds within teams to support one another.

Kayleigh says the benefits of an apprenticeship is the opportunity to go on a variety of placements both in an out of the Trust. 

“Since starting, I’ve developed an understanding of skills in an inpatient older adult rehab setting, and recently finished my second placement at Rampton Hospital’s high secure learning disability directorate. The diversity of settings and working with a variety of health care professionals is invaluable for personal development.

“I hear a lot of people say they want to apply but feel they are too are ‘old’ or they are fearful of coping with university. But if this is a career you are passionate about and want to progress into, don’t stand in the way of yourself and just go for it! You will be supported by the previous cohorts, University lecturers and the Trust that have a dynamic and varied cohort full of individuals from all background.

  It’s incredibly rewarding for mentors to watch apprentices flourish

Suzanne Avington, Deputy Associate Director of Allied Health Professionals for the Trust added: “Kayleigh’s description of how she came to choose occupational therapy as her perfect career is classic of many of the stories that we hear - working with committed and passionate clinicians that inspire us to pursue a professional dream. Apprenticeships that enable our support staff to carry on with the jobs they love whilst training make this aspiration a reality.  It’s incredibly rewarding for mentors to watch apprentices flourish and grow and witness first-hand the personal impact that they are having on their profession’s future.

“Allied Health Professional apprenticeships will broaden routes into the professions locally and are an essential part of creating workforce capacity.  We are very fortunate to be able to offer such a breadth and diversity of occupational therapy experience within the Trust. A great place to learn and return to.”

Nottinghamshire healthcare offer a variety of apprenticeships from Level 2 to Level 7 across most job roles all of which can be found on the apprentice government website - www.apprenticeships.gov.uk

For further information and advice on apprenticeships at Nottinghamshire Healthcare email Heather Porter, Learning Advisor and Apprenticeship Lead, at heather.porter@nottshc.nhs.uk