An apprenticeship combines on the job practical work experience, whilst studying, allowing you to gain experience and achieve a recognised qualification and earning an income.
 |
| Helen Baxter |
As 43-year-old Helen Baxter approaches the half-way point in her apprenticeship, studying a BSc (Honours) Occupational Therapy degree, she shares what it’s really like to be an apprentice and its rewards and challenges.
“The path that has taken me to apply for an apprenticeship has been quite a long one,” explains Helen. “I found school a challenge. However, I was a creative and caring person, which were strengths I discovered whilst undertaking a Decorative Arts degree at Nottingham Trent University in 2000, and post-graduation working as a Support Time and Recovering Worker in Adult Mental Health services for Nottinghamshire Healthcare."
Helen has dyslexia, but this was only diagnosed ten years ago when a colleague, who also had dyslexia, suggested she may have the condition. To enable her to fulfil her ambition of becoming an occupational therapist through the apprenticeship route, the Trust’s Learning and Development Department supported her with a full dyslexia assessment and funded specialist dyslexia tuition for Maths.
“The Trust has been a great help supporting me with my dyslexia and it’s been a revelation since I’ve found out,” says Helen. Suddenly, all the struggles with my previous degree now made sense.
“Following support from the Trust, I was able to realistically apply for an apprenticeship. The apprenticeship is a good alternative to higher education. It provides ‘on the job training’, an income and suits my learning style. With students no longer receiving NHS bursaries higher education was no longer an option for me.
“From an early age I was interested in being part
of a caring profession”
of a caring profession”
“I’ve been brought up in a very caring environment, and this is reflected in my character. I have always felt empathy towards vulnerable groups as my mum and auntie have been trained as midwives and I was a member of St John’s Ambulance as a teenager.
“From an early age I was interested in being part of a caring profession. Completing a previous degree and working in mental health has been an inspiring journey. Not having been medically trained but being an empathetic and a compassionate person, my values sit very well with the occupational therapy ethos. I am a spiritual person precipitated by my training in Reflexology. This influences my philosophy in my everyday practice and aligns with occupational therapy’s core value of treating people holistically; mind, body, and spirit.
Challenges and rewards
The most challenging part of the apprenticeship for Helen has been the academic writing, the time frames and the added challenge of having dyslexia. However, she has been pro-active in addressing these challenges with support from Sheffield Hallam University.
“It’s been challenging to complete all the work required while working full time and to the required deadlines,” explains Helen. “Having dyslexia has made it even more challenging; it effects my short-term memory, processing, reading speed and concentration. Deadlines are tight which has meant that my abilities have been stretched. I’ve found, due to the intensity of work and the requirements from the course, that I have not been able to realistically have a good work-life balance which has not only impacted me, but my family as well.
“That said, I've been pro-active in addressing this through support from Sheffield Hallam’s disability support team. After I was offered support from them and a 1-1 tutor, I broke down in tears. I think it was sheer relief from going through the whole of my education without any support, always struggling and experiencing repeated failures. The thought that all of this would be available to me was incredible. I’m using assistive equipment, the skills centre support staff have been amazing, Studiosity, which is an online writing feedback service, and a live chat service. I feel my ability to problem solve has already kicked in and I have some good strategies in place. I’ve shared some of these strategies with my cohort and they have expressed how useful they have found these.
“Overcoming my own barriers has given me empathy that really helps me in my occupational therapy journey. I love to empower people with the skills to be independent, whatever the barrier may be, and to support them to reach their meaningful goals and to live life to their greatest potential. Achieving good grades both in placement and academically, has provided the reassurance that I am a capable person, and this is something that I can achieve.”
Making a difference
Helen has facilitated many groups over the 19 years she has worked for the Trust. However, as an apprentice, she is now able to develop an understanding of the therapeutic potential of creative occupations and the relationship to health and well-being in the context of group work through her studies at Sheffield Hallam.
“For my first work-based task as an apprentice I was asked to plan, setup and deliver a group based on creative activity in my work place. I instinctively chose our city carers. I received some wonderful personal reflections about the workshop and strategies that the carers were able to take away; “Listening to others experiences I felt less alone”, “reminded me to care for myself more”, “I found new ways to relax”, “I will definitely use the mindfulness breathing”, “looking forward to the challenge to help me improve my mindfulness”.
Personal learning
“By blending academic specific knowledge, work-based learning, integrated learning with other apprentice groups and practise knowledge and skills, it has given me the opportunity to make sense of and reflect upon theory at the practice settings I will be placed in. My initial placement was with the eating disorder service followed by a second placement at Mansfield Integrated Stroke Service, which I will start soon.
If you are thinking about an apprenticeship then my advice would be to take full advantage of what is on offer from working collaboratively with the integrated learning programme, to the multi-sensory and creative teaching to all the academic support available through the skills centre.
Nottinghamshire Healthcare offers 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
No comments:
Post a Comment