Learner case study: Leonie Brookes
Life under lockdown as a Health Care Apprentice
"Despite the unusual circumstances surrounding the start of my apprenticeship, I know that, as each day of training passes, I’m one step closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a health care practitioner."
Covid-19 may have put a stop, albeit temporarily, to many aspects of our lives. Pursuing a fulfilling career is not one of them. Nowhere is this more true than in the health care sector. Access Training has been placing apprentices in hospitals, care homes and day-care centres for some 35 years, and that work has never been more vital.
One such example is Leonie Brookes, Health Care Assistant for the Complex Health Needs team at Oak Field School and Specialist Sports College, Nottingham. Here she describes embarking on her early weeks as an apprentice during lockdown.
One such example is Leonie Brookes, Health Care Assistant for the Complex Health Needs team at Oak Field School and Specialist Sports College, Nottingham. Here she describes embarking on her early weeks as an apprentice during lockdown.
“I joined Oak Field some fifteen months ago as a teaching assistant. This gave me a great insight into the school’s important work in helping local students and their families.
We cater for children and young adults between the ages of three and 19 who have physical difficulties, severe learning disabilities and profound multiple learning difficulties. It’s because of these specific needs that a division of Nottinghamshire Health Care NHS Foundation Trust is based here.
When the Trust advertised a healthcare support worker position, I had already seen with my own eyes the vital role the NHS plays in our school. The added option of applying for a Senior Health Care Support Worker Level 3 Apprenticeship appealed because it will allow me to rapidly acquire the knowledge, skills and behaviours I need to support my nursing work.
My line manager later told me that it was the excellent feedback they’d already received from the school as well as my level of work and personal attributes that led to their decision to give me the opportunity to grow.
My typical day can include personal care and gastrofeeding, often to students in wheelchairs or who are bed bound. It’s fair to say that no two days are the same and of course no two students are the same. The one constant, though, is the sense of personal achievement I get when I’m able to make a difference to a student’s wellbeing and comfort.
Even though I’m only in the early weeks of my apprenticeship, I’ve already embarked on my first piece of work. This will allow me to apply new theory to my role which, without question, will support the next stage of my career. I’m really enjoying my System 1 software training which provides a single point of information about a student’s medical history including all previous notes about their care, education and development.
I’m asthmatic so I need to be super careful in protecting myself from Covid-19. That said and like the rest of my colleagues, I’m keen to get back to practising what I’ve been taught, as and when needed. My training on applying nasal and oral suctioning and on dealing with breathing difficulties of a child has been particularly interesting.
I’m fortunate that there’s provision in place for me to continue my apprenticeship learning from home during lockdown. My observations aren’t able to be assessed in the same way so, for now at least, they’ve been replaced with reflective statements which are then discussed and measured during a Q&A session with an independent assessor.
Despite the unusual circumstances surrounding the start of my apprenticeship, I know that, as each day of training passes, I’m one step closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a health care practitioner.”
Success starts with Access. Learn more about a career in Health Care at: https://www.atem.co.uk/healthcare.html
We cater for children and young adults between the ages of three and 19 who have physical difficulties, severe learning disabilities and profound multiple learning difficulties. It’s because of these specific needs that a division of Nottinghamshire Health Care NHS Foundation Trust is based here.
When the Trust advertised a healthcare support worker position, I had already seen with my own eyes the vital role the NHS plays in our school. The added option of applying for a Senior Health Care Support Worker Level 3 Apprenticeship appealed because it will allow me to rapidly acquire the knowledge, skills and behaviours I need to support my nursing work.
My line manager later told me that it was the excellent feedback they’d already received from the school as well as my level of work and personal attributes that led to their decision to give me the opportunity to grow.
My typical day can include personal care and gastrofeeding, often to students in wheelchairs or who are bed bound. It’s fair to say that no two days are the same and of course no two students are the same. The one constant, though, is the sense of personal achievement I get when I’m able to make a difference to a student’s wellbeing and comfort.
Even though I’m only in the early weeks of my apprenticeship, I’ve already embarked on my first piece of work. This will allow me to apply new theory to my role which, without question, will support the next stage of my career. I’m really enjoying my System 1 software training which provides a single point of information about a student’s medical history including all previous notes about their care, education and development.
I’m asthmatic so I need to be super careful in protecting myself from Covid-19. That said and like the rest of my colleagues, I’m keen to get back to practising what I’ve been taught, as and when needed. My training on applying nasal and oral suctioning and on dealing with breathing difficulties of a child has been particularly interesting.
I’m fortunate that there’s provision in place for me to continue my apprenticeship learning from home during lockdown. My observations aren’t able to be assessed in the same way so, for now at least, they’ve been replaced with reflective statements which are then discussed and measured during a Q&A session with an independent assessor.
Despite the unusual circumstances surrounding the start of my apprenticeship, I know that, as each day of training passes, I’m one step closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a health care practitioner.”
Success starts with Access. Learn more about a career in Health Care at: https://www.atem.co.uk/healthcare.html
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