From left: NNUH Guist Ward Deputy Sister and Megan Knights – photo supplied by NNUH

 

Working in partnership with social care, a team from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) has been shortlisted for a Norfolk Care Award.

The Trust’s ‘Integrated Apprenticeship’ programme was nominated in the Norfolk Care Awards Most Supportive Employer (Student Placement) category and the team will join other finalists at an awards ceremony at Sprowston Manor on Thursday (23rd February).

The Norfolk Care Awards aim to showcase excellence in care and support services across the county.

Annie Cook, NNUH Career Development Coordinator, said: “The Trust recruited eight apprentices who spent six months in social care and six months in the hospital.
“The aim was to give apprentices a broader understanding of how care is delivered, which would ultimately improve patient care.

“It has been a fantastic programme and apprentices and colleagues in health and social care have all learned a great deal.

“It gives the apprentices an understanding of the pressures of a busy acute hospital as well as the pressures in care homes.”

One of the apprentices who completed the pilot programme, Megan Knights, has since been recruited as a Health Care Assistant on NNUH’s Guist ward and is now working towards a nursing qualification.

Megan said: “I really enjoyed the apprenticeship programme and I’m glad I spent the first six months in the nursing home because it gave me a great insight into what to expect here.”

The placements were a joint project between Norfolk and Suffolk Care Support and the NNUH as the host employer. It was funded by Health Education England.

The NNUH has a hugely successful apprenticeship programme with 92% of those taking part securing employment at NNUH and 98% securing employment in general.