Harrogate Hospital Case Study
Wakefield College works closely with Harrogate Hospital on developing their staff through apprenticeships. Harrogate Hospital saw how they could build the apprentice training modules into their work with current staff and also recruit apprentices to fill specially created job roles.
Melanie Davies, Decontamination Services Manager, commented: “Wakefield College was sourced as our training provider and were keen to work with us to deliver the training on site. As a result we recruited two apprentices specifically on a fixed term contract. We have also created an apprenticeship through the adult apprenticeship route for one of our technicians who joined the scheme to gain extra skills.
“Apprenticeships take the pressure off people having to fit training into their working environment. It gives apprentices the opportunity to have the time and effort to improve their skills as well as mentoring and one-to-one training. It puts them in a good position to progress with a career in the NHS.
“We have been very vocal about the apprenticeships model and how it is beneficial from a cost point of view. You are training people to a good level ultimately to improve your workforce.”
The apprentices at Harrogate Hospital backed this up with their views.
Ben Merit, Apprentice Decontamination Services Technician, said: “I wanted to do an apprenticeship to get more qualifications and to work and learn at the same time. There’s no need to attend college as the lecturers come into our workplace. The staff at Wakefield College have been brilliant. They are supportive and are always available on the end of a phone or by email. At the end of the course there’s the possibility that I could be employed here afterwards.”
Jake Watson, Apprentice Decontamination Services Technician, added: “I have always wanted to work for the NHS and I would recommend doing an apprenticeship to anyone who is looking to work in the Health Service. Apprenticeships work well for me; you can learn and earn so it is the best of both worlds.”
Dean Stephenson, Apprentice Decontamination Services Technician, commented: “I am a full-time worker training as an Adult Apprentice. I’ve found that the Adult Apprenticeship is a very good route to take as it is helping me to gain skills and qualifications. If you can be in a working environment, you are gaining all the different types of skills in the workplace and you can work on that route to education rather than in a classroom.”
Margaret Pawson, Health Lecturer at Wakefield College, commented: “It is nice to see how much the apprentices have learnt along their journey. The ultimate goal is to see people achieve and move on with their careers.”