The theme for this year’s National Apprenticeship Week is ‘Skills for Life’ and we would like to showcase how apprenticeships can help to provide a wide range of skills to boost your career progression. Hear from some of our current apprentices at NELFT about their experience.

Jake – Physiotherapy Apprentice

What made you interested in taking up an apprenticeship?

With my past work as a private sector health and fitness teacher, I worked with a number of different health and sports professionals who I found fascinating because of the amount of knowledge they had about the human body and how it works. I wanted to be able to continue my professional development, while also remaining in the workforce, so I looked into my options and l decided that an apprenticeship was best for me.

What are your daily duties as an apprentice?

Currently I support the musculoskeletal physiotherapists in an exercise therapy role. This involves developing exercise programmes for individual patients, running exercise classes and offering advice to patients with co-morbidities and/or reduced function.

What has been your proudest moment so far in your apprenticeship?

Other than passing assessments, I would say my proudest moment is when my fellow physiotherapy apprentices voted me as course representative for our group.

What support do you receive to complete your apprenticeship?

I have a lot of support from a variety of people. I receive weekly supervision from my supervisor to discuss more complex patients, how my work is going and if I need any additional help with upcoming university assignments. I have termly meetings with my work-based mentor and lead lecturer to discuss how my academic learning is improving my day-to-day work. I’m in an online group chat with the other students on my course where we discuss where we are with each assignment. And I have support from the apprenticeship team as and when I need that too.

What are your plans for the future once you have completed your apprenticeship?

At this point in time, I plan to start as a band 5 rotational physiotherapy and I am looking to develop as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist. However, I haven’t had my placements with other teams yet, so I am open to the other opportunities that’ll be presented to me.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering starting an apprenticeship?

 Make sure that you’ll be able to commit to some study time outside your normal working hours.

 

Olola – Occupational Therapist Apprentice

What are your daily duties as an apprentice?

I work as an Occupational Therapist (OT) up till the level of teaching I had already received whilst at university. I now learn alongside my OT colleagues in the areas am yet to learn or have just started learning.

What has been your proudest moment so far in your apprenticeship?

Though there has been many, this instance stood out for me - I used the OT PEO model on a service user, to identify themself, their environment and what's important to them. This resulted in them being able to return to university.

What support do you receive to complete your apprenticeship?

At NELFT, you are provided with a mentor, supervisor, and further support for completing qualifications. My university also provides me with a personal tutor I can easily talk to and all the lecturers are approachable. There is also a deferrer and an extension and appeal system to access if you don’t feel ready or are struggling.

You will truly be supported every step of the way.

What are your plans once you have completed your apprenticeship?

I would like to progress to a substantive Occupational Therapist role at NELFT before beginning my Masters.

 

Atifa – Clinical Associate in Psychology Apprentice

What made you interested in taking up an apprenticeship?

I am very passionate about pursuing a career in Clinical Psychology, however there are many challenges in getting a place in the very competitive Clinical Psychology Doctorate Programme. After hearing about the Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP) programme, I realised that there is a less difficult and stressful route in getting into clinical psychology, and an opportunity that gives job security, a liveable wage, and a career. 

I am Autistic and have been wanting to work with other Autistic adults, so this opportunity could not have been more perfect. I am able to relate and make a difference in a service I truly care about. 

What are your daily duties as an apprentice?

As I am new to the service, so far, I have been shadowing assessments with Clinical Psychologists and working on ideas for pre- and post-diagnostic ASD groups.

What are your plans once you have completed your apprenticeship?

The CAP programme is still developing, so I would be interested in seeing what other higher positions there could be. I would like to explore other areas in clinical psychology as a Qualified CAP. 

What advice would you give to someone who is considering starting an apprenticeship?

Don't be afraid to ask for help and enjoy your time. 

 

Has this inspired you to begin an apprenticeship? Most of our apprenticeship opportunities are only available for current employees. Email our team via apprenticeships@nelft.nhs.uk for an informal chat or visit our careers website – www.careers.nelft.nhs.uk to see what roles we have available.