Worcester Sixth Form College and NHS work in partnership to ensure Health T Level Success
In September, Worcester Sixth Form College welcomed its first cohort of Health T Level students.
The Health T Level is a challenging course, but for those young people who are clear that their future career lies in healthcare it can provide an ideal starting point. Students on the course experience intensive teaching at College for three days a week with the other two days spent on placement in a clinical or care setting. This means that by the end of the two-year course, students will have completed over 700 hours on placement, giving them the experience and confidence to know that this is the right career choice for them and preparing them for their next step. To ensure that students develop the practical skills to support their academic learning, the College has invested in a state-of-the-art Clinical Skills room and consultation suite, and the course is delivered by teachers who are also qualified nurses (one formerly a Sister). The College has also developed invaluable links with the NHS to ensure that students have high quality placements as well as helping to provide the future clinical staff needed by our local NHS hospitals and clinics.
To thank our NHS partners in person, College Principal, Ed Senior, and Rachel Briggs, Senior Leader for Vocational & Technical Education, visited Malvern Hospital where two of our students, Freya and Angel, have been working with the nursing and Occupational Therapy teams providing treatment for patients as part of their recovery.
Freya and Angel both speak highly of the teams they have been placed with. They have been impressed with their care and support for patients and really enjoyed the sense of comradery and togetherness among the hospital staff. Both girls acknowledge how hard they have to work when on placement, but also note that the intensive nature of the course in general means that they have to make sacrifices to ensure that they manage their time effectively. While they have found this challenging they are both excited about their experience saying that they have been well supported by their teachers and that they found it highly rewarding to be in a position to care for and help people.
Freya, who was initially set on child nursing, is now considering Occupational Therapy after being inspired by the placement, whilst Angel is interested in a career in radiology or physiotherapy.
Sam Marshall, Head of Workforce Planning at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust said: “We’re really excited to be working with the next generation of healthcare professionals. T Levels are a great way to gain hands-on experience in the NHS, in a realistic and fast-paced environment. By partnering with Worcester Sixth Form College, we are enabling students to embark on a journey towards an amazing healthcare career in Worcestershire.”
Ed Senior, Principal, said: “I am proud of the professionalism and dedication demonstrated by Freya and Angel on their placement and, indeed, of all the Health T Level students. They are a real credit to their families and great ambassadors for our College. The T Level course demands a lot of people at such a young age, both in terms of the academic challenge it presents but also in terms of the commitment, time management and life skills needed to combine this successfully with such an intensive work placement. Best of all it gives me hope for the future to see that we have young people in our local community determined to help others and make a difference through a career in the healthcare profession.