NHS apprentices from Poole take centre stage in new promotional video

A four-minute film featuring current apprentices at Dorset HealthCare promotes the benefits of becoming an apprentice at the trust and highlights the wide range of opportunities available.

The apprentices talk about why they chose to ‘learn on the job’ in fields such as admin, catering and communications, as well as in clinical roles within the trust’s hospitals or community-based teams.

Emma Walsh from Corfe Mullen, 21, joined Dorset HealthCare back in October 2014 as a nursing and quality apprentice, and has gone on to become a medical secretary.

She said: “The Dorset HealthCare apprenticeship scheme has provided me with the necessary skills and experience to help me achieve a higher level role at the trust. I got the chance to work directly with a range of staff members who took the time to teach me new things and pass on their knowledge, which has really benefitted me.”

Patient experience and complaints team apprentice, Matthew Cheetham (19) from Poole, took up his role in November. “My apprenticeship has been a fulfilling and enriching experience that I would never have had if I’d stayed in education or gone straight into work,” he said. “The opportunity of learning on the job in a supportive environment is incredibly useful for my future, and the life skills I have learnt so far will be invaluable.”

The video will be promoted on social media, and shown at local schools and colleges, in a bid to attract more people into apprenticeship roles.

Ron Shields, chief executive, said, “We are committed to delivering great services to local people. We have fabulous staff, of all ages, already working here who can develop new skills and qualifications through an apprenticeship. We also want our high quality apprenticeship programme to attract the best people from outside into Dorset HealthCare.”

All of our apprenticeship vacancies are advertised on www.jobs.nhs.uk, and once the advert closes, successful applicants, who must be aged 16 and over and be eligible to work in the UK, are invited for interview.

Apprenticeships can vary from 12 months to 48 months depending on the job role.

An apprenticeship with Dorset HealthCare has a range of benefits including a full recognised qualification upon completion, a dedicated mentor throughout, support from a monthly apprentice group and optional access to the NHS pension scheme.

The video is available to watch online at www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk or on the trust’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/DorsetHealthCare.