A course that sees young people from the Tees Valley gaining experience within a local healthcare Trust has gone from strength to strength – with vital help from local colleges – in its bid to develop the next generation of NHS staff.
As part of the continuing development of the T-Level healthcare offer – Hartlepool Sixth Form College, Hartlepool College of Further Education and Stockton Riverside College have helped to fund a vital industry work placement administrator role, utilising the Government’s T-Level Employer Support Fund, within North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.
This new role has supported the expansion of the T-Level course by having a dedicated Trust staff member on site who can organise placement positions and offer academic and pastoral support to T-Level healthcare students.
Nurturing students working towards a career in healthcare
T-Level placement administrator, Alison Parker, from Hartlepool said: “I began my role back in September last year thanks to college funding and it’s been rewarding building the course from the ground up.
“Previously, we had a limited T-Level offering within our hospitals, but I’ve been able to work with the colleges and their students to get them into meaningful placements, as part of three rotations with us within each academic year.
“Initially, my job involves finding a department suitable to take a student placement and agreeing a dedicated mentor within that department – ensuring each student has an induction and a key support contact within their designated area.
“Following that, my role revolves around the day to day administration of having students from each college with us for one set day each week. I check in with the students each week to ensure they are on track, and support them holistically with any difficulties they may be having.
“My job is then to be that important link between the Trust, the students and the colleges – ensuring I feedback on student progress so that they can be marked for their hands on work and can work towards completing their T-Level course.”
Hands on experience within a clinical setting
T-Levels are a two-year level 3 qualification for people aged 16 to 19 years-of-age, set up by the government to help young people to develop the knowledge, attitude and practical skills to progress into skilled employment, an apprenticeship or further study.
The Trust’s own T-Level programme has seen students placed within several departments during their academic year in areas such as:
- Community Nursing
- Physiotherapy
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Wheelchair and Orthotics
- Podiatry
- Lung health
The next generation of healthcare professionals
Reflecting on her decision to take on the role of T-Level administrator, Alison said: “It’s been an incredible privilege to have found myself within this role, to be able to help nurture our T-Level students and to really have a chance to shape their course experience.
“Our students have had some really positive feedback from their rotation healthcare mentors and we’re looking forward to seeing our first round of students go on to have rewarding and successful careers within the NHS and beyond.”
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has been hosting 24 students as part of their T-Level Health in partnership with the three local collages – supporting 20 second-year and four first-year students.
Emma Davies, education lead, said: “The growth and development of our T-Level offer is absolutely vital in growing our healthcare professionals of the future.
“Having Alison in role to help our students during their placements, both practically and pastorally and linking in with the colleges has had a massive impact on expanding the offer and delivery of the T-Level in Healthcare course.”
“We’re so proud of the brilliant working relationships we have with our local colleges and the continuing development of the T-Level course will only help strengthen the options and routes for those who are interested in getting into a career in healthcare.”
Find out more
You can find out more about the Trust’s T-Level healthcare programme here.