[A] cohort of NHS apprentices are celebrating the successful end to their training at Furness College and securing jobs at the hospital.
Twelve students were selected to complete the two-year Clinical Healthcare Support Apprentice scheme at the Channelside campus and are now working in clinical support worker roles at Furness General Hospital.
They studied a Level 3 diploma with a day each week working towards their academic qualification at college and four days on the wards gaining practical experience.
Furness College Health and Social Care Assessor and Work Placement Co-ordinator Sharon Haddow said all were now working at Furness General Hospital with several looking to apply for university courses in nursing.
“They have been committed to their placements and excelled themselves as well as being a great group to teach.”
Furness College Health and Social Care Lecturer Kath Currie: “They have worked extremely hard and balanced work with the academic study. They’ve grown so much in confidence and knowledge during the course, everybody on the course achieved.”
Jonathan Bell, 21, of Barrow, is among those who plans to build on his skills and progress onto a nursing degree. He applied for the apprenticeship following his A levels at Barrow Sixth Form.
“My mother cared for my grandmother who had Alzheimer’s and that has inspired me to do this course. I liked all my placements at the hospital and felt very welcome on them.”
Leah Ambrose, 20, of Ulverston said: “I’ve had a lot of support from college and the placements in the hospital were really good. My favourite placement was on Ward 7 and that is where I got a job.
“I wanted to work within the hospital and get more experience before going into nursing and now I’ve applied to university to start a nursing degree in September.”
