Celebrating our apprentices at St Ann’s
It's National Apprenticeship Week 2022, and we're proud to be celebrating our apprentices across the hospice...
At St Ann’s, we pride ourselves on providing world-class care to patients and their loved ones. We can only do that thanks to the amazing team of staff and volunteers that support them.
We have a number of apprentices across the hospice, in clinical and non-clinical roles. We’re passionate about providing training and development opportunities for staff across the hospice, and apprenticeships play an important part of this.
Apprenticeships are a great way for us to continue to invest in the development of our teams, to champion colleagues to lead and learn, and help us to ensure we remain an organisation of choice well into the future too.
We asked some of our apprentices about how they have grown during their apprenticeship journey…
I love the apprenticeship program; it has given me a new lease of life. Being an older student, I had believed my studying days were over. The structure of the program and the support from the university alongside the amazing support I have had from the hospice has ensured my success it has truly been amazing. Whoever said 'you can't teach an old dog' is wrong and I am living proof, I feel the Advanced Clinical Practitioner's course has shown me new ways to think and improve my practice and supported me to become the first person in my family to achieve a Master's Degree. I am very proud to be an apprentice at St Ann's Hospice. Damian Lacey, Advanced Nurse Practitioner (Trainee)
Since I have started my apprenticeship, I feel that my confidence has grown a lot. At the beginning I was always seeking guidance, worrying that I may get it wrong. Now I have more confidence to complete my tasks without constantly asking if its right and I feel in myself that I can confidently do the tasks that are in front of me. I have even on occasion been able to cover in the kitchen for the cook due to the new skills I have acquired. Kerry McFarlane, Catering Assistant
Whilst working at St Ann’s Hospice, I have completed a Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship, in which I have also gained a Level 3 CIPD qualification. The apprenticeship has helped me build on my knowledge, skills and behaviours as a HR professional and most of all allowed my confidence to grow! Undertaking the apprenticeship whilst working has also allowed me to put these knowledge, skills and behaviours into practice too. The apprenticeship definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone, of which I am very grateful for, as it has allowed me to develop on both a professional and personal level. As a result of this, I was also nominated and went on to win overall student of the year – an achievement I will always be proud of. Grace Kinlin, HR & OD Administrator
I am really enjoying my apprenticeship it can be challenging at times with the work but I feel I have loads of support of my tutor. She is always available if I ever need to ring and speak to her and always keeps me up to date and informed with my classes and workshops and always there for reassurance when needed. She has made the apprenticeship enjoyable and always pushing and believing in me when I am finding things tough. I feel more confident on the ward and my knowledge of Domestic services has improved 3 fold. At times I am taken out of my comfort zone and the training has helped me deal with this. Amy Traynor, Housekeeping Assistant
This week, we’re also proud to be celebrating some award-winning apprentices!
Cath was nominated for an award with Salford City College, and at the awards ceremony won Hospitality and Catering Apprentice of The Year!
Cath was one of our very first non-clinical apprentices at the hospice. During the challenges of the pandemic, Cath completed her Level 3 Production Chef apprenticeship – which included adapting when her course became virtual.
Cath also completed Aspire, St Ann’s leadership development programme in the same year. Following her apprenticeship and training, Cath’s now able to provide cover for the cook in the Little Hulton kitchen.
Grace Kinlin, HR & OD Administrator, joined St Ann’s in January 2021 and was able to continue her HR Support Level 3 apprenticeship in her new role.
She was nominated and won two awards during her apprenticeship, including ‘Student of the year’.
Her tutor’s nomination said: “Grace thrived during the course and demonstrated resilience and commitment to her chosen profession, seeking a new role which is very suited to her and will nurture her talent further still. Grace is an example of an outstanding student.”
