This week is National Apprenticeship week, a time to showcase some of the amazing apprentices at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2023 is ‘Skills for Life’.
Throughout the week, we will be reflecting on how apprenticeships help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career. Success stories from MWL apprentices will be shared via social media.
- Meet: Cath Swann
Apprenticeship title: Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship and Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice
Summarise your journey as an Apprentice…
I have just completed my 2 and a half year programme and I successfully graduated in December 2023 and received my apprenticeship end point assessment results in January 2024!
As a Sister on Intensive Care at Whiston for over 20 years, much of my prior academic learning has been primarily clinical. The apprenticeship I had undertaken would take me on a journey through the world of management practice.
The pathway has ensured that my academic learning was directly applied to my workplace, which has had a huge impact. I have been astounded by the support network within our organisation. I have collaborated with colleagues who have willingly given me their time and shared their knowledge which I have greatly appreciated and has undoubtedly assisted me on my apprenticeship journey.
- Meet: Eran Stocks
Apprenticeship title: Level 6 Chartered Manager (Health and Social Care) Degree, with an integrated NHS Leadership academy Mary Seacole Programme.
Summarise your journey as an Apprentice…
Phlebotomy has always been a passion of mine. I saw the opportunity of a Chief Phlebotomist Role and was appointed in November 2021. As this was a completely new role and involved managing a service, I wanted to bring the team the best version of me and during my PDR I highlighted the apprenticeship. My manager was extremely supportive, and I began the apprenticeship in September 2022.
There were a few hurdles to overcome at the beginning of the course, as this was something so new to me and a high standard of work was expected. I was able to face these hurdles and overcome them with support from the university and my managers.
In October 2023 a particular highlight of mine was achieving the Mary Seacole Leadership Academy Award. This award is recognised in the NHS and it empowers people in their first formal leadership position to turn their success into consistent team success and to champion compassionate patient care.
My future goal is to continue to grow within my role and to be able to support others in their roles of phlebotomy, Self-Development and Leadership and Management. - Meet: Amy Cooney
Apprenticeship title: Level 7 CIMA Professional Accountant
Summarise your journey as an Apprentice…
I started my career in NHS accountancy in 2018 at South Sefton CCG, completing Level 3 of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) through the apprenticeship route in 2020 then Level 4 AAT in 2022.
My achievements and highlights to date include being awarded the ‘Rising Star Award’ at South Sefton CCG, being redeployed to the Covid Vaccination Centre in January 2021 and gaining promotions and secondment opportunities at the CCG, NHS England and most recently Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (MWL).
In 2023 I started my Level 7 Apprenticeship, with 2 exams passed to date. I love being able to learn whilst applying my skills within the workplace. My goal is to become a Chartered Management Accountant, enjoy the process of studying and gaining knowledge through my job, and see where my career takes me!
- Meet: Stevie Murphy
Apprenticeship title: Assistant Accountant
Summarise your journey as an Apprentice…
I started this apprenticeship in September as a school leaver as I knew for a very long time that I wanted to work in finance. Currently, I am on the AAT study route alongside working at MWL as part of my 18-month Apprenticeship. I have successfully completed my Level 2 Bookkeeping course and will be starting on Level 3 Accountancy in February! For the past 4 months I have been split between Clinical/ Community Services and Corporate Services. I have really enjoyed, my time working with the two teams, and I look forward to starting with the Surgical Team soon.
I can’t say I have had any major hurdles this early on in my career, however, as a new apprentice in the financial management area, I initially found it hard to understand the various acronyms used around the office and the work/ studying routine as it was all so different to high school. I can finally say I am getting to grips with it.
My achievements to date are passing my Level 2 exams and constantly putting myself out there to be an advocate for finance apprenticeships and to speak to new people who would like to join this area of work. My future goal after completing my Level 3 Apprenticeship is to hopefully continue to Level 7 and become a Chartered Accountant!