A new apprenticeship in Clinical Healthcare is reaping rewards for both the apprentice and employer, Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

Chelsea Crossman, 17, from Zeal Monachorum, is celebrating after being awarded the Apprentice of the Year award from the Faculty of Healthcare, Childcare and Public Services at Exeter College. She was one of two students taken on by the Trust last year and is proving that gaining on-the-job experience alongside studying can be valuable to both the learner and the employer.

Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has employed more than 140 apprentices over the last five years and formed a partnership with Exeter College last year to offer the new apprenticeship in Clinical Healthcare. “We approached Exeter College for the first time in order to support our aims in developing a health apprenticeship programme; developing skills to support patients in our community hospitals” said Darryn Allcorn, Assistant Director of Workforce for the Trust. “This initial partnership has been a huge success; delivering two very competent and committed support workers at Exeter Community Hospital. The success of Chelsea Crossman and her achievements at Exeter College further reinforces the benefits and quality of personal development such a programme delivers. We are now looking to establish this within our wider portfolio of apprenticeships and encourage other community hospitals to consider apprenticeships in health as part of their continued recruitment strategies.”

Chelsea was nominated for the award by her Skills Officer and College Tutor for her natural ability to communicate, positive outlook and professionalism. She began the apprenticeship having gained a distinction in a one-year Health and Social Care BTEC course at the college. Her Tutor, Vanessa Ackford said: “Chelsea is a valued member of the apprentice group, contributing well to class discussions and bringing her experience into the classroom. Her positive attitude and vivacious personality is what makes Chelsea an excellent carer and valuable care professional.”

Chelsea's day-to-day role involves working on a busy ward at Exeter Community Hospital for patients with acute rehabilitation, medical and nursing care needs. She is learning vital care skills including how to monitor individuals affected by health conditions and using a person-centred approach to patient care. Cathy Weeks, Hospital Matron at Exeter Community Hospital, feels Chelsea's award is well deserved: “Chelsea is a real ambassador for the value of having modern apprentices on the wards as healthcare assistants. She has shown real hard work and commitment to the team effort here at Exeter Community Hospital, and the patients all benefit from her compassionate care.”

On picking up her award, Chelsea said: “I'm ecstatic and my family and work colleagues are so happy and proud of me, but I really would like to thank everyone at work and college because I wouldn't have won it without their help and knowledge.
My job as an apprentice at the hospital has lived up to every expectation and more! I could not imagine working anywhere else. When I first started my job at the hospital I just thought it would be a 'normal' day to day job but it's so much more – I get excited about going to work every single day and I always leave with a smile on my face!”

Chelsea now hopes to progress on to an Advanced Apprenticeship and on to university to train as a Registered Nurse or Occupational Therapist and feels her apprenticeship has given her the motivation and experience she needed to plan her future career. “I would recommend this job to others for the simple reason that it is the most rewarding job ever; it's fun, you learn great 'hands-on experience' and you are never bored. The best thing for me is getting to know the patients – it's amazing to hear about what they have done and achieved over the years and who they have met and I love to see them go home healthy and happy.”