(L-R) Lucy Hunte – National Programme Manager – Apprenticeships HEE, Melanie Woodman – Lifetime Health Apprentice of the Year, Margaret Littler – Regional Trainer Lifetime
Melanie Woodman (pictured right in the middle) from Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust recently completed her Senior Healthcare Support Worker Level 3 apprenticeship and is now fulfilling her dream of becoming a nurse by progressing onto the Level 5 Nursing Associate apprenticeship and ultimately a Registered Nurse.
Melanie has always wanted to be a nurse but had her first of 7 (yes 7!) children at age 16 so her plans were put on hold. After devoting her time to raising her family, at age 50 while working as a community healthcare assistant she saw an apprenticeship vacancy advertised and jumped at the opportunity to gain a formal qualification and progress her career. Melanie says:
“The timing was just right my children are all older and I am now a grandmother, and this sounded like the perfect way to earn while I learn. I could never have afforded to become a nurse via the traditional route, but the apprenticeship route has given me this fantastic opportunity”
Melanie says she really enjoyed her Level 3 apprenticeship programme and has now successfully progressed on to the Level 5 Trainee Nurse Associate Apprenticeship programme. She has displayed such resilience juggling family life and the demands of her apprenticeship that she was recently awarded the Lifetime Training Healthcare Apprentice of the Year. She was nominated by her regional trainer who said:
“Melanie worked extremely hard to complete her Level 3 qualification slightly ahead of schedule, despite working full-time as a HCA in the community and having a very busy home life. I have also been really impressed by her level of commitment and dedication to her patients and colleagues. I am delighted that she was accepted for progression onto the Level 5 Nursing Associate apprenticeship programme with a view to following the career pathway via the apprenticeship route all the way to L6 Registered Nurse”
Melanie adds:
“The apprenticeship pathway is an amazing opportunity and is inclusive regardless of age or background. My employer is growing their own future nurses and fully utilising their apprenticeship levy with a long-sighted plan to retain and continually develop their workforce with high quality apprenticeship programmes”