Three Solihull College & University Health & Social Care students have secured higher posts within the NHS after successfully completing the Foundation Degree in Health & Social Care (validated by Oxford Brookes University). Funded by the Heart of England Trust, the three students completed a two year bespoke programme with the college that has resulted in their NHS progression.
Michelle Atkins, Christine Nelson and Mark Bashford started the course 2 years ago. They were interviewed at a collaborative recruitment drive held by both the college and the Trust to gain places on the course. The course which consists of 50% work-based learning, undertaken in the student’s workplace or placement, can be tailored to specific roles or sectors and enables students to “upskill” and gain competence and expertise in their chosen area of work. The remaining 50% of the programme entailed academic study that consisted of 1 day of lectures at college.
The team at Solihull are extremely proud of the students’ achievements and have enjoyed seeing them develop into competent accountable professionals. The relationship with the Trust and the College has been fantastic and it has enabled the successful progress and attainment of the students – with Mark and Michelle earning Distinction Awards, a testament to the hard work and dedication of all involved. At a recent College awards ceremony, Michelle was also nominated by her peers as ‘Most Supportive Peer’.
Michelle, Christine and Mark, who were already NHS employees prior to the start of the course, have now progressed from Health Care Assistants to Band 4 Assistant Practitioners in theatres.
Commenting on the Students’ achievement, Programme Lead Dr Idris Sidique said ‘I’m so proud of the students, this course was the first of its kind delivered collaboratively with Heart of England NHS Trust, Oxford Brookes University and Solihull College & University Centre and to see our students make such tremendous progress and go on to secure Band 4 NHS posts at the end of it is exactly what we’d hoped for. The team and the students have worked really hard and I’d like to commend all those involved in making this partnership a success’.
Find out more about Solihull College & University Centre’s Health & Social Care courses.
