National Apprenticeship Week: Meet our two wellbeing apprentices

Last year, we recruited two apprentice HealthCare Support Workers, Holly Mannion and Nathan Grant. They are supporting the wellbeing advisors at Hagley Road Village and Bournville Gardens Village respectively.

Here they tell us about why they applied, what they’re gaining from the experience and what they hope for the future.

Tell us about the application process, where did you first hear about the opportunity, and how did you apply?

Holly: “I first found the job on indeed.com and applied there. After around a week I followed up my application with an email and was then invited to an interview.”

Nathan: “I applied on the ExtraCare website, the training company got in touch with me. Then I was invited for an interview with ExtraCare.”

When did you start and what is your role as an apprentice?

Holly: “I started my role on March 4th 2019 as a HealthCare Support Worker. My apprenticeship role is to help with Well-being – doing assessments and loading the data on to the well-being app. I also spend a lot of time in the admin office helping with the other areas of the village such as housing and volunteers.”

Nathan: “I started in February 2019. My role is to promote the health and well-being for individuals in the village and to assist the nurse. This involves performing observations such as blood pressure and sugar levels.”

How do you find working with older people, do you have many older people in your life?

Holly: “Working with older people is never boring – there is always something going on and someone to talk to.”

Nathan: “I have grown up with older people. They are supportive, they always give me advice.”

What are you finding most enjoyable?

Holly: “The most enjoyable thing for me is the atmosphere and the people I work with. I get along well with the rest of the staff which means I look forward to coming in to work.”

Nathan: “Meeting different people, I enjoy most. Many come from different places and backgrounds and have different experiences, I find this interesting.”

Have you learned anything new?

Holly: “I am learning new things all the time, especially when I work in the office because I am being given additional training in the housing role. I have also learned how to read blood pressure/blood sugar/cholesterol/urinalysis results.”

Nathan: “I have learnt to understand the readings of the observations, knowing a cause for concern, and causes of illnesses and how they can be prevented. I have also taken part in a dementia project and learnt from this and lots more.”

What are your future plans, what would you like to do once the apprenticeship has ended?

Holly: “I am hoping to continue working for ExtraCare after my apprenticeship, hopefully as part of the housing team in the new Solihull village.”

Nathan: “If possible, a permanent position in the same role at ExtraCare. However, I would like to keep my options open in the healthcare field.”

How do you think this experience will help?

Holly: “This experience will help as it will give me an opportunity to learn the company and get some vital experience working in a retirement village environment.”

Nathan: “People have different problems, this experience will help me to be more aware of the problems people may face, physically or mentally.”

Any advice for someone thinking of applying?

Holly: “I would say to go for it, because you will be learning new things whilst getting a foot in the door and earning money.”

Nathan: “Be willing to learn, and show a good attitude every day.”