The first group of DHU’s NHS 111 Health Advisors have been awarded the Care Certificate.
Nine Health Advisors were part of a pilot programme that saw the Care Certificate tailored to support NHS 111 advisors who are non-patient facing, but routinely give urgent care and advice to people over the phone across the Midlands.
The Care Certificate, a set of 15 national standards, is designed to ensure health workers have the essential knowledge and skills to deliver safe, compassionate care. It’s the first time it has been awarded to NHS 111 Health Advisors, putting DHU at the forefront of learning and development across this national service.
Sarah Goodwin is DHU’s Clinical Mandatory Trainer, she said: “It's traditionally regarded as an important part of patient facing care, but with the NHS long-term plan outlining an approach that encourages care at home and in the community, our 111 Health Advisors have shown that they can also meet these standards. To be the first Health Advisors in the region to have Care Certificate accreditation is a real honour.
Zoe Hunt is DHU’s Clinical Practice Development Lead, she added: “It’s been great working with and supporting our people through the care certificate award. They’ve shown extreme enthusiasm throughout and I’d like to congratulate all of them with a huge well done for all their hard work, it’s a very well deserved achievement.
DHU’s successful advisors are Ben Tonks, Gemma Fuller, Helen Bent, Hareesa Zahoor, Rachel Rose, Laura McFarlane, Santosh Dhanda, Tracy Jones and Claudia Carter. The hope is that more can follow in their footsteps to progress their career with DHU and learn new skills to provide even better care for patients in the Midlands calling 111.
Santosh Dhanda is one of DHU’s NHS 111 Health Advisor, she said: “The Care Certificate has helped me to better understand my role and how my work contributes to patient care. It’s been a valuable learning experience and has given me more of a grounding as to how I can improve in my role.”
Claudia Carter is another Health Advisor who passed the training, adding: Completing this certificate has helped me to feel more confident and capable in providing safe and compassionate care. Thank you again to the team for their support in helping me to achieve this.”
Cynthia Clayton is DHU’s Clinical Head of Professional Development, she said: “I wanted to extend my congratulations to each of you on successfully passing the Care Certificate course. This is a great achievement and a reflection of your hard work, dedication, and commitment to developing your skills.
"We all know how demanding NHS 111 can be in balancing learning with your day-to-day responsibilities, so it makes this accomplishment even more significant. You should all feel proud of yourselves.
"Thank you for the enthusiasm and professionalism you bring to your roles as Health and Service Advisors. Your growth not only strengthens our service but also enhances the care and support we provide to our patients. Well done, and please take a moment to celebrate this success. You’ve certainly earned it.”
DHU provides the NHS 111 service for the whole of the Midlands region, ensuring around 15 million people can get the kind and compassionate care they need in the right place at the right time. One in every four calls coming through to 111 is answered by one of DHU’s Health Advisors, making DHU the largest single provider of NHS 111 services in the country.