As part of National Apprenticeship Week we’re celebrating the role of our apprentices, what they bring to DHU and what we can do to help them in their career.
Today we’re speaking to Sophie Wale who joined our Occupational Health Team as a Business Administration Apprentice on 9th January 2023. Here’s what she told us about her experience so far…
“I’ve had an unusual pathway to this apprenticeship. I was at university studying Radiography when it dawned on me that the study pattern wasn’t right for me. I need to know how to do something by doing it rather than being shown so the practical element, the theory, was something I found difficult because I couldn’t apply it. It doesn’t suit my personality.
“I still wanted to put a focus on healthcare and found this apprenticeship through the Gov website. I’ll admit that I didn’t know much about DHU, but I liked what I saw on the website and was very happy to revisit healthcare by starting in admin; it seemed like a way of focusing on it from a different perspective. I found the interview very interesting, most of the questions were focussed on the CARE values (Compassionate, Accomplished, Respectful and Encouraging) rather than experience, which I was very impressed with. I felt there was a real effort to look at how a person would fit into the culture of the organisation, with empathy and your interest in the role being drawn out. It was a challenging interview as a result but as interviews go, it was good.
“I’ve not been in the role long enough yet to make it mine, but I’ve been through training and induction and just started on working on what makes this my role. I’ve inputted driver medicals onto spreadsheets, followed up on medicals to make sure they’re being carried out but best of all, I know why I need to do it. There’s a lot to be said about the difference between telling someone how to do a job compared to involving someone in that role. I understand it more so I’m learning more, I know already that I made the right decision to leave of university and try a different approach.
“But it’s not all on the job, we need to do at least six hours a week ‘off the job’ training including assessments, tutor-based sessions and assignments. It’s mostly online and self-taught but because it’s all related and geared towards my role at DHU, I have something to apply it all to. It’s an 18-month apprenticeship, a year of which is learning with an end-point assessment to round it all off.
“I really do like it here so far and I understand what DHU is trying to achieve. Right now, my feelings are that if it’s at all possible, I’d like to stay here. Not necessarily in administration but if there are any opportunities to branch out and learn more about the care giving side then I’d like to explore them. I have spoken to others who tell me that career progression and the support to focus on that is a priority for DHU so, for now, I’m looking forward to cracking on with my apprenticeship and then see if there’s any way I can assess my options here.”
To find apprentice opportunities near you, visit the national site here or visit the DHU careers page here for more opportunities.
You can find out more about some of the apprentices and apprenticeships we currently have at DHU through a series of articles that we have outlined below. Each one will take you to a colleague who is currently an apprentice, undertaking an apprenticeship or has been an apprentice and secured full time employment with us.