Top Marks for Young Learners at DHU

The training team at DHU Health Care have been sharing life-saving skills with young learners in Derby as part of its commitment to improving the wellbeing of local communities.

As a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, DHU Healthcare provided two trainers to teach a class of 16 to 19 year old health and social care students, essential CPR skills that could one day save a person’s life.

Derby Skillbuild tutor Stacey Mortimer spotted the opportunity for her students to take advantage of DHU’s continued efforts to work with voluntary and community sector companies to improve the health and wellbeing of people in the local communities.

This led to DHU Lead Clinical Mandatory Trainer Zoe Hunt and Clinical Mandatory Trainer Sarah Goodwin visiting the Skillbuild site for the intensive session with youngsters looking to start a career in the health sector.

Zoe said:  “When Stacey approached us to teach her students we jumped at the chance to share our skills. Both of us have a wide range of experience within healthcare to share with the learners, many of whom are looking at taking their first steps into the health and social care profession.

“As a socially conscious business, supporting the voluntary and community sector is a vital part of what DHU do. Creating social value means going beyond the 24/7 high-quality patient care our services are known for delivering, it’s about how we can further support the community.”

The students were shown a range of techniques using manikins, training CPR machines and scenarios that mirror real life situations in a safe environment. This included checking the airways, how to position the patients and the dos and don’ts of resuscitation using a combination of theory and practical examples.

Stacey said: “I teach a variety of courses at Skillbuild and am fortunate that every day I get to work with some incredible and talented young people. Many of those we support have often been failed by the education system and so we try to show that a different path is available them.

“Following our learners on their journey as they take their next steps into a career is an exceptionally rewarding experience for everyone involved. Having DHU at Skillbuild gave our learners a real sense of what it is like to work in the health and social care sector and some useful hands on experience that will stand them in good stead during this course but also in life!”

Skillbuild offer courses in a variety of subjects such as Music, Business Administration, Electrical Installation, Construction and Health & Social Care to learners outside of the traditional educational system.