Our Trust was the first in England to offer our staff the opportunity to train to become nurses while continuing to work full-time with us.

The apprenticeship route into nursing is perfect for our staff who are already working in patient care and who wish to progress to becoming nurses but who, for whatever reason, couldn’t take the usual degree route after leaving school.

The four-year course is divided into studying at Anglia Ruskin University and hands-on experience on our wards. Students are paid an annual salary and tuition fees are covered by our Trust.

Growing our nursing workforce through the Registered Degree Nursing Apprenticeship route was just one of the ways we have reduced our nursing vacancies. Five years ago, our nursing vacancy rate was at times up to 40%. We now have a vacancy rate of 4%.

Due to its success, we are expanding the Registered Degree Nursing Apprenticeship scheme to work with the University of East London, as well as with Anglia Ruskin University.

Thomas Hill ((pictured) is now a qualified nurse, thanks to our ground breaking scheme. He started with us as a healthcare assistant.

The 36-year-old used to work as an electrician, but after several years in the trade, he knew it wasn’t for him.

Thomas, who lives in Barking, said: “The decision to become an electrician was solely based on the fact that I didn’t know what I wanted to do when leaving school. The advice that I received back then was to get a trade, so that’s what I did. After ten years of studying and working as an electrician I found myself increasingly dissatisfied with the career I had chosen and I had a strong desire for something that gave me a greater sense of purpose.

“I really wanted to help people get better.

“I come from a family of six siblings, four of whom work in healthcare. When discussing a change of career with them they would tell me of their work and I got a great sense of passion listening to what they had to say.

“I then realised working in healthcare was what I wanted to do.

 “Going through the apprenticeship route was the only option I had to fulfil my dream of becoming a nurse. It meant that I kept a wage. Without the apprenticeship I would have had to contend with the debt traditional route students are now faced with. My fiancé and I are saving to buy our first house together. Without my pay, our dream of owning our own home would still be a distant one.

“I would like to thank the education team at our Trust for sponsoring me to become a nurse.”

At our Trust we have set out a ten year development plan where we have mapped out the career development journey for all our aspiring and existing nursing staff.  

The ‘personalised career development pathway’ helps staff plan their future and reach their full potential.

Kathryn Halford OBE, Chief Nurse, said: “In Thomas’ case he could not afford to become a full-time student again. We want a career in nursing to be open to all, and not just to those who can afford the traditional degree route. We also want to ensure our future nursing workforce is representative of the local population we serve, and that we offer careers and not just jobs.

 

“It is lovely to hear Thomas’ story. It makes me proud that we offer our healthcare assistants who are already working hands-on with patients, an opportunity to become nurses.

“In some cases we have supported healthcare assistants who have been in the same role for ten or fifteen years. Growing our nursing workforce locally is very important to me."

Thomas is one of four degree apprentice registered nurses at our Trust. In September, we will support ten more members of staff to realise their dream of becoming a registered nurse.

If you are interested in an apprenticeship with us, visit our Join our Team page.