Lincolnshire NHS Apprentice Centre rated Good by Ofsted

A health care provider in Lincolnshire has recently been inspected by Ofsted for the first time and received an overall rating of Good.

The apprentice centre, run by Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) was inspected this summer making it only the second NHS organisation nationally to receive a full Ofsted inspection this year and the first community trust.

Chief Executive Maz Fosh said: “The report commented on how well we prepare our apprentices for their career in the NHS and how proud they are to contribute to the Trust and patient care.

“I am delighted with the result and hard work of everyone involved in the apprentice centre.”

The centre was established in May 2017 to support the development of LCHS staff and since then the apprentice centre has supported 81 apprentices to successfully complete their apprenticeships. These range from non-clinical apprenticeships of Level 3 Business Administration to Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeships to Clinical Level 2 Healthcare Support Worker to Level 6 Nurse Degree Apprenticeships. The centre is supporting a further 90 apprentices and there are more to be recruited to the Trust this year.

Zara Lewis, is now a quality systems Level 3 Business Administrator Apprentice at LCHS. She has recently changed her career path following the scheme and says the support of the apprentice centre has been invaluable.

“Whenever I had a question, they were on hand to answer. Whenever I have needed someone to talk to after a good day or a bad day, they have been there for me.

“I’ve been signposted to a number of additional training programmes, such as Mental Health First Aid and Coaching for Resilience – both incredible learning experiences. The apprentice centre has also helped me to grow my network of colleagues, which has provided me with amazing shadowing opportunities with different teams across the Trust.

“I was initially apprehensive, as I am almost 30 years old and was embarking on an apprenticeship to take on a new career path, but I have felt extremely supported by the apprentice centre.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend an apprenticeship with LCHS to my friends and family.”

Lee Gifford, Apprentice Centre Lead said: “No prouder moment in my NHS career has come than leading the apprentice centre through an Ofsted inspection.

“We pride ourselves in supporting, educating, engaging our staff to command their own potential and unlock their careers to succeed in becoming the best version of themselves.”

Katie Castleden, a former senior healthcare support worker apprentice who worked within Children’s therapy initially used the Apprentice Centre to refresh her skills to benefit patients.

“After joining LCHS in 2017, I was very much supported by my team and manager to complete an apprenticeship through the Trust to further develop my knowledge, skills and confidence to ensure that I was consistently providing the best service for our patients.

“As I’d been out of education for a while, I was a little nervous and apprehensive, but I felt empowered and supported by the apprentice centre team, and that gave me the confidence to work towards my goals.

“I had such a great experience on my apprenticeship that after I’d finished, I had the confidence, passion and drive to take my career path in a different direction and apply for a position within the apprentice centre as a clinical assessor.

“I was successful, and I am now in the very privileged position to work with others to give them the confidence and support to reach their goals.”

LCHS apprentice centre aims to support, engage, educate and develop their staff to succeed. All apprenticeships available to the Trust seek to support staff to command their potential and unlock their careers providing a genuine sense of belonging to an NHS organisation that has a strong impetus on ‘growing the future’.

To find out more about the apprentice centre and the opportunities available please contact lhnt.apprenticeshipenquiries@nhs.net.