Stepping into the NHS becomes easier with local trust becoming the main provider of apprenticeships in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) became one of the only three Trusts in the East Midlands who successfully achieved main provider status by the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

This means the team can now deliver apprenticeships outside of the Trust, making it much easier and more accessible for those wanting to start their career in the NHS. The centre can deliver a number of different qualifications for clinical and non-clinical apprenticeships at different levels.

For over 20 years, LCHS was an established NVQ centre and it became an employer provider in 2017 and for the past five years with a highly successful pass rate across all qualifications. In June 2021, the apprenticeship centre was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted.

Trust staff have built relationships and work with local schools, colleges, universities to help those who are interested in a career within healthcare to help them achieve their goals.

Ceri Lennon, Director of People and Innovation at LCHS, said: “We are so proud to be able to officially open our Lincolnshire NHS Apprenticeship Centre. This is such a huge benefit to our county. It means we can make it so much easier for those who would like to pursue a career in healthcare but don’t necessarily have the relevant qualifications or experience”.

Gemma Adams joined the Trust in 2011, as a bank healthcare support worker. Gemma has completed several different healthcare apprenticeships throughout her career with LCHS and is now a qualified registered nurse.

Gemma said: “When I was younger, I always wanted to be a nurse and wanted to make a difference to people’s lives. I became a mum at the age of 19 and I’ve never been financially stable to do my nursing qualification. Now the apprenticeship route has become available, it has enabled people like me to achieve their dreams and aspirations.”

Ryan Donaldson joined the Trust in 2015, as an assistant practitioner and is now completing a Nurse Degree Apprenticeship.

Ryan said: “I wanted to complete the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship but I had to complete further studying in maths and English as my Scottish standard grades results did not meet the English GCSE equivalent required. I was given this opportunity by our in-house training centre and without this, I would not have been accepted on the course.

“After I achieved these qualifications, I was accepted onto the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship. It has been three years of very hard work, juggling social, family, full-time work and studying. I have had so much support from family but most of all my colleagues in my workplace. Without their encouragement, motivation, knowledge, skills and most of all their understanding, I would not have been able to achieve this.”

Lee Gifford, Apprenticeship Lead at LCHS, said: “I am so proud of this achievement and to be able to play such a huge part of growing our future healthcare workforce in Lincolnshire. The team has worked incredibly hard to get to this stage and to finally be here means so much to us.”

For further information and to contact the Lincolnshire Health and Care Apprenticeship Centre, please visit this section on the LCHS website.