Apprenticeships play a vital role in providing our colleagues with the skills, confidence, and knowledge needed to grow into our future leaders.
Katy’s journey in adult care
Apprenticeships play a vital role in providing our colleagues with the skills, confidence, and knowledge needed to grow into our future leaders.
One success story is Katy, a dedicated care and support professional who has worked in the sector for over 13 years. With the encouragement of her manager and the support of Access Training, she embarked on a Leader in Adult Care apprenticeship (Level 5) to develop her management skills and unlock new career opportunities.
Why apprenticeships matter
Katy’s passion for care and support was deeply personal. Her son’s diagnosis with complex needs inspired her to explore the sector, ensuring she understood the support available for people like him in adulthood. Over the years, she gained extensive experience and multiple qualifications, but she recognised that an apprenticeship could provide the structured learning and professional development she needed to take her career further.
Her manager, Dawn Birch, saw the potential benefits and supported her in enrolling with Access Training, reinforcing NCHA's commitment to staff development and career progression.
Supporting staff through learning
Balancing an apprenticeship alongside a busy role in care and support is never easy. The demands of her job were immense, making it challenging to dedicate time to coursework. However, her manager provided flexibility to allow her time for training, recognising the long-term benefits of upskilling employees. Additionally, Access Training played a key role in helping Katy stay on track. She credits her assessor, Lisa, for contributing to her success.
“Lisa was amazing. I couldn’t have done it without her. She was so supportive and really helped me focus, taking the time to ensure I was on track. She understood that my job wasn’t 9am to 5pm and made sure I felt fully supported.”
The course helped her refine her management skills, improve time management, and develop a more reflective approach to leadership. Following her studies, she secured a project manager role, where she made a significant impact reviewing and improving our services, particularly in response to funding challenges. Her enhanced skills and confidence have contributed to the continuous improvement of services within the company.
Katy’s success highlights how apprenticeships are more than just training. They’re a pathway to career success, benefiting both employees and the company as a whole.
