Patient Contact Advisor Review
at NHS
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Business Operations
Southampton
Review Submitted: April 2021
Overall Rating
4 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4/5
-
Overview of Role
4/5
-
Skills Development
3.6/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
On a day to day basis I take calls for many different NHS services, this includes, booking appointments and giving non clinical advise for Sexual Health and Podiatry we sometimes do this via a waiting list and sending letters. We also take referrals for the community team, including district nurses and sign post people to the correct places if they have the wrong number.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I enjoy my programme a lot, as I haven't been in any study for a few years it is nice to get back in it. I have a manager whom is very supportive of the apprenticeship and me doing it, so we have meetings catching up so often. It was a lot harder than I expected but it challenges me, which I enjoy.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
During my apprenticeship I have experienced a lot of new skills including how to use Zoom and teams more than I did before. I have developed a lot of skills including my IT skills and understanding it a lot more. During a unit I developed my personal effectiveness skills, by taking on board what happened during our workshop into my role.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
initially, it took me quite some time to be enrolled and with Covid coming along it took longer to start, but eventually the induction was very planned, training has been good, my assessor is very supportive and I can email her when I'm struggling and she will help me.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
My line manager is very supportive with my apprenticeship, I have allocated time a week to study and to the tasks on onefile. If I need more time to shadow etc she will help me with this and we will find time for this to ne done. I expressed to her that I was struggling with a unit as it wasn't in my job role and we looked and discussed other things I could take on to help with this unit.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
When it comes to the provider I find that I receive a lot of support. We have remote workshops once a month to go over what will be included in the next coming tasks we have. Me and my assessor have catch ups roughly once a month to discuss how I feel like I am getting on, but if I need more help in the mean time I can always email her and she arranges a call with me.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I feel as if my training has helped me perform better in my role, as I have learned more about my organisation as I have had to research more into my organisation and its values etc. I have also learned how to be more professional than I was before due to units regarding personal effectiveness.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
There is no extra-curricular activities that the organisation organise however within our department we often go out for dinner when we can and we also do a Christmas party when we can. any leavers we will do farewell dinner the same if people have big birthdays and also do bake offs in office.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend NHS to a friend?
Yes
Why?
They are very supportive when it come to apprentices' and they always sent emails to see if people would like to join and the benefits you my get from it. The annual leave is very generous and they are very supportive when it comes to other things that may occur during your employment.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to NHS?
Keep an open mind, be caring, try and always do more than your job role and make a good name for yourself, get recognised for your work and people will give you more responsibility. Hang on in there because opportunities will always come up and you will be able to progress.
