HSE Apprentice Review
at Serco
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Healthcare
London
Review Submitted: August 2021
Overall Rating
4.1 /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
4/5
-
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
HSE Advisor for Bart's contract (Mile End Hospital, Newham Hospital, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, The Royal London Hospital, Whipps Cross Hospital) and later assisting with James Cook Hospital (Middlesbrough)
Reports and Feedback on safety statistics and performance to all levels of employees (Contract directors to frontline staff).
Assisting with accident investigations, inspections and audits, staff training for example.
Reports and Feedback on safety statistics and performance to all levels of employees (Contract directors to frontline staff).
Assisting with accident investigations, inspections and audits, staff training for example.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I enjoy the flexibility they give me - ability to work from home or go into site (also flexible on what site I go to physically).
Opportunity to travel both daily (5 available sites & home working) and visits to other contracts (single day visits and also supporting a contract for longer periods).
Helpful safety team, manager and boss during my time and course instructors from Penshaw View were flexible with me where needed (changes made during lockdowns for example).
Opportunity to travel both daily (5 available sites & home working) and visits to other contracts (single day visits and also supporting a contract for longer periods).
Helpful safety team, manager and boss during my time and course instructors from Penshaw View were flexible with me where needed (changes made during lockdowns for example).
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have learnt how to perform most tasks in my role during the apprenticeship .
Audits and Inspections for a variety of different reasons (different departments, different sites, etc.)
Report writing and data collection.
Training and presenting to a crowd or individuals - in-person and remotely.
Working remotely with a team.
Organising and management of large groups of people.
Audits and Inspections for a variety of different reasons (different departments, different sites, etc.)
Report writing and data collection.
Training and presenting to a crowd or individuals - in-person and remotely.
Working remotely with a team.
Organising and management of large groups of people.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
Course was well organised despite roadblocks during.
Start of the course was a good introduction into a mostly new field and the schedule allowed me to balance 5 sites and the course and by the time the end approached I felt ready.
Course instructors were always flexible where needed and provided good assistance whenever asked
Start of the course was a good introduction into a mostly new field and the schedule allowed me to balance 5 sites and the course and by the time the end approached I felt ready.
Course instructors were always flexible where needed and provided good assistance whenever asked
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
Plenty of support.
My manager & boss were always appreciative of my skill level at any given point and provided plenty of help when asked. They gave me plenty of difficult jobs that I could handle whilst shielding me from certain parts until I was comfortable and ready. During difficulties that could not be avoided, I received assistance where needed.
Training was also always provided even if at steep costs if they felt it would benefit me.
My manager & boss were always appreciative of my skill level at any given point and provided plenty of help when asked. They gave me plenty of difficult jobs that I could handle whilst shielding me from certain parts until I was comfortable and ready. During difficulties that could not be avoided, I received assistance where needed.
Training was also always provided even if at steep costs if they felt it would benefit me.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
Lots of help - they were always available when I had any questions or needed any assistance.
During COVID and lockdowns, any changes or new plans were well communicated and the switch to fully remote exams/tests were well managed.
Instructors were very easy to deal with and even in high pressure times they made an effort to facilitate as far as practicably possible.
During COVID and lockdowns, any changes or new plans were well communicated and the switch to fully remote exams/tests were well managed.
Instructors were very easy to deal with and even in high pressure times they made an effort to facilitate as far as practicably possible.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
All subjects and tasks done during the apprenticeship were somehow applicable to my role, either immediately or eventually.
Some parts of the course were sometimes not entirely relatable to my role (Hard FM for example) but became relevant later in my career. Most however, were immediately applicable to my role - knowledge modules were needed for the content in my work and things like presenting coursework helped me in presenting during work.
Some parts of the course were sometimes not entirely relatable to my role (Hard FM for example) but became relevant later in my career. Most however, were immediately applicable to my role - knowledge modules were needed for the content in my work and things like presenting coursework helped me in presenting during work.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
Covid and lockdowns were present during the majority of my apprenticeship.
However, some extra activities were possible before and during 2020/2021:
>Serco PRIDE awards ceremony (moved to remote due to pandemic)
>Various out-of-London training sessions paid for by Serco
>Recently, events to promote Green objectives & environmentally friendly initiatives (litter picking, garden planting, etc).
However, some extra activities were possible before and during 2020/2021:
>Serco PRIDE awards ceremony (moved to remote due to pandemic)
>Various out-of-London training sessions paid for by Serco
>Recently, events to promote Green objectives & environmentally friendly initiatives (litter picking, garden planting, etc).
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Serco to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I have done so already.
Serco, from personal experience, seem to prefer to promote from within and train the staff that they have. Personally i have been offered some opportunities that relate to my role that i feel has advanced my career (assisting in other sites, training in other locations). I have also seen others get similar treatment, some moving to other business units when requested.
Serco, from personal experience, seem to prefer to promote from within and train the staff that they have. Personally i have been offered some opportunities that relate to my role that i feel has advanced my career (assisting in other sites, training in other locations). I have also seen others get similar treatment, some moving to other business units when requested.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Serco?
This will depend on business units and roles.
I've found that being open to further development and training has put me in good standing to be considered for roles in the future (potential openings or new contracts picked up).
Flexibility i've found is also important (both ways) - being able to travel to new locations if required
I've found that being open to further development and training has put me in good standing to be considered for roles in the future (potential openings or new contracts picked up).
Flexibility i've found is also important (both ways) - being able to travel to new locations if required
