Occupational therapy apprentice Review
at NHS
Degree Apprenticeship
Healthcare
Swindon, Wiltshire
Review Submitted: May 2022
Overall Rating
3.8 /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
3.2/5
-
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
In my role I take part in trialing equipment for patients, liaising with patients and family to arrange equipment delivery, admin tasks such as ensuring my team have adequate copies of paperwork and medical notes are filed appropriately. I also see patients to rehabilitate them in order to try to reduce care packages and to improve their transfers.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I have been really enjoying learning with university alongside my job. I have been able to apply my knowledge learned from either side of my apprenticeship to aid the other. It has been a bit overwhelming at times especially at the beginning when my employers didn't know all the details and logistics of how the course would work.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have learned a lot during the anatomy and physiology module at university that i have been able to use at work to widen my understanding of patients medical conditions. I have been able to develop on my skill to see the patient as a whole and to write my notes more detailed.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
The university gives everyone access to our timetable for the whole academic year in advance of the start of the year. This was very helpful to plan and research around topics before the lessons. Also lecturers upload PowerPoint slides for lessons around 2 days before hand so that I can go through them and write down questions before the lesson. Work have been less organised as they were wanting more guidance from university to what they need to be fulfilling.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
I feel well supported by my employer though we have had some issues with my supervisors and i am now on my 3rd supervisor since starting the course less than a year ago. My mangers have been very involved in helping me progress onto the apprenticeship. I have been supported to access occupational health when needed. I feel i can talk to my supervisor and mangers if i have any concerns.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
I feel at the start of the course I could have been given more guidance on what was expected from me and how to evidence my competencies. However i have now had multiple meetings with my university tutor and we have discussed these concerns in more detail and i feel much more confident and supported now. My tutor is new to the role so she did not know the answers to many of my questions at the start which made me feel very nervous but now things are much better.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
My anatomy and physiology module has really helped me understand patients conditions a lot better. Other modules have focused more on mental health and the ideal of what a standard person should be experiencing rather than the types of patients I see in my role. My patients are mostly elderly with physical deuteriation rather than mental health. Although i do see patients with dementia the nature of my role means i often will not be doing much to support them as this is an acute hospital.
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
There is a staff excellence award ceremony held every year at a hotel. There are always charity events going on to help fundraise. For example at the moment there is a competition for staff in small teams to walk at least 1000 miles over 6 months. I take part in knitting blankets for end of life patients and donate them to the hospitals charity. There are a number of fancy dress races that happen every year ( Santa vs Rudolph) (superheroes).
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend NHS to a friend?
Yes
Why?
There is lots of opportunity to progress with my career. There is a lot of support from mangers and team members. I enjoy my job and i know if for whatever reason if that changed i could talk to my manger or occupational health in order to get to the route problem and try to solve it so that i stay in this job as i feel valued.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to NHS?
Don't be afraid to communicate your needs to your mangers. They are their to support you and if yo find ways to improve the service that you are providing than the trust will support you to make changed and they welcome new ideas. In the interview show all the range of experience you have an relate it to the role you are applying for as this trust values a different approach and thinking outside of the box and your experience will help you to do this.
