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HCA apprentice Review

at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Level 3 Apprenticeship

Bishop Auckland

Review Submitted: April 2025

Overall Rating

5 /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!

5/5 - Overview of Role
5/5 - Skills Development
5/5 - Structure and Support

Overview of Role

Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
Everyday is the same routine unless it is a college day. The basics on what i do is bring a patient in to our team room and do there observations which is blood pressure , pulse , sats , swabs , bloods , ecg , weight and height and maybe a urine sample.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I really enjoy my programme as for i came straight out of secondary school to learn more about body functions. This will help me in future life when i progress to go to university to become a nurse. I really appreciate how my employer has helped to introduce me to everyone as for it has made me feel more welcomed especially with staff giving me advice and knowing i can ask for help whenever i will need it.

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have learnt on how to do observations and why we do them. I have learnt how to safeguard children and adults. I’ve developed skills in my confidents and speaking to the public. I’m currently learning how to do bloods which will help me to be independent in my work place.

Structure and Support

How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
I would say my programme is quite organised as for we start the day at college doing of the job hours and then getting on with our units and any teaching after that. At work by the time four o clock comes round i help to clean and organise our stations and then another healthcare will print the rotors out for the next day therefore we aren’t rushing about in the morning to get stuff done before patients arrive.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive a lot of support as for my employer helps me with anything i need at any time and is always a call away if she is at a different department in a different hospital. She also helps me to navigate different web resources that we use, she signs me up for courses and lets me know when they are.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
I receive a lot of support she helps me to understand things i maybe didn’t get at first and she will repeat what she has said incase i need more support. She always asks if we’re all okay and how far ahead we feel like we are with our course. She offers to sit with us and guide us through harder training therefore this helps for us to understand better.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
My work through my training provider helps me to communicate effectively to patients and staff members. She helps me gain more knowledge on what i could potentially be working with like different conditions.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
There are courses that are available to take to update your knowledge. There also a place in the restaurant in the hospital where you can sit and communicate with other staff members and potentially make friends

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I feel like it’s a welcoming community that includes everyone and a supportive environment to be in
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust?
I would tell them to go for it and really try there hardest as for it’s a great experience and environment to work in.
In This Review
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