RDASH apprenticeship opportunities available in South Yorkshire: Here’s how you apply
A local NHS health trust is fully backing apprenticeships, for both newly recruited staff and existing ones.
Staff at Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH), which provides a range of mental health, learning disability, drug and alcohol services and community health services across Rotherham, Doncaster and North Lincolnshire, are already reaping the benefits of studying under an apprenticeship.
Michelle Heaversedge (39) who currently works as the clinical lead for children’s mental health services at RDaSH decided she wanted to study to support her in her current role and to further her career.
And as soon as she completed the qualification, she gained a new job within the NHS.
Michelle, who currently works at Kimberworth Place, in Kimberworth, Rotherham, successfully passed the Coaching Professional apprenticeship at level five. She was able to work alongside her studies, which under the apprenticeship were free. She also studied online, making it easier to fit into her busy schedule.
“I liked the qualification as it fitted into my current role as a leader,” explained Michelle. “The qualification equipped me with skills for coaching individuals and teams, helping them to work towards their goals.”
Coaching is a fantastic skill set and way of thinking that really helps me to empower others to find their own solutions and perform at their best in work and life.
“I’ve really enjoyed studying and I have received so much support from RDaSH’s apprenticeship team, and the BPP University who deliver the qualification.”
Michelle is now looking forward to moving into her new role in RDaSH’s Trauma and Resilience service, where she will be using her coaching skills even more. Michelle has also joined the RDaSH coaching network - supporting teams and individuals across the trust with challenges and problems and using her qualification to enable them to move forward.
And her advice for anyone thinking about applying for an apprenticeship is ‘go for it!’
Degree and masters opportunities
Jade Pullen, Apprenticeship Lead at RDaSH, said: “An apprenticeship is a real job with training. Apprentices earn while they learn, gaining valuable skills and knowledge of a specific job role while achieving the required components of their apprenticeship.
“It is a fantastic way to develop skills, knowledge, and expertise for current and future roles,” added Jade.
Anyone over 16 can start an apprenticeship - from entry level 2 to degree and even masters level 7. There is a wide range of existing staff and new starter apprenticeships available.
At RDaSH apprentices gain:
- An apprenticeship-standard qualification (and other relevant qualifications depending on the standard).
- One-year to five-year duration, depending on the level of study.
- Existing staff are fully funded and stay at their current pay band.
- New recruits will benefit from a job with the option to learn through an apprenticeship.
Jade added: “As an apprentice there is a requirement to have around 20% ‘off-the-job training,’ this will usually be at least six hours per week, but this is a minimum as higher/degree apprenticeships often need more than this allocation, to allow for assignments, study hours and sometimes clinical placements.
“‘Off-the-job training’ is any new learning that maps the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for the apprenticeship standard. This could be a work-based project or shadowing of others,” explained Jade. “It could also be time spent in the workplace, or at college or university.”
Invest in your career today
The minimum length of study for an apprenticeship is 12 months. This can take longer depending on the level of the apprenticeship. After this ‘practical period,’ all apprentices then go onto their final stage, the End-Point Assessment (EPA) which can take between three to six months to complete. This is an impartial assessment of whether the apprentice has developed the skills, knowledge, and behaviours required to pass the apprenticeship.
“So what is there to lose? If you’re interested in finding out more about our apprenticeships, just get in touch,” added Jade.
The trust has a dedicated email address for queries on apprenticeships – simply email [email protected]
Anyone looking for a job with RDaSH should visit the website