Fylde Coast Health and Social Care Career Academy sees first students secure roles with the NHS

By Blackpool and the Fylde College

15 Aug 2018

The Fylde Coast Health and Social Care Career Academy has delivered its first Sector-Based Work Academy in partnership with the NHS and JobCentre Plus, and seen some outstanding results.

As part of the scheme, all students were then guaranteed interviews for positions as Health Care Assistants with Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

“We undertake a large amount of work with schools, colleges and sixth forms on the Fylde coast to encourage future careers in health, but were limited in what we offered to people over the age of 18. With the exception, of course, to the hundreds of undergraduate degree students who undertake placements with us each year.

“We then approached B&FC and the DWP, as part of the Fylde Coast Health and Social Care Academy, to assist us with this daring new project.

“We’re overjoyed at the success of this pilot programme and hope to create a rolling programme two or three times per year.”

18 out of the cohort of 21 employed One of the remaining students decide to return to College in September to begin their Level 2 diploma in Health and Social Care

Student Pauline Winder, 41, from Blackpool, said: “The course has been brilliant. The lecturers and staff have been really supportive and made everyone feel welcome. They were also great at helping people with any personal issues they might have.

“It was a bit nerve-wracking at first but my confidence has really grown. I really want to go into social care or as a specialist nurse, working with infections. This is definitely my future career.”

The success of the academy means the three partner organisations will develop similar programmes on a regular basis. It is the first example of partnership working linked to the new Fylde Coast Health and Social Care Career Academy.

“The students worked extremely hard and were often coming back into education for the first time in years, which presented challenges we were able to help them overcome.