I joined the Trust in February 2017 as an apprentice within the patient experience team. I provided administrative support to the Patient and Governor Engagement Lead and the Patient Advice and Liaison Service which helped build my confidence in speaking with sometimes concerned and upset people over the phone. I provided advice to patients, relatives or their carers in respect of any concerns they have and respond to enquiries made by telephone and email.
In November 2017, I started providing administrative support to the complaints team. During this time, I further developed my communication skills as well as my organisational skills as I was assisting in arranging meetings with patients. I have gained so much knowledge and confidence when it comes to dealing with people and about how the NHS works.
Matthew Potts
Cancer MDT & Data Assistant
Started as an Apprentice Administrator in 2017.
I started my apprenticeship within the NHS after deciding I needed a new career path. I gained some valuable skills within my previous work experience but wanted to develop new skills to enable me to gain a route into a new career in admin within the NHS. I settled into the team to begin with and found all staff to be an excellent source of support. The environment I was in opened me up to a vast range of opportunities to develop myself, in many areas, including data management, organisation, as well as exposure to recruitment and interviewing skills. The Apprenticeship route really suited me, and I was pleased to be able to gain a nationally recognised qualification whilst gaining the necessary experience to lead me into a permanent role.
Jade Tromans
Student Pharmacy Technician
Started as a Pharmacy Apprentice in 2018
I’m part of the pharmacy department and day to day my job role varies but in a nutshell I can be on the wards doing their stock orders, in the dispensary labelling and assembling prescriptions for patients and working on reception answering calls and taking in prescriptions for patients and ward staff, or in the stores area picking stock for wards and receiving medicine deliveries.
I started my Level 2 apprenticeship in Pharmacy service skills and Pharmaceutical science in October 2018. I have also recently started my Level 3 apprenticeship (Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians) which is a two-year course.
Ellie Beardsmore
Support Secretary – Trauma & Orthopaedics
Started as an Apprentice Administrator in 2019
I started a Business & Administration Apprenticeship (Level 3) in September of 2019, within the Trauma and Orthopaedics Department at Russells Hall Hospital. The programme enabled me to grow as in individual, learn new skills and gain responsibility. The variation of the occupation encouraged opportunity within the department and gave me a chance to develop myself, given learning skills that I had not been required to withhold before. Just some positive experiences I have enrolled in are; organising an away day for the department, working as a team leader in projects to enable growth and change within the department to find more efficient ways of working and taking part in training to encourage new learning and new skills as an individual.
Fortunately, I have been able to work within different aspects of the department clinically and non-clinically across three different sites at the Dudley Group. While gaining these wonderful experiences on the job, I undertook the business and administration course with Walsall College, with which I had a great experience. Throughout the course I felt massively supported by my college tutor, with whom I had a virtual meeting with every two weeks, and my work mentor who worked very closely with myself and my college tutor. I finished my college course in just over a year, with the full support of my college and work tutors.
Harry Morgan
Harry Morgan - Simulation Centre Technician
Started as an Apprentice Administrator in 2017
I started my level 2 apprenticeship in business and administration in March 2017. After that I continued with my level 3 in March 2018, and then eventually started my level 4 qualification in June 2019.
I started my apprenticeship in the Clinical Skills and Simulation Departments. However from August 2020, I work full time in the Simulation Centre. My roles in both Clinical Skills and Simulation included setting up and clearing away equipment for courses, ensuring all administration duties were prepared and ready for when they were being used and also helping with the general day-to-day running of both departments.
Holly Robinson
Holly Robinson - Assistant Directorate Manager
Started as an Apprentice Administrator in 2013
After leaving school, and subsequently Sixth Form, I joined the NHS as an Apprentice in 2013. I did have a number of GCSE’s and A-Levels at this point however I understand this isn’t essential for most entry level apprenticeship programmes.
Following my 12 month apprenticeship I managed to secure a permanent position as Administration Assistant within the Discharge Team where I then completed two additional NVQ qualifications at levels 3 and 4. After spending a couple of years in this role, I progressed to the role of Personal Assistant to the Director of Operations, Deputy Director of Operations and Chief of Medicine.
