<p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Last month, </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Health and Social Care</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> students took part in Health and Social Care Future Skills Week, a week-long project focused on developing important skills for their future careers. Each day gave students the chance to learn something new, work with professionals, and explore different areas of the health and social care sector.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The week started with a wellbeing day, where students worked with the Student Engagement Team, taking part in activities designed to help them look after their own wellbeing, including art therapy, a gym induction, and an afternoon of sports. This gave students time to focus on their own health and welfare and learn ways to stay healthy in the future.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">On Tuesday, students met with guest speakers from different areas of Health and Social Care. Nick Mallett from University Hospitals Bristol and Weston shared his experience in nursing, as well as Jenny Gamlin, a community midwife and health visitor, Michelle Clarke, a respiratory specialist, and Clare Waggett, an occupational therapist, also discussed their roles and what they entail. These sessions provided our learners with a better understanding of the various career options available in the sector.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Wednesday was all about learning key workplace skills. Students took part in training for manual handling, first aid, and learned about National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) and Sepsis 6. These are essential skills that are required for students who wish to begin working in the health and social care sector.&nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Lecturer showing students how to use a hoist&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8edd5fc3-613c-4f1e-946a-668ea70a5f81" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">On Thursday, students took part in the ‘100 New Ideas’ project where they worked in teams with students from different levels to come up with creative ideas to support older people’s health and wellbeing. Their ideas were part of a campaign by the St Monica Trust, and the best ones were chosen by a panel of judges. The winning teams received prizes, and their ideas were shared with St Monica Trust.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The winning idea from our students was to facilitate a bus service between their care villages in Bristol and North Somerset. This would allow residents to participate in events across the organisation, visit people they may know and meet new people. Students also came up with ideas to support dental care, a dating service to build friendships and relationships, and creating more spaces for a variety of worship.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Health and Social Care Future Skills Week provided our students with opportunities to experience different career pathways with industry professionals. It was an excellent way to network and build connections, but also prepare them for a variety of sectors with invaluable information from hands-on workshops and informative guest lectures.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Thank you to the industry professionals who took the time to visit our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Health and Social Care</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> students and share your first-hand experience.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">If you are interested in applying to one of our Health and Social Care courses, click here.</span></a></p>

<p>Hi, I’m Lola, and I am a Senior Maternity Support Worker Apprentice (the senior healthcare support worker apprenticeship on the maternity pathway). This is my first professional role in the NHS, as I previously completed Innovate and UHBW Traineeship courses at Weston College which helped me develop soft skills to start in this role.</p><p>Some of my roles and responsibilities within my apprenticeship include:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><strong>maternal and neonatal observations&nbsp;</strong></li><li><strong>catheter and cannula removal/care</strong></li><li><strong>heel pick blood sample on neonates&nbsp;</strong></li><li><strong>breastfeeding/feeding support&nbsp;</strong></li><li><strong>escorting patients to various hospitals and appointments&nbsp;</strong></li></ul><p>The list could go on and on!</p><p>I’d say my favourite part of the job is the relationships you build with the patients. When you can just give somebody that listening ear and offer that emotional support, especially postnatally at 3am when it’s needed most. It’s those little moments where you can make someone’s experience just that bit better.</p><p>Some of the main skills I have learned during my apprenticeship so far are interpersonal skills and communication skills when speaking to colleagues and patients. I have also learned technical skills within the role such as observations, taking out cannulas and catheters (very satisfying to take out), and showing empathy when working with exhausted mothers.</p><p>The traineeship I completed helped me by giving me exposure to the world of the NHS through the 6-week placement in St Michael’s Hospital, which helped me to see what was needed to be successful in this industry. I also underwent dedicated sessions to develop employability skills which helped me get the apprenticeship, as well as sessions ran by industry experts regarding health care and UHBW specifically. At the 2024 Business Awards, I won the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/news/business-awards-celebrate-learner-and-emp…, Sport &amp; Community Partnership Award</a> - watch my video from this below!</p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0muha84HEeI?si=7xnh8ZuFoQz-ILXE&quot; title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> &nbsp;</p><p>My tutor (Laura Trace) provided support every step of the way, with every concern I had, and helped me believe I was able to do it. My assessor (Jenny Gamlin) provided me with experience backed advice and guidance due to her own work history in the field and her knowledge of the apprenticeship itself in preparation for my transition into the apprenticeship.</p><p>I have 16 months left of my L3 SHCSW apprenticeship. Once completed, I want to move onto a degree midwifery apprenticeship programme with the view of becoming a fully qualified midwife.</p><p>To anyone who is interested in pursuing this career, I would say there will be rough patches that are exhausting and emotionally draining (a big struggle within healthcare), so just make sure you speak up and ask for support, and you’ll come out of the other side. I would also like to give a special thanks to Gareth Brock (who I started at Weston with in innovate) who I was too scared to talk to in the beginning, but has been extremely supportive, as well as Laura Trace (TRA tutor) for listening to all of my anxiety induced ramblings, and Jenny Gamlin (my assessor) who now listens to my healthcare/NHS struggles. In other words, I wouldn’t and couldn’t have done it without them!</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Sadik Al-Hassan, Labour MP for North Somerset, visited Weston College to engage with students, offering inspiration to the next generation while gaining insights from young people on potential changes and improvements for his campaigns. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Sadik was elected in July 2024 and brings nearly two decades of experience as a pharmacist; a background that strongly influences his political interests and initiatives. </span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Sadik Al-Hassan answering a question at the Q&amp;A&quot;" data-align="right" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ebde2899-8818-4f6c-b51b-01a7d36e8020" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">His visit began with a Q&amp;A session with Politics and Economics A Level students, where he shared his journey from pharmacy to politics and how this transition has shaped his campaign. This session provided learners with valuable insights into entering politics and an opportunity to discuss his views and policies. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Following the Q&amp;A, Sadik joined Weston College Principal, Pat Jones, and Deputy Principal, Alex Warner, as part of a panel for a Dragon’s Den-style activity. Here, students from A Level Environmental Health<strong> </strong>presented innovative ideas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Weston-super-Mare. From litter-picking initiatives and improved public transport, to AI-powered waste bins and electric car vacuums, students showcased well-researched, confident, and professional proposals. The panel questioned each group before selecting a winner based on research, feasibility, and sustainability, encouraging students to consider small but impactful ways to drive change and make a difference. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Given Sadik’s extensive background in pharmacies, a tour of the Health and Active Living Skills Centre was a key part of the visit. Sadik explored the impressive Health, Social Care and Sport facilities, such as the Medical Simulation Room, and observed a Level 2 Health and&nbsp;Social Care lecture, where students simulated real-life patient-carer scenarios to develop empathy and practical skills. &nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Sadik Al-Hassan standing with Weston College Principal, Pat Jones&quot;" data-align="right" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b28ca288-a6bd-48bb-a780-4cd8e1d8f2fc" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The visit concluded with a lunch meeting with Student Representatives, where discussions focused on student-led initiatives, strategies, and the changes they’ve implemented to improve Weston College based on peer feedback. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Sadik was impressed with the professionalism and insightfulness of our learners, saying, “It was wonderful to visit Weston College to meet the hardworking teams and amazing students. Having a chance to talk with them all and answer their questions was a privilege and more than a little enjoyable for me. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The entire day I met with students representing the hopes of North Somerset, whether quizzing me on assisted dying or showing me projects that could solve our climate crisis, they showed how bright our future could be.”&nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Sadik Al-Hassan participating in a Q&amp;A with Politics and Economics A Level students&quot;" data-align="right" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e7340711-051a-480e-9787-f45611c9f21e" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Overall, Sadik Al-Hassan’s visit left learners feeling inspired and empowered. His journey into politics demonstrated that career paths are not always direct and linear, encouraging students to pursue their ambitions, regardless of where they start. &nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">We would like to say a big thank you to Sadik Al-Hassan for taking the time to visit our students and provide meaningful advice for their future.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College </strong></span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;"><strong>here</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.</strong>&nbsp;</span></p>