Apprenticeship Employer of the Month is Devon Partnership NHS Trust

We currently have 91 apprentices working for Devon Partnership NHS Trust.

Current apprenticeships include:

• Team Leader / Supervisor
• Healthcare Assistant Practitioner
• Senior Healthcare support worker
• Business and Administration: Medical Administration
• Business Administrator
• Business and Professional Administration
• Professional accounting taxation technician

They have a range of job roles including; Trainee Support Workers, Nursing Assistants, Community Support Workers, Assistant Practitioners,  Business Administrators, Finance Assistants, Facilities Team Leaders, Systems Support Analysts, and Personal Assistants.

Why do you employ Apprentices in your company?

As a large Mental Health and Learning Disability Trust it is important that we have an appropriately trained team providing a high quality service in all areas of the organisation. The role specific training offered through the Apprenticeship is an ideal way for our teams to gain the knowledge and skills they need to provide this service, as well as gaining a nationally recognised qualification for their own professional development. Within Devon Partnership NHS Trust we offer different career pathways which allow apprentices to process within the organisation.

How do Apprentices add value to your business?

We acknowledge the positive impact of being able to provide a variety of Apprenticeships for many diverse teams within the Trust and are keen to increase this further. Within our clinical staff teams we have chosen to use the Apprenticeship route to provide the Level 3 training as the starting point for those joining the trust in Support Worker roles. This programme provides the option of a specific mental health unit in addition to the core units which is highly relevant to our clinical teams.

Using the apprenticeship qualification we have been able to put in place a career pathway for those wishing to further progress towards achieving a nursing qualification.

We recognise the value of the ‘on the job’ nature of the delivery of the training and the positive relationships we have developed with the college, enabling our Apprentices to achieve successful outcomes.

What do they bring to your team?

Within all of our teams those undertaking the Apprenticeships, at the different levels, are able to share their knowledge and skills with colleagues and demonstrate how they can incorporate this into their practice. Devon Partnership Trust provides a wide variety of learning and training opportunities for the staff including Apprenticeships and we receive very positive feedback from staff undertaking Apprenticeships at all levels within the organisation.