Level 5 Health and Social Care Apprenticeship leads to managerial promotion

35-year-old Katie Wilson is showing that Apprenticeships are not just for school-leavers, after completing a Level 5 Health and Social Care Apprenticeship secured her a managerial promotion.

Katie, aged 35, from Bristol was recently promoted to care home manager at Bristol-based Hyde Lodge, a Care Quality Commission “Outstanding” rated residential care home for vulnerable young adults run by the Aurora Group. She completed a level 5 apprenticeship in leadership and management of a health and social care setting, with Acacia Training.

Katie has worked full-time in the care sector since 2010, starting at Aurora Group as a support worker before working her way up to be a shift manager. She started her Apprenticeship in summer 2019 and started her new managerial role in December.

She explains: “Doing the Apprenticeship shows that you can combine a full-time role with work-based training to progress your career. It has also been a great benefit to my employers.

The course teaches everything you need to know to manage a care home to the highest standards, and the content is constantly renewed. This means that as a care setting we benefit from reviewing our own procedures in line with best practice as part of my work on the course, and it has also helped us to carry out research with the staff to inform our rota changes.

The qualification covers things like risk assessments, health and safety, privacy, dignity, caring for people with autism – all the things that are important to us as an outstanding care provider and important to the Care Quality Commission – the regulatory body responsible for health and social care standards in care settings.”

Talking of her experience with Acacia Training, she said: “I had studied with another provider before and we have found Acacia much more responsive. My assessor, Emma, communicates with me regularly by phone, text, email and even video calls, which really helps. I get feedback on assignments and work that I have submitted straight away – this has enabled me to make the fast progress that I needed to start my new role as a manager.”

Kim Welsh Executive Principal at Aurora Group, comments: “Katie is a great example to show how we encourage our staff to progress their careers in the care sector. She has worked her way up from support worker, to shift manager and team leader, and now is on her way to becoming a Registered Care Home Manager. We are very proud of her and her team at Hyde Lodge.

Through the Apprenticeships with Acacia Training, we provide excellent career progression to our valued team of carers, while training to ensure the highest care standards.”

Thanks to Katie and the Aurora Group for sharing your story! Find out more about our Level 5 Diploma In Leadership For Health & Social Care & Children and Young People Services and funding for your Acacia Training course. Or, contact us for a consultation on your Health and Social Care training needs.