A group of students from Derwentside College has recently completed a healthcare assistant (HCA) traineeship programme.
The idea behind the programme is for the students to gain some insight and experience of working in a healthcare environment. Aged 17-19, they are not paid but keep any benefits they may be on and the college give expenses for travel costs and towards lunch.
The students completed a four week classroom programme to give them knowledge and understanding around healthcare and then moved on to a 12 week work experience placement in the acute setting, including a number of workshops and practical training sessions including resuscitation and moving & handling training.
Six students successfully completed the programme towards the end of September and we delighted that they have been successful in joining the new cohort of HCA apprentices starting with the Trust in October.
'The treatment I have received from all the staff has been excellent and could you extend my thanks to them all. A very thankful and relieved patient'.
Patient, Dermatology Outpatients Department, University Hospital of North Durham