.@BordersCollege supporting NHS 24 Modern Apprentices

Borders College is demonstrating that although rooted in the Borders, its reach can be experienced locally across Scotland by people wanting to undertake relevant, industry specific qualifications.

Already working in close partnerships with NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and three other NHS Boards, the College’s Business Development Unit already offers a range of qualifications to the healthcare sector and is thrilled to be expanding its work through this new collaboration with NHS 24.

The Modern Apprenticeships in Healthcare Support (Non-Clinical) are part of the Healthcare Support Worker Toolkit that has been rolled out by the Scottish Government and offered to staff working across NHS Scotland in a variety of non-clinical roles.  The Modern Apprentices are benefitting from an innovative approach to learning through use of an online portfolio and through use of video conferencing as well as more traditional forms of assessment. 

The candidates, Niamh Haggerty, Jordee Stalker and Lauren Cameron (pictured with Health Information Team Manager Marion Carey, second from right) completed four weeks of training at the NHS 24 centre, situated above the Golden Jubilee Hospital at Clydebank, and two weeks training at the Cardonald site and are now working towards completing their Modern Apprenticeships supported by NHS 24 and Borders College.   

Assessor Susan Mason said:

“Working with NHS 24 is a great opportunity for Borders College, we are breaking new ground in this area combining Healthcare, Business and Customer Service within the healthcare sector and I am enjoying working with the candidates and will continue to work with them over the next eight months.

“We are all relying more on accessing help and advice at the end of a phone or electronically, therefore those answering calls, emails and web chats require to be highly trained and prepared to deal with enquiries in an empathetic, informed and professional way.”

Louise Bennie, NHS 24 General Manager comments:

“The NHS 24 Health Information services provide the frontline response to health and care information services, supporting the public to access appropriate services and help manage their own health and wellbeing.  The team deliver this over the phone, via email and online web chat.  The modern apprentices, supported by Borders College, have been a fantastic addition to the team and organisation, picking up new skills through delivering these services to the public.  They are operating as fully trained members of the team and are settling in really well.  As an organisation, we are keen to support apprenticeships as a way of up skilling young people and introducing them to the wide range of future careers within the NHS.”

For more information about the Business Development Unit of Borders College, and the exciting portfolio of qualifications it can offer you or your business, please email Katharine Mathison or call 01450 361030.

Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2018 runs from 5-9 March. #ScotAppWeek18