Staff & Recruitment

The AHP Practice-Based Learning (PrBL) national site is funded by the AHP Practice Education Programme. It contains resources to support PrBL. This includes links to the ‘How to’ workshops, information on models of placement delivery, digital knowledge and skills and practice educator preparation.

Additionally the site provides an explanation of the national groups supporting AHP PrBL and Scotland wide initiatives to support PrBL.

NHSGGC Spiritual Care and wellbeing resources can provide support to both AHP Practice Educators and Students

Scottish HEIs provide a range of wellbeing support to which students can self-refer. Students can also access NES wellbeing resources. Practice Educators can also signpost students to both wellbeing resources within the HEIs.

A Support for AHP Students poster has been created, detailing local resources which may support AHP students during the cost of living crisis.

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The AHP Student and Practice Educator Handbook provides a variety of resources and information for students and practice educators.

It includes templates for:

• reflection
• recording next of kin
• permission to share students final report with the HEI

It also provides information for students and practice educators on:

• code of conduct
• policies
• student car insurance
• student feedback
• students raising a concern
• students accessing electronic information systems
• membership of PVG Scheme
• fire safety for students

It is updated bi-annually to ensure it reflects current AHP information and resources.

If you feel information requires updated or could be added to please contact elspeth.lee4@nhs.scot

The recovery of AHP practice placements within NHSGGC has recommenced following the pause of placements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In many cases NHSGGC AHPs are providing placements differently or with some changes due to COVID-19 therefore we greatly value feedback from AHP students. This feedback allows AHPs to improve and understand the student experience by asking what went well, where we could improve the placement experience, what challenges were experienced and how these were perhaps overcome. Feedback is obtained by way of a questionnaire, although participation is voluntary, the information gathered is very valuable in informing future placements. This questionnaire is anonymous unless you choose to add the placement area details.

The data from the questionnaire will initially be shared with the AHP professional leads for dissemination through their service.

The link to the AHP Student Feedback questionnaire should be provided to each AHP student by the Practice educator who is working directly with the student on placement within NHSGGC.

The link can be provided:

• within an email
• on student induction paperwork
• in student information folders
• in written form as a URL

Cancellation guidance is to be used when cancelling a practice placement within the health board to ensure other options have been considered. The cancellation guidance is supported within the health board by the AHP Practice Placement Quality group.

Since 2010, there have been AHP Practice Placement Agreements in place between each Scottish HEI that runs pre-registration programmes and each NHS Board. Previously known as Practice Placement Agreements (PPA). The AHP PPA’s are currently being refreshed (now to be called AHP Practice-based Learning Agreement ).

NHSGGC have AHP Practice-based Learning Agreements with Glasgow Caledonian University, Queen Margaret University,  Robert Gordon University, University of Strathclyde and Edinburgh Napier University.

What is new in the AHP Practice-based learning Agreement?

The revised agreement provides greater clarity and consistency in approach to governance arrangements for professions, universities and Practice Education Providers. It consolidates current custom and practice that has evolved in relation to student Practice-based Learning since 2009.

The approach to refreshing the agreement has been to include agreed content written during the original signing, and subsequent developments that underpin the provision of AHP student Practice-based Learning e.g. HCPC Guidance on Conduct and Ethics for Students (2017), AHP placement cancellation guidance, provision of practice educator training etc. The refreshed content has an operational focus to address and balance the requirements of different stakeholders.

 What has not changed?

The agreements clarify contemporary governance arrangements for Student Practice-based learning. The approach to refreshing the agreements has not included a review of the ongoing commitment to student ‘PrBL Weeks’ (placement weeks) per profession. This work is being progressed separately and will involve Scottish Government, AHP Directors, Practice Education Providers, professional bodies.

 AHP Students from non -Scottish HEI’s

AHP students who are studying at non-Scottish HEI’s often have placements within NHSGGC however as there are no practice-based learning agreements with these institutions,  governance arrangements regarding issues such as PVG, immunisations etc must be discussed with the HEI and student prior to the student coming on placement.

The AHP practice placement quality group provides an inter-professional health board wide approach to improving the quality of AHP student education and increasing the capacity to provide learning opportunities for preregistration students.

The group will support a positive learning environment through enhancing the student experience informed by AHPs within the board, NHS Scotland, Quality Standards for Practice Placement (QSPP) and student evaluation.

The AHP practice placement quality group will enable communication, information sharing and facilitate collaborative engagement between the board and higher/further education institutions about AHP student education.

It guides both current and future projects and allows sharing of good practice across professions.

Membership of Group

The group has representatives from AHP professions within NHSGGC.

Terms of reference for the group.

AHP practice educator preparation is provided by all five of the Scottish higher education institutions (HEIs) who provide pre registration AHP courses: Glasgow Caledonian University and Strathclyde (jointly), Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh Napier university and  Robert Gordon University. The NHSGGC Practice Placement Quality Group have agreed that AHPs should refresh their practice educator training every five years.

If an AHP attends a course from one of the HEI’s, this provides them with the information and knowledge to supervise students from all HEI’s i.e. an AHP does not need to attend all four HEI’s practice educator training courses to supervise students from the other HEIs. However AHPs need to ensure they are familiar with the paperwork and requirements for each course.

The universities have collaborated to create shared online practice educator training modules.

All new and experienced practice educators from any sector in Scotland can access these modules if a registered user of TURAS.

Practice Educator Opportunities SWAY

NES have developed a SWAY detailing information on practice educator preparation.

The SWAY will be added to as further resources for practice educator preparation become available and can be accessed via the same link.

AHP Practice Education survey results

Thank you to those of you who took the time to complete the National AHP Practice Education Survey 2022, it is much appreciated and helps to support and guide future development of student practice education in Scotland. 

An infographic has been produced to provide a brief NHSGGC board summary of the main themes that have come out of the survey.

• Quality standards for Practice Placements -NES
• Digital solutions for practice education
• AHP Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) placements
• Supporting students on placement during cost of living crisis

The NHSGGC Clinical Effectiveness Team has compiled a set of resources to help you carry out improvement projects.

Note these will only open when connected to the NHSGGC Network as are hosted on Staff Net.

Other Useful Resources

• Stakeholder engagement tools – decision making
• HQIP -A guide to Quality Improvement Methods

Using QI Tools for Virtual Training and Development Improvement Project (video)

This is an interesting driver diagram as presented by Jason Leitch during the Covid-19 pandemic to illustrate the governments response to this.

• COVID driver diagram -J Leitch
• QI Reading List

QI Projects

Here are some projects completed by AHPs during the NHSGGC AHP Quality Improvement Program as well as other sources.

Hopefully they may inspire you to carry out your own QI project.

If you have already carried out a QI project and would like to share this please use one of the templates below and send this to nikki.munro@ggc.scot.nhs.uk to be uploaded to this site.

Templates

• Telling Your Improvement Story
• CI Improvement Story Form
• Poster Template
• Powerpoint Template
• End of Project Report Template

Posters

• MSK Pathway QI Poster
• Improving Patient experience of footwear QI poster
• Improving patient experience in Orthotics QI poster
• IBS QIP poster
• Faster access to pressure redistribution QI poster
• FAC for brain injury QI poster
• Emotional Touchpoints QI Poster

Reports

• My Improvement Journey -Julie Harvey

• Orthotics Redeployment QI Report -Nikki Munro

Every QI enthusiast needs to be able to spread the word of their successful Improvement.

This is an excellent video to give you some inspiration (credit Juliet Harvey)

Below are some presentations from the 2021 cohort of the AHP Quality Improvement Program to help you choose the best way to share your Improvement Journey with Others.

Here are the main policies which give the background as to why Quality is important and what we should do to achieve the highest quality possible within Healthcare in Scotland.

• NHS Scotland Quality Strategy 2010
• NHSGGC Quality Strategy- The Pursuit of Healthcare Excellence 2019/2023

As a very quick introduction to the fundamentals of Quality Improvement, click on the link below to complete the NHSGGC module. A great way to start your QI journey.

LearnPro – GGC:109 Quality Improvement Fundamentals

log in to the learnPro system as normal and search for the module below

If you have completed the LearnPro module and would like to know more, click on the link below to complete the NES TURAS Learn introductory QI modules. A great way to continue your QI journey.

Link to TURAS QI Zone elearning

The modules available are: 

1) Measurement for improvement

2) Understanding your system 

3) Developing your aims and change ideas

4) Testing your change ideas

5) Implementation and Spread

6) Introduction to demand, capacity, activity and queue

7) Introduction to Value Management

The Q Community is a connected community working together to improve health and care quality across the UK and Ireland. They have lots of useful resources.

• Access QI Resources

Description: Improving planned care pathways toolkit

Reducing waiting times has been a key priority for NHS Scotland for over a decade, typically waiting times initiatives have been used to reduce the backlog of patients waiting for planned care. This toolkit has been developed, using learning from across Scotland, to support NHS boards in taking a quality improvement (QI) approach to sustainably reduce waiting times.

Planned care services can reduce the time patients wait by improving their pathways to balance the workload associated with referrals to the demand for care.

By using this toolkit, planned care teams will be able to:

• establish an effective project team to test and implement changes
• identify the constraints in their pathway contributing to the longest waits
• understand service user needs
• use learning from others to increase the pace of change, and
• use data to demonstrate a sustainable improvement has occurred.

Description: Improving planned care pathways toolkit

Reducing waiting times has been a key priority for NHS Scotland for over a decade, typically waiting times initiatives have been used to reduce the backlog of patients waiting for planned care. This toolkit has been developed, using learning from across Scotland, to support NHS boards in taking a quality improvement (QI) approach to sustainably reduce waiting times.

Planned care services can reduce the time patients wait by improving their pathways to balance the workload associated with referrals to the demand for care.

By using this toolkit, planned care teams will be able to:

• establish an effective project team to test and implement changes
• identify the constraints in their pathway contributing to the longest waits
• understand service user needs
• use learning from others to increase the pace of change, and
• use data to demonstrate a sustainable improvement has occurred.

Our Modern Apprenticeship programme is aligned to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Widening Access to Employment Strategy and workforce projections.   This means that this post is only open to people who are aged between 16 to 24 years (or 16 to 29 years for Disabled or Care Experienced* people) on 1^st November 2022 and who meet our shortlisting requirements. 

This is an entry level position suitable for a young person who is willing to learn and develop within the role and has an interest in working in a community setting in a role that works to improve health outcomes for people. 

We are committed to recruiting a workforce that reflects our population and we welcome applications from people from Black, Asian or other Minority Ethnic backgrounds, from LGBTQ+ candidates, Care Experienced* people and Disabled people.

This programme is designed as an entry route into the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Improvement Service and we encourage applications from school leavers

*The term “care experienced” refers to anyone who has been, or is currently in care. This includes kinship care where you are living/lived with a relative who is not your parent, or looked after with the help of social work, or living/lived in Residential care, Foster care, secure care or Adoption

Suitable candidates who meet our academic and age requirements could include those with experience in any of the following:

• volunteering
• community support
• charity work
• peer support
• caring responsibilities/young carers
• school based buddy, mentor or befriending programmes

What type of person are you hoping to recruit?

As well as demonstrating that you meet the meet the academic criteria you must also demonstrate in your application that you are genuinely interested in working a community setting in a role that works to improve health outcomes for people. Any previous experience of voluntary work, community support or charity work, peer support, caring responsibilities, school based buddy or mentoring schemes or befriending programmes would be beneficial to highlight in your application

What are the most important personal qualities required for the role?

You will need good communication, inter-personal and organisational skills and demonstrate self-motivation and self-reliance. You should be keen to help out and be flexible in your approach to ensure the best outcome is achieved for our service users. 

Your application needs to demonstrate that you have the ability to work as part of a team and to work on your own initiative. Examples of this could include Duke of Edinburgh awards, Foundation Apprenticeships or any development programmes or projects undertaken at school, college or any customer focused or team work experience gained in the workplace.

Good interpersonal, team work and communication skills are essential in providing a professional and efficient service.   You will be working as part of a wider team so your application should show us that you have good organisational skills, are self-motivated and are  flexible in your approach to insure the best outcome is achieved for our patients.  Your application should show us that you are someone who is keen to learn new things and has an enthusiastic and positive approach to work.  

A confident manner and positive attitude will benefit you as following a period of induction and training you will be attending meetings, delivering training and supporting group work and hosting or supporting other activities.  Any experience you have in leading or motivating people, public speaking, occasions where you have stepped outside your comfort zone and challenged yourself, or taken on new responsibilities or learned new skills quickly would be beneficial to highlight in your application.

As you will travel cross site/sector, flexibility is also an essential requirement.

The South Glasgow Health Improvement Team are based within the South Locality of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).

We are one of three locality based Health Improvement Teams in Glasgow City. The team aim to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities for people living in South Glasgow.

The Health Improvement Team in the South Locality is comprised of approximately 40 staff, working in five sub-teams (Portfolio 1, Portfolio 2, Portfolio 3, Portfolio 4, Portfolio 5).

Our work focuses on a wide range of health improvement programmes, for example:

• Priority health topics, for example mental health, tobacco, poverty and financial inclusion
• Ages and stages, including early years, young people and older people
• Place-based working in neighbourhoods/communities of high deprivation.
• Place-based work targets particular neighbourhoods/communities within South Glasgow where deprivation significantly impacts on health.   Portfolio 4 has a lead responsibility for Priesthill and Househillwood Thriving Place

We work closely with partners for example Health care staff, Local Authority staff and the voluntary sector.

Our team aims to do the best we can to improve health and reduce health inequalities. We have a range of experiences and backgrounds, making us quite a diverse team.

As an Apprentice you will work as part of the Child and Youth Health Improvement Team to improving health outcomes and life experiences for the children and young people in South Glasgow.   As the apprenticeship develops you will also get the opportunity to support some of the other portfolios to develop your knowledge and experience of other health topics and areas. 

We do this in a number of ways and there is wide variety in the work our team are involved in which you support. 

This can include for example supporting the training and capacity building for cost of the school day programme which aims at tackling child poverty, supporting the development of Bank for Youth our youth engagement programme, which ensures young people’s voices are heard and involved in decision making and by being a key partner in local networks/forums, and supporting training/events that the team are involved in.

You will be encouraged to participate in a variety of health training, for example Healthy Minds, to build on their knowledge and understanding of health and wellbeing.  Health Issues in the community to understanding how issues such as poverty and inequalities impact on communities. 

Your duties will include:

• Supporting team members to organise and prepare to deliver training
• Supporting team members to host and deliver training sessions on a wide range of health topics (could be online or face-to-face)
• Supporting team members to plan and host community networks and events (could be online or face-to-face)
• Participating in community networks
• Researching and learning about key partner organisations we work with
• Shadow staff from each of our four sub-teams (streams) to learn about a wide range of programmes of work the team are involved in.

You can find out more about the work of Health Improvement teams on our Health Improvement pages.

The training delivered during your apprenticeship will be a blend of ‘on the job’ learning and college-based learning.     During the training programme you will have a local training supervisor and mentor.

This Apprenticeship is made up of 3 elements

• Workplace Training
• A Scottish Vocation Qualification (SVQ)
• College Qualification (Certificate and HNC)

During your Apprenticeship you are expected to attend regular reviews to discuss your progress and development needs, and are expected to stick to the agreed training plan. This includes attending internal and external training and taking responsibility, with support, to collect the evidence required that proves competence in the job role

Will I attend College?

In the first year of your Apprenticeship you will under take a Certificate in Youth Work Practice and in the second year of your apprenticeship you will undertake a HNC in Working With Communities delivered by Glasgow Kelvin College.

You may be attending on a part time and/or distance learning basis.

How is the SVQ Delivered?

An SVQ is a qualification that shows that you can perform a job to nationally recognised standards and is made up of several units, each one of which describes an aspect of the job.

You will be assessed at your workplace (Health Improvement Team) using observation, professional discussion and work-related evidence and assessed on the skills you use every day in your job.

This will be demonstrated through your every day job role with support and qualification assessment provided internally by a team of experienced work based assessors.  There are no exams involved in an SVQ. 

During your apprenticeship you are expected to work towards an agreed Training Plan. This is subject to review and alteration. Please also note that changes to the college based activity may be subject to change.

What happens at the end of the Modern Apprenticeship?

On successful completion of all elements of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Modern Apprenticeship Programme we will support your transition into permanent employment within the organisation.

What qualifications will I hold when I complete this Apprenticeship?

The successful completion the Training programme will result in you achieving a

• Scottish Vocational Qualification ( SCQF Level 7) in Health Care Support (Non Clinical)
• Certificate in Youth Work Practice
• HNC in Working With Communities (SCQF Level 7)
• Core Skills that you have not achieved through previous learning. 

This post reflects the following Modern Apprenticeship Framework:

• Level 3 MA in Healthcare Support

Upon completion of the apprenticeship candidates will have attained a profile of knowledge, training and experience equivalent to SCQF Level 7 with experience of a range of Assistant Health Improvement Practitioner duties acquired through training. Over the course of the programme you will build a portfolio of your training that will be used as evidence of your competence.

Throughout your training you will be encouraged to become a reflective practitioner and measure your skills and knowledge to align your work against the UK Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework.  This will support you to then work towards gaining accreditation as a Public Health Practitioner through the UK Public Health Registration (UKPHR) Scheme, open to you when you have minimum 3 years work experience within the health improvement field.

In order to be considered for interview your Application Form must clearly demonstrate that you meet the following criteria:

• A National 5 qualification (or SCQF equivalent) at Grade A-C in English or ESOL and at least two other National 4 qualifications (or SCQF equivalent).
• Are within the Specified Age Range

• Fully complete the assessment question section of the application form (see candidate pack) to demonstrate that you have the interpersonal skills and qualities we require for this post.

• We operate a Guaranteed Interview scheme for Care Experienced* and Disabled applicants who meet the minimum selection criteria for this post.  Please contact   Mark.Goldie@ggc.scot.nhs.uk for more details

*The term “care experienced” refers to anyone who has been, or is currently in care. This includes kinship care where you are living/lived with a relative who is not your parent, or looked after with the help of social work, or living/lived in Residential care, Foster care, secure care or Adoption.

What qualifications will I hold when I complete this programme?

On completion of your apprenticeship, in addition to the work place training and competencies relevant to the role that you will achieve you will also be awarded:

• HNC in Working with Communites at SCQF Level 7
• SVQ Level 3 Healthcare Support (Non Clinical)

This posts reflects the following Modern Apprenticeship Framework:

• Modern Apprenticeship in Healthcare Support (non Clincial) SCQF Level 7

How long will the Apprenticeship last?

• This apprenticeship will last for 2 years

What happens at the end of the Modern Apprenticeship?

• On successful completion of all elements of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Modern Apprenticeship Programme we will support your transition into permanent employment within the organisation.

Where will I be based?

The team office is based in Pollok Health Centre, 21 Cowglen Road, Glasgow, G53 6EQ 

Travel to other locations within the Board area, mainly in South Glasgow will be required. This might be to attend meetings/forums, training or to meet with community groups.

All staff are entitled to apply for the following benefits on appointment:

• Interest free loan to purchase Zonecard’s – a flexible season ticket for unlimited travel by rail, subway, most buses and even some ferries (details on public transport routes to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s sites can be found by visiting Travel Information for Staff – NHSGGC or visit www.spt.co.uk/travelinfo
• Cycle to Work Scheme, for staff to purchase a bicycle and any equipment needed and then repay those costs through their salary.
• Travel Expenses where appropriate

How much will I be paid and how many hours a week will I work?

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is a living wage employer and this apprenticeship will pay £9.50 per hour or £18,571 (2021 rate) per annum.

As an employee of Greater Glasgow and Clyde you will also be entitled to all the benefits that our staff receive including a minimum of 27 days paid annual leave, an additional 8 days paid public holidays and enrolment in the NHS Scotland Pension Scheme.

All staff are entitled to apply for the following benefits on appointment:

• Interest free loan to purchase Zonecard’s – a flexible season ticket for unlimited travel by rail, subway, most buses and even some ferries (details on public transport routes to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s sites can be found by visiting Travel Information for Staff – NHSGGC or visit the SPT website.
• Cycle to Work Scheme, for staff to purchase a bicycle and any equipment needed and then repay those costs through their salary.

Before you start your application.

Step 1 – Download and save the Candidate Information Pack – Make sure you understand the role, the apprenticeship programme and the type of person we are looking to recruit before you submit your application form.

To stand the best chance of getting an interview you we encourage you to follow the guidance in the Candidate Information Pack and outlined in the “What do you need to tell us in your application form” section below

What you need to tell us on your application form

When completing your application form please ensure that:

• You provide us with full contact details
• You provide us with your full education history. 
• You provide details of any employment history, if any.
• If you have no employment history you can include volunteering or work experience placements in employment history section.
• You provide full contact details for a least 2 referees (education, employment or character). Please see the candidate information pack for guidance on who can provide references.
• Complete the Assessment Questions Section of the Application form – see “What else do you need to know” section.

Step 2 – Submit an online application

What else do we need to know? 

You will be asked three questions in the assessment section of the application form and we would like to answer them as follows:

How do you decide who to Interview?       

We base our decision on who to interview by assessing the information you have provided on your application form and your responses to the questions you have been asked to address in the assessment section. 

Make sure you are including in your application all the information we have asked you for in the Candidate Information Pack

Can I visit the department to find out more about this job?

We cant host visits just now but we would encourage any interested applicants to attend an online information session for this post

When will interviews take place?

Candidates selected for interview will be invited to attend an online interview preparation session  

• Interview Preparation – Scheduled for Week Commencing 29th August 2022

Interviews for this post will take place in two stages.*

Stage 1 Interviews will take place through Video Conferencing  using MS teams 

• Stage 1  – First Interview scheduled for 31st August 2022

Candidates who are successful after Stage 1 will be invited to attend an In Person final interview  

• Stage 2 – Final in person interview – Week Commencing 5th September 2022

*Please note that this process and these dates may change in line with Covid19 Guidance.

When will this apprenticeship start?

We anticipate that the successful candidate will start employment in early to mid October 2022, subject to the time taken to complete pre employment checks.

Annie Kiloh is in the fourth year of her Engineering Apprenticeship working as part of the Medical Physics Team at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

The team consists of 110 highly trained technologists who work together to ensure the equipment is accurate, safe to use and reliable. Technologists not only look after equipment in hospitals but also in health centres and in patient’s homes. This includes the renal home dialysis service plus the adult and paediatric home ventilation services.

She loved fixing things as a youngster, and shows how that passion has grew into helping her find her dream job.

She said: “I have always loved fixing things; even when I was a wee girl. My dad has a joinery company and I was always following him around and picking things up. If there’s a piece of IKEA furniture to be assembled, I’m your girl!

Working in Medical Physics is so varied and I’m learning new things all the time. “In my lab there are three fully trained clinical engineers, so I’m always out with one of them learning how to fix a new piece of kit.

In NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Annie and her team manage over 50,000 individual pieces of equipment, with items worth around £200 million in total.

The team consists of 110 highly trained technologists who work together to ensure the equipment is accurate, safe to use and reliable. Technologists not only look after equipment in hospitals but also in health centres and in patient’s homes. This includes the renal home dialysis service plus the adult and paediatric home ventilation services.

Annie goes on to explain that this encompasses over 600 types of equipment, which was all the more important amid the coronavirus pandemic.

She said: “There are over 600 different types of medical equipment that the team look after. The most common type of equipment is a CPAP unit, which pumps air through a mask people wear at night.

“Due to the variety of equipment no two days are the same and I get a lot of satisfaction from my job, knowing we are a vital part of the hospital team.

I decided to take on an apprenticeship as a Pre-Registration Pharmacy Technician as it would grant me the opportunity to pursue a career in which I did not have the confidence to undertake at an earlier stage in life.

Working within a highly skilled multidisciplinary team has allowed me to build up my confidence, develop my skill set, and successfully achieve the goals, and standards that will allow me to become a Pharmacy Technician registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

The thing I like most about my job is being able to learn and study while gaining real life experience. Initially, I had reservations about applying for a modern apprenticeship as I thought that I would be an older candidate.

If I had to give one piece of advice to someone who is maybe in the same position and is thinking of applying; it would be that if you are driven, passionate and committed then it is a career choice that you won’t regret

My Name is Craig Monteith and I am a Renal Technician and I was awarded Modern Apprentice of the Year in 2017.

I joined the NHS from school to undertake an Engineering Apprenticeship in Medical Physics specialising in Renal Dialysis.

My guidance teacher at school suggested this apprenticeship to me.  It seemed a really good opportunity and appealed to me far more than the other companies that also offer engineering apprenticeships. I liked the idea of helping people rather than working for the private sector.

In my current role I get to work across a range of Hospital sites including the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Royal Hospital for Children.

I enjoy having a vital role in the care of our patients. I also enjoy changing the major parts on equipment and seeing how components work.  I’m a problem solver so it’s really rewarding for me to get to the bottom of a difficult fault and getting a dialysis machine back in operation for our patient.

An Apprenticeship in the NHS is a really supportive environment. My apprenticeship equipped me with the necessary skills to begin my career in Renal from an early age. Having my foot in the door early has really helped me now as I have a broad understanding of Renal Dialysis. I changed which site I work at in order to get a promotion and this came with added responsibility and new challenges which have further helped my learning.

I see my future working in Renal Dialysis and I will be going for a Band 6 post in my department soon. Sometime in the future I am considering trying to work in Renal dialysis in other countries.

The NHS is a great company to work for and the modern apprenticeship scheme is a fantastic opportunity to get in early and accelerate your career path. 

My name is Daniel Martin and I joined NHSGGC in 2012 as a Multi Skilled Engineering Technician Apprentice.

I am now an Estates Co-ordinating supervisor based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

I have always wanted to be a tradesman, I enjoyed being on the tools and completing hands on complex tasks. I initially started my apprenticeship as an electrician however the opportunity came up to train as a multi skilled technician. 

My apprenticeship allowed me to gain valuable knowledge on the systems at the QEUH and this was only furthered when I was time served. This has allowed me to go into supervising.

Before my apprenticeship I didn’t know how much I’d be able to undertake after completing the apprenticeship. The apprenticeship opened my eyes to a lot of new systems and policies to do with healthcare.

I really enjoy my job and every day is different.

My typical day as a supervisor is very busy dealing with multiple trades and issues throughout the day. I deal with multiple complex systems on a daily basis such as HVAC, medical gas pipeline systems, nurse call systems, fire alarm systems, domestic water systems, dual fuel systems and KNX/dali systems to name a few.

Our workload can be very varied, we can be dealing with leaks on the domestic water systems, heating issues, joinery work requests, electrical work and various plumbing tasks.

 I get great satisfaction from knowing that by doing my job I am making a difference in the hospital by completing upgrades and repairs. Knowing that the work we do as a department keeps the hospital running. Without the estates department the other departments wouldn’t be able to operate daily.

The NHS is a great place to work.  I have worked with the NHS  since I was 16 and I don’t see myself ever leaving. My plan is to progress further into estates management, hopefully becoming a estates manager in the next few years.

I really enjoy my job and every day is different. 

My name is Elaine McCready and I am a Clerical Officer/Receptionist at Maryhill Health Centre. I was awarded Modern Apprentice of the year in 2018.

I started with the NHS as an Business and Administration Modern Apprentice and gained an SVQ2 in Business and Administration. Additionally, I also attended optional college classes (Medical Reception and Records, GP Medical Admin and IT in Business: Spreadsheets), and in doing so, gained three additional SQA qualifications.

I was interested in a career in Administration within the NHS but did not have previous administration experience. I liked the opportunity to both learn and work full-time. The apprenticeship scheme offered on-the-job experience which was invaluable but also allowed time to attend college to complete Business and Administration classes which was a great opportunity.

Following my apprenticeship, I was delighted to be offered a permanent position within my department. As I work on a busy reception desk, a big part of my job is interacting with patients and the public. In a health care environment, you get to know them and it is rewarding to be part of their patient journey. I love my job and I also have a fantastic and supportive team to work with which makes it so enjoyable.

My favourite part of my job is knowing you have helped someone on their patient journey to having the most positive experience that they can within the NHS. Often reception staff are the first person a patient will meet and I feel it is so important to get this stage correct. I strongly believe that everyone in the NHS has a role to play in patient care, no matter how big or small. To know you have helped someone to the best of your ability and made their patient journey as seamless as possible, gives me great job satisfaction.

It has been a privilege to have completed an apprenticeship and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and support given to me throughout. After completion of my Modern Apprenticeship, I have had the opportunity to continue to develop my skills and knowledge and I have since provided administrative cover for other sites which has gained me additional experience.

I have had the opportunity to learn-in-depth knowledge about different systems, services, legislation and processes as part of my apprenticeship. Through logging my learning, completing reports and attending college, I have gained a clear understanding of the different aspects of my role and what is expected of me. 

When I started my apprenticeship in 2017 I unaware of the apprenticeship programme and the opportunities offered through this scheme. I also did not realise apprenticeships were offered for such a wide variety of roles within the NHS. I understand now there is much greater awareness of the apprenticeship scheme through advertising and social media channels which will be beneficial to future candidates.

I would say to anyone considering an apprenticeships to go for it! It has offered an entry into the NHS and I’m looking forward to long and rewarding career working in administration within the NHS.

I had fantastic support from my assessor and colleagues throughout. The training provided by both the college and the NHS has greatly helped me in my learning and I can apply this in my current post and continue developing my skills and knowledge as I progress. I was welcomed by everyone within the team and I would strongly recommend an apprenticeship with the NHS to future candidates.

My name is Ellis Pollock and I joined the NHS in 2017 as an Apprentice Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Support Worker.

I am now an Allied Health Professions Assistant practitioner and based at the Lakefield Unit, Inverclyde Royal Hospital

On a typical day I will work with both the Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Staff. Being based on the ward means that we spend a lot of time with other health professionals such as nurses/nursing support workers, Doctors, Social Workers, In-reach teams and many more. By working with the Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT) we are able to set goals for patients and work as a team to help facilitate a safe discharge for our patients. Due to the current Pandemic we have been limited with social interaction between patients due to safety measures that have been in place.

I enjoy working with patients, listening to all their life stories and working within a team that is full of fun

When I applied for the PT/OT Support Worker apprenticeship I was only 16 and had an interest in working in the NHS. I didn’t want to go straight to University from school as I wasn’t fully committed to knowing what I wanted to do, and the last thing that I wanted to do was to get a degree and then not be interested. I had an interest in both Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy however didn’t realise how much both disciplines worked together. I thought that studying whilst working was the perfect opportunity for me to see if I enjoyed working in the healthcare setting.

I hope that in the future I will be able to complete my degree in either Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy. I am still indecisive about which route I want to go down as I love working between both disciplines and that’s what makes it a hard decision. Ideally I would love to be able to continue working within my current role and complete my degree at the same time.  Hopefully I can do that in the near future.

My apprenticeship has helped me in many ways, I have grown in confidence, met and worked with loads of different people and have gained a lot of experience over the last 4 and a half years. Hopefully having this experience will help me progress my career in the future. I wish that prior to starting my apprenticeship I appreciated how great the NHS actually is.

Having being only 16 at the time I can only imagine that I took the NHS for granted and didn’t understand how much time and effort staff put in to their jobs. I didn’t realise how many different jobs there were just to keep the NHS running at a high standard.

I found that completing my apprenticeship pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to progress in ways that I never thought I would. I was able to complete my course earlier than I was supposed to thanks to the support from my colleagues and college mentor. 

The advice that I would give to someone who was thinking of applying for one of these apprenticeships would be, go for it! Step out of your comfort zone, you have nothing to lose. With some hard graft and an open mind you can get anywhere that you want to be. You will be supported by not only your colleagues but your college mentors, everyone wants you to do well and it gives you the perfect opportunity of seeing whether you actually enjoy the job.

I decided to apply for an apprenticeship in Joinery after coming across the opportunity online. The information pack received at the very beginning of the process was extremely helpful and nothing like any other interview process I had had in the past. It really helped to give me a good insight of what it would be like to work for the NHS.

I have always been one to enjoy helping others and like to feel like I am making a difference. The chance to help in a clinical environment to aid in the security and wellbeing/comfort of the patients was a big draw for me. As well as being able to support staff members to allow them to do their job with as little issue as possible.

This apprenticeship has given me the chance gain a career in Joinery. Woodworking has always been a passion of mine so having the qualifications to back that is very important to me.

If I had to give advice to anyone thinking about an apprenticeship with NHS GGC it would be, read the candidate information pack, it really was very helpful for myself to make the decision to apply. If you are someone who likes working with and helping people then go for it.

I decided to apply for a Business & Administration apprenticeship in the estates department when I left university after deciding it wasn’t for me as I wasn’t keen on the style of learning. I felt that constant studying and attending classes wasn’t preparing me for the world of working which is what I was eager to get involved in. Taking on this apprenticeship meant that I was getting an SVQ Level 2 qualification while training for the job onsite.

I am responsible for providing management with an absence register so as they are aware of available trade staff on site and what resources we have. I sign in contractors and take FM ticket escalations via telephone and relay those of urgency to the supervisors. I raise orders for materials and new/existing contracts with suppliers. We are also responsible for amending and paying invoices to companies that have carried work out on site.

I like that no two days are the same so I am always keen to come into my work. The exposure I’ve had to the different areas of the department and witnessing the work that is carried out has given me a real insight into the successful operation of estates and just how vital it is for the functioning of the hospital. Before starting this job I wasn’t aware of the work estates do so I have really enjoyed learning all about it.

I found that in school apprenticeships where often aimed towards mechanical subjects so I would encourage people to look into all areas and know that are different fields of work where apprenticeship are offered – like this one in office administration.

My name is Megan Kinvig and I am an Administration Assistant in Pharmacy Services based at Clarkston Court. I started my apprenticeship when I was 17 having just left school.

My Business and Administration Apprenticeship was competed over 2 years and in that time I had the time to learn before actually being able to fully run with something. This time to learn has given me invaluable skills to see how people communicate, and simply how to work in a business environment as it is totally different from school. 

In school I was encouraged to consider going to university but my guidance teacher also told me in detail about Modern Apprenticeships. This was the perfect fit for me as I wanted to get a job, get money and to be independent.

From my first day I was learning, working and getting paid and I am now years ahead of people I went to school with. It has been the best choice I have made. It gave me financial independence, a qualification and a kick-start at working life.

The department I support is a busy one and I am responsible for carrying out a range administrative tasks to ensure that everything runs smoothly. This can range from managing email traffic, processing payroll information, data entry, creating agendas and taking minutes at meetings and making sure that Education and Training mailbox is kept up to date.

The Pharmacy Services team at Clarkston is a very supportive workplace. Every 2 weeks we have a team training sessions where one of us will share their knowledge or skill to take on a new task with the other team members. This means all the team have the opportunity to learn and ask questions. We also have a weekly catch up with colleagues outside work which give us the opportunity to chat outwith the office environment.

I think, that if you have a good team around you, your job is not a ‘chore’. I enjoy going to my work and one of the main reasons for that, is the people around me when I am there. 

In my first year of being an apprentice, I was awarded the runner up award for MA of the Year. I was put forward by my manager and getting the award really boosted my confidence, it made me feel I was doing not only my team proud, but that the NHS are proud of their apprentices, and that makes you feel valued.

An apprenticeship does prepare yourself for moving into adult life. Even though you are still an apprentice, you are treated like an adult. I certainly did not prepare myself for this part and I got a huge shock when I started! But I have the most supportive manager and colleagues around me who help me every day as I do them.

I was not the most organised person when I started my apprenticeship. This is because I had never been in a working environment whereby I had to plan meetings for other people, I had to print things for myself and had to plan a whole meeting. My apprenticeship taught me how to use my initiative, something I use every day now, in work and personal life. 

I hope to build my way up steadily and become a manager, so as one day, I can potentially take on a Modern Apprentice, and give them the experience and excellent start to working life that I had.

Megan is an administrator, working in pharmacy services. She started her career in the NHS by doing a Modern Apprenticeship. Megan is now doing a Graduate Apprenticeship in Business Management.

“What I like most about my job is that I’m encouraged to use my own initiative and work towards my own goals. I also get opportunity to develop my skills, whether that be communication, organisation or teamwork.”

My name is Melissa Beckett and I am a Management Accountant in Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership. I was Modern Apprentice of the year in 2019.

In my current role as a Management Accountant I oversee the finances for number of services including Clinical Directorates, Health improvement Teams and Older peoples services. My role is to assist the Budget Managers to understand their finances and to make sure they can run their service effectively and within budget.

My job presents different challenges every day and no two days are the same. I do a lot of problem solving in my job and get real satisfaction in providing solutions.

A big part of my role is producing costings, helping services understand their budgets and producing savings while ensuring that any savings made don’t have a negative effect on the service.

When I applied for the Apprenticeship programme I had a HND and was working in Finance but I was looking for a role where I could progress in and a family friend suggested applying for an Apprenticeship.   

Although studying for the Association of Accounting Technician qualification as part of the apprenticeship was a benefit, what I really wanted was to work somewhere where I could develop myself professionally.

I liked the idea of being able to learn on the job and to also be able work and study for my qualification. In the NHS because it’s such a large organisation, there are lots of opportunities to move about and get a wide range of experience.

Once I completed my training I was appointed into a Management Accounts Assistant role in the Acute Sector and was then promoted into a role with more responsibility. In 2020 I was promoted into the role of Management Accountant.

I’m glad I chose the Apprenticeship Pathway. Getting the experience and the qualifications through the MA programme have really helped my career. The best part of my Apprenticeship was learning on the job – I’ve developed skills and knowledge that I would never have learned through study alone. Equally it’s been really good to be able to put what you learn academically into practice in the workplace.

I’m continuing my study and am working towards achieving my Chartered Institute of Management Accountants qualifications and longer term want to continue my career pathway into more senior roles in NHS.

My name is Peter McKay and I knew that I wanted to do an engineering apprenticeship when I was in my last year of school. I spoke to a careers adviser and did my own research online. That’s how I found out about apprenticeship opportunities in the NHS. I also went to an open evening at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital to find out more. From there, I decided to apply.

I was really happy when I was offered an interview. It was the Modern Apprenticeship that I wanted to do. I knew I was going to have the opportunity to learn a wide range of skills.

In 2020, I was lucky enough to win the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Unison and Unite Modern Apprentice of the Year award. I was delighted to even be nominated for the award, so winning it was amazing. I was so pleased for my team too.

When I started my apprenticeship I didn’t know how big a role the estates department played in keeping the hospital running but I quickly realised it is one of the most important departments in the hospital. We make sure that wards, theatres and other areas are well maintained so patients can be cared for.

I also thought that the job would be limited to working in plant rooms, maintaining the equipment needed to supply building services. These services include heating, water and electrical distribution.

While I do work in plant rooms, my job is also about making sure patients’ needs are met. They’re the number one priority. A lot of the time, I’m carrying out maintenance jobs in patients’ rooms, such as making sure the temperature is just right, or repairing an electrical socket.

On the hospital wards, staff are caring for patients. I need to communicate with staff and patients to make sure the job I’m there to do causes the least disruption possible.

As a multi-skilled technician, I’m working across 3 trades, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and plumbing.

I enjoy coming in to work every day. Working in a maintenance team, I’ve made great friendships with colleagues and that makes every day enjoyable.

As I can be working in different parts of the hospital, it makes the job challenging and interesting. I’m kept busy and no two days are the same.

Starting my Modern Apprenticeship directly after leaving school was challenging. Having a full-time job and working and learning with skilled people and tradesmen is not the same as being taught at school. You learn a lot when you’re on your feet working.

Working across 3 trades was overwhelming at first, but it I’ve realised it is a benefit, as I’m developing a wide set of skills.

From my own experience, I couldn’t recommend doing an apprentice enough. It’s helped me mature as a person, and in my role. If you’re thinking about doing a Modern Apprenticeship in the NHS, I’d encourage you to apply.

With this Modern Apprenticeship, you’re offered a varied skill set across 3 different trades. I don’t think you’d get that with many other apprenticeships.

I hope to continue my education and do a degree in Building Services at university. It’s the next step on from completing an HNC in Engineering Systems, which I completed during my apprenticeship.

Becoming an estates manager is not something I thought would be possible when I left school and started my apprenticeship. But now I’m more confident and believe I can do it.

I decided to apply for an apprenticeship as a Clinical Practitioner Technologist because I had been studying engineering in college, and the job matched my interests.

This apprenticeship has helped me gain more knowledge about engineering through college and working on the job, it will benefit my future career as I will gain the knowledge and qualifications to improve my work and help me progress in my career.

I like that no day is the same and that there are numerous pieces of equipment that are worked on which will help me gain more experience and knowledge for my job role during my training, this will help me know more about certain pieces of equipment and how they work and the correct ways to service and repair them.

One of the most rewarding things about my role is that most of the equipment I am working with is used to help people, such as machines for theatres and wards and machines for home patients such as suction machines and ventilators. Knowing that the equipment is used to aid patients is rewarding.

The advice I would give anyone who is thinking about apply for a modern apprenticeship is that the modern apprenticeship programs are a great way to learn and gain experience

Modern Apprentice of the Year 2022 – Winner – Scott Robb

I decided to apply for a multi skilled engineering technician apprenticeship after I got talking to one of the NHSGGC Apprenticeship team who came to an apprenticeship fair at my School. They convinced me to attend an open evening in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, which showcased the job and the sort of work it involved and it looked really interesting and unique.

This role has helped me to get a greater understanding in to health care and engineering systems. It will benefit my career as it now have an understanding of how to work in the health care industry and how to change my approach on doing jobs depending on the type of environment I’m in.

I like that every day is different and the challenges that come with working in both an engineering and health care environment. The most rewarding part of the role is when you finish a job/ fix something knowing that you have done something that may seem small in the grand scheme but it makes a big difference.

If I could give advice to anyone looking to undertake an apprenticeship with NHS GGC I would say make sure you do your research about the different roles and what is involved in them to find something that really interests you.

Modern Apprentice of the Year 2021 Winner – John Hetherton

Wully Brodie Engineering Apprentice of the Year 2021 Winner – Abbie Jamieson

Modern Apprentice of the Year 2020 Winner – Peter McKay