Author: sarahjohnstone

Emergency first aid training proved invaluable for a Training Now social care apprentice when she came to the aid of a man having a heart attack in the street.

Soreya Kia is a member of Agincare’s Christchurch home care team. She is currently a social care apprentice doing her Health and Social Care Level 3 with Training Now. On a day off Soreya was about to set off on a jog when she saw someone waving and asking for help. On the ground next to him a man was clearly in pain and struggling to breathe.

Making a difference

Soreya said: “I really love what I do and being able to help people is my aim. Having been trained welI in my job, I knew exactly what I needed to do, which was take control and act fast. I could see he was deteriorating fast and getting worse. I laid him flat on the ground and kept him responsive. The ambulance was taking a long time to arrive. I knew if he fell completely unconscious then I would need to perform CPR. Another passer-by tracked his pulse while I monitored his breathing.”

Soreya calmly repeated her actions for 30 minutes until the ambulance arrived. Christopher was transferred to hospital where he underwent heart surgery.

Soreya added: “Caring for people comes naturally to me – I’m so glad I could make a difference.”

Social care apprentices have skills for life

Training Now Operations Director, Scott Jones said:

“Well done, Soreya, it just goes to show how good social care training can be applied in many different situations. Our health and social care apprenticeships – from Levels 2 to 5 – support practical and professional growth and career progression with recognised RQF qualifications. They really do give you skills for life.”

There’s no doubt that doing an earn while you learn apprenticeship is a commitment. You’ll be studying while working and you’ll definitely need the support of your family. But completing an apprenticeship also shows your current and prospective employers that you have dedication and determination to develop yourself, both as a person and in your career.

Olesea’s story

We spoke to current Training Now apprentice Olesea Bejenari for her thoughts and advice on doing an apprenticeship…

Originally from Moldova, I’ve been working for care provider Agincare for getting on for six years. I’m currently part of a project team based in Guildford, Surrey.

A busy day job

My role is to help and support people with rehabilitation after they have been discharged from hospital. During a visit I help them with personal care, administer medications, serve them meals, and encourage them to take part in activities. I do exercises with them because this is one of the most important things, to get them strong and to help them regain their independence.

I do about 10 visits a day, sometimes driving long distances between visits. You’ve probably got the right idea by now – it’s a rewarding, yet extremely busy job!

Plenty of support during your apprenticeship

At the same time I’m also studying for my Apprenticeship level 3 – Lead Adult Care Worker. Last year I did my Apprenticeship level 2 – Adult Care Worker apprenticeship. I received an email from Agincare with the story of a lady who had already completed an apprenticeship. Her story gave me immense strength and showed me I wasn’t alone.

I also had a lot of support and encouragement from my Training Now assessor, Daniela Bardell. Daniela believed in me and helped me believe that I could do it. And with the support of my husband, friends and colleagues, I managed to get to the end.

I feel very proud that I did it. In fact, completing my Level 2 helped me in my job role, and developed my knowledge.

Now my manager has offered me training (Level 3) to become a team leader. I am glad that I have been given the opportunity to grow in my career.

Believe in yourself

And I don’t want to stop there! I know that I can do it. I know that the time is passing quickly. Committing to an apprenticeship means that when you look back on another year, you’ll have had more success, and more confidence in yourself.

The benefits of an earn while you learn apprenticeship

Olesea is just one of the hundreds of people, of all ages, that we support to successfully complete an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships can help you progress quickly in your career, combining relevant study with hands-on experience.

It’s not only your CV that’ll be boosted by an earn while you learn apprenticeship – your bank balance will be too.

And you’ll emerge at the end of your course with a nationally-recognised qualification to set you up for the future. Employers like having apprentices within their teams. Not only do apprenticeships help keep employees motivated and committed to an organisation, they also help them develop their skills in a practical way. It’s a win-win!

Recently, around World Mental Health Day, we’ve been shining the spotlight on mental health training and support during the global coronavirus pandemic.

Mental health is often a topic that we don’t like to discuss, but COVID-19 has put many of us under pressure. Restrictions, lockdowns and guidelines have fundamentally changed how we do things every day.

During lockdown the mental health support charity, Mind, carried out a coronavirus and mental health survey with more than 16,000 people. The charity found that more than half of the adults (60%) and more than two-thirds of the young people (68%) who took part said their mental health had got worse during lockdown. According to Mind, many people have developed new mental health problems as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and some people have seen existing mental health problems worsen.

In June 2020 the Office for National Statistics found that nearly one in five adults (19.2%) was likely to experience a form of depression during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This was almost double the rate from the nine months before the pandemic.

The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day was ‘mental health for all’. Enjoying good mental health means you are better equipped to be the best that you can be, at home and at work. You are more likely to be able to cope with whatever life throws at you.

Mental health training to support others with their mental health

If you’re working with people living with mental health conditions our mental health training will help you understand different conditions and how best to support people.

Looking after your own mental health

If you are worried about your or someone else’s mental or emotional state, there is help and support available.

Training Now safeguarding team

If you are doing your apprenticeship with Training Now there is a team on hand if you need someone to talk to. Our safeguarding team of Laura, Alina and Luke is here to listen to you.

Support at work

Through your employer you may have access to an in-house team or an Employee Assistance Programme online or over the phone.

The Mental Health Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) shares information on a variety of mental health topics, including parenting, loneliness and financial worries.

The MHF is also encouraging us to stay connected by taking time out to share a socially-distanced or virtual tea break with friends and/or colleagues. A quick chat over a brew and a biscuit is something that many of us are missing, especially those of us who are working from home.

As well as the physical act of getting up and going to a staffroom or kitchen, a tea break is a chance to connect socially. It’s a time to share stories or a joke, to ask colleagues what they watched on TV last night, or what their plans are for the weekend. It’s this connection that makes us human. Find out more about Tea & Talk.

Mind

Mind has a coronavirus information hub, which includes advice on working from home and a Wellness Action Plan for home workers.

Samaritans

Samaritans have resources if you’re worried about your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak.

If you feel you are in a mental health crisis situation and need to speak to someone urgently you can contact Samaritans completely confidentially and free of charge by calling 116 123 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has had an unprecedented effect on all our lives, including the social care, business and education training we deliver here at Training Now.

But we’re fast learners, and we adapted quickly. During lockdown our training went online, still delivered by our expert Teaching and Learning Coaches (TALCs).

And now we’re happy to say that we’re delivering face-to-face training again, after thorough risk assessments to ensure the safety of delegates and Training Now employees. Read more about this in our COVID-19 statement.

Continuing to support our learners

During lockdown we were still always on hand – virtually – should apprentices need extra support. We offered academic and pastoral support – our team appreciated that some people were finding it harder than usual to complete work. And we kept up communication through our website, newsletter and Facebook feed.

What we learnt about online training during lockdown