NHS Trust celebrates registered nurse degree apprentices at special event

South West Yorkshire Partnership Teaching NHS Foundation Trust recently held an event to celebrate the achievements of staff taking part in a registered nurse degree apprenticeship programme in partnership with The Open University.

The event was opened by the Trust’s lead for non-medical education and training, Margaret Bedford. She welcomed current apprentices and staff who have completed the course to Fieldhead Hospital in Wakefield on Friday 5 December, sharing with them how privileged she felt to be a part of their journey.

The Open University’s registered nurse degree apprenticeship (RNDA) supports employers to develop their healthcare workforce into Nursing and Midwifery Council-registered nurses across a number of fields, including learning disabilities and mental health.

South West Yorkshire Partnership Teaching NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services to the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield, and medium secure (forensic) services to the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber.

In the same week of the event, the first ever full 4-year apprenticeship cohort received confirmation of their successful completion of the programme.

Trust chief executive Mark Brooks presented, speaking about the commitment and motivation needed to complete the course, and how the apprentices’ dedication is manifesting itself in the care the Trust provides. Chief operating officer Adele Fox followed, recalling her background as a learning disability nurse and encouraging the apprentices to feel proud of what they have achieved.

Deputy chief nurse and deputy director of quality and professions Amy Hartley, who started her career as a healthcare assistant in learning disability services, inspired the apprentices with talk of their futures and a reminder of the rewarding career which lies ahead of them. Associate director for nursing and professions Sophie Hempsall, who began her time in the NHS as a dietitian, reinforced how important it is for the Trust to recognise and celebrate the benefit the apprentices have brought to the organisation.

Jill Rounce, Staff Tutor in Nursing from The Open University, shared her background which included her own time at the Trust as a crisis intervention nurse in 1997. Jill also became the Trust’s very first practice learning facilitator in 2001. She explained more to the apprentices about her current role with The Open University, which involves managing the delivery of nursing programmes across Yorkshire and the Humber.

In 2002, the Trust started working with the Open University – that was the very first cohort to begin a diploma with The Open University within mental health nursing. Open University programmes have always been designed for healthcare workers and designed for people who have got work experience, who perhaps don’t have the qualifications to go to a regular university. Back in 2002 no one could believe you could do a diploma without A-Levels, but it was about having the right people on the programme. This is what the OU believed, and the partnership continues to this day.

Jill Rounce
Staff Tutor in Nursing from The Open University

After a break to explore the marketplace of services, apprentices then heard from practice learning facilitators Chris Taylor and Talent Mloyi. They shared how proud they were of the apprentices for creating a strong learning culture within the Trust, and being ambassadors for positive placements.

Six of the apprentices were then invited to the front of the room to share stories of their own personal journeys. Amy Hutchinson, Miriam Evans, Claire Abdool-Raheem, Chris Howard, Anne-Marie Vaines and Karen Gibbs inspired their fellow apprentices through recounting how they’d overcome adversity, achieved in the face of challenges, and their aspirations for the future.

The event was rounded off with a certificate presentation and a chance to share the celebrations with colleagues.

Margaret said: “In order to offer the best care we can, we need to be the best colleagues and professionals. To do this, we need to keep learning. This event had a buoyant energy in the room with so many people passionate about education and nursing. I am so proud to see everyone achieving their goals and having the opportunity to celebrate together.

“We have a long and successful history of working with The Open University to develop staff into registered nurses, dating back to 2002 when we seconded staff to do their nursing degrees. Since 2021, we have worked collaboratively to support 28 staff to become registered nurses with a further 28 members of staff currently on the programme.

“The journey doesn’t stop now for our apprentices. I am looking forward to speaking with our apprentices about what is next for their futures as they continue their lifelong learning journey within in the Trust.”

The Open University has a long and established partnership with South West Yorkshire Partnership Teaching NHS Foundation Trust. Over more than two decades, we have opened doors to people who never thought they’d become nurses with our unique approach to flexible, open nurse education. It is fantastic to see the partnership continuing to blossom and benefitting communities in South West Yorkshire.

Dr Rebecca Garcia
Associate Head of School Nursing and Health Professions, The Open University

Apprentice stories

When I first started working at the hospital, I had very little confidence. There was a lot to learn. But everyone helped me realise that I could go forward with my nursing, which I really wanted to do.

Supporting two children while I did my nursing training seemed financially impossible, so I got a job in the district nursing team, which is where I still am now. I got the opportunity to do my nursing associate apprenticeship which was amazing. I am so proud I achieved that and thought I’d never be able to do it.

I like being a role model for my children and now I am topping up to qualify as a registered nurse. I feel incredibly lucky to be doing it. I’ve met my partner and had a baby during the course, so there have been challenges and things to juggle, but there has been so much love and support, and I want to give that back to patients.

Miriam Evans, Registered nursing associate to registered nursing degree apprentice

I originally started at a volunteer in the caring garden at Fieldhead in Wakefield. A year later, I got my first part-time job in admin and then in safer staffing. My then manager spent months convincing me to do the nursing support role. I didn’t want to do it at first – I had caring issues and family to think about. He eventually persuaded me to go for the interview.

After working across lots of wards within the Trust, I went on to do my nursing associate qualification. At the same time, my two sons decided they were going to go to university as well. When I first graduated from doing my nursing associate apprenticeship, I graduated at the same time as my eldest son. And this time, when I graduate as a registered nurse, it will be at the same time as my youngest son. The 12 years I have been at the Trust have been a learning curve for me and it’s just been amazing.

Karen Gibbs, Registered nursing associate to registered nursing degree apprentice

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