From Teacher to Healthcare Science Practitioner Degree Apprentice, why did you choose to change professions?

Although I enjoyed teaching, I felt that it wasn’t quite the career path I could see myself continuing to do for the long term. I began to consider other career routes that I could take, and whilst teaching, I completed further study in Psychology. After obtaining an MEd in Psychology of Education, I decided to consider changing direction to a more clinical discipline. Having studied the areas that I had, and having worked in varying roles I had a keen interest in understanding the functioning of the brain and I knew I enjoyed working in a capacity that helped others. So, I spent a lot of time conducting research as to how I could combine my interests. I wanted to work in a role in which I would be challenged whilst at work on a daily basis, where could continue learning throughout my career, but also a role in which I wouldn’t be required to take work home with me. Being happy in my daily working life and maintaining a healthy work-life balance is extremely important to me, and once qualified, the role of Clinical Physiologist/Healthcare Scientist allows that.

At this stage, I was aware that it would be useful to have some clinical experience before embarking upon this new career path, so I secured employment on a 12-month contract as a Physiotherapy Assistant in a special needs school. This was ideal for bridging the gap between my background in education and working in the NHS. Despite having obtained previous Higher Education qualifications, unfortunately, these did not equip me with the appropriate scientific knowledge to begin the Healthcare Science Degree. This meant I had to complete an Access to Science Diploma to meet the University entry requirements. At the time, this did feel a little like a step backwards however, I now know that this was necessary to get where I wanted to be long-term. During this time, I also attended a Healthcare Science Open Day at The Walton Centre in Liverpool. This helped to strengthen my curiosity for the discipline and following I was very grateful for the opportunity to complete a two-day shadowing placement in the Neurophysiology Department. This was vital in giving me a clear understanding of the day to day role of a Clinical Physiologist/Healthcare Scientist.

While gathering the relevant qualifications and experience prior to even beginning the Degree Apprenticeship took a couple of years in total, it really allowed me to see that this was definitely the future career path for me.

Why did you choose to study a Healthcare Science Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship?

I initially began training as a Healthcare Scientist in Neurophysiology via the Professional Training Programme (PTP) in Healthcare Science at Manchester Metropolitan University. At the time, this was the only method of training available to me. This also meant that my training at this stage was self-funded, as due to already possessing postgraduate qualifications, Student Finance support was not available. I thoroughly enjoyed this first year of training and was incredibly pleased to find that my first year training placement was at The Walton Centre in Liverpool, close to where I live. I worked extremely hard and presented myself to the highest professional standards throughout my placement. I was aware of the excellent reputation of The Walton Centre in the field of Neuroscience and loved the idea of securing employment there if I were fortunate to in future.

Whilst attending this training placement, the Healthcare Science Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship Programme became available, for which The Walton Centre advertised two positions. I was most grateful for the opportunity to apply for one of those positions and incredibly grateful to the Neurophysiology Service Manager who discussed the option of transferring across to the Degree Apprenticeship Programme, should my application be successful. So, I applied and was so pleased to be offered a position on the Healthcare Science Degree Apprenticeship course via employment at The Walton Centre. As I had already completed the first year of the PTP, I was not required to complete the first year of the apprenticeship, so was employed as a Physiology Trainee in the Neurophysiology Department. This was perfect, as I was able to maintain my skills and learning for 12 months, before transferring across to the Degree Apprenticeship programme at the beginning of its second year. I was most grateful to secure a position in a team that I knew were highly professional and dedicated to providing the best patient care and outcomes.

Reflecting on your Healthcare Science Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship journey, what have you found most rewarding?

There have been so many rewarding aspects of my journey. One of the most valuable elements of my training has been the unwavering support from The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, the Neurophysiology Service Manager and the staff team within the Neurophysiology Department. I will always be grateful for their teaching, guidance and belief in me as an Apprentice. It means so much to know that you have such a supportive team surrounding you who really do want the best for you.

Additionally, knowing how far I have come in the development of my professional and clinical skills and knowledge, is also very rewarding. It is a nice feeling when the learning comes together by the end of the Apprenticeship. I now feel confident in my clinical skills and judgement and know that I do the best I can for each patient.

What challenges have you overcome during your Degree Apprenticeship journey, especially working in the NHS?

From a personal point of view, choosing to change my entire career path came with many challenges. For me, it meant making financial sacrifices and changes to my living arrangements to simply enable me to study on a full-time basis again. However, despite this at times being difficult, I certainly think those sacrifices and changes will have been worthwhile in the long run.

Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact upon us as Apprentices working in the NHS. This meant that I was redeployed to wards, working different shift patterns, and generally working in an entirely different role to that I was used to. Furthermore, the studying aspect of the training was temporarily suspended, then transferred to a work from home format. It was difficult to balance all of these new scenarios, as well as trying to manage the inevitable emotions that came with dealing with a global pandemic. However, the support and guidance offered by our Trust, Department and the University made the whole situation much more manageable.  

How are you hoping your Degree Apprenticeship will support your career progression?

I know that the Degree Apprenticeship has given me a direct route to continuing working as a Healthcare Scientist in Neurophysiology. More specifically, I know that the combination of being employed in a Neurophysiology Department whilst also studying for the academic aspects of the course has equipped me with the skills, knowledge and professionalism required for a successful career within this discipline. Furthermore, I am aware that prospective employers value the Degree Apprenticeship training route and as a result, this makes me a desirable candidate for employment.

Having now completed my Degree Apprenticeship programme, my next step is to secure a permanent position as a Band 5 Clinical Physiologist in Neurophysiology. I have worked hard throughout my training and was particularly pleased to achieve a final grade of First Class Honours and Distinction. My hope is that this enables prospective employers to see my dedication to the profession. I would love to continue learning, particularly developing an understanding of other test types completed within Neurophysiology. I would also be incredibly happy to work in an innovative department with a staff team that will continually develop to provide the most up to date technological advancements in areas such as intra-operative theatre monitoring.

What support have you received from your employer and Manchester Met?

My employer has been hugely supportive throughout my training. This, for me, has been a huge benefit of completing training via the Degree Apprenticeship route. Throughout, I have had daily interaction with more experienced colleagues, my line manager, Consultant Neurophysiologists and the many other professionals who work within The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust. Such interactions have allowed me to integrate into the staff team and learn vast amounts of not only knowledge of my specialism, but also about the wider patient pathway and the NHS as a whole. Additionally, as an employee, I have undertaken all mandatory Trust training in areas such as Safeguarding, Prevent Training, Health and Safety and Dementia Training to name a few. I have also been extremely grateful for the opportunity to become involved in the wider context of Neurophysiology and other Trusts, through attending events such as the Annual North West Interdepartmental meeting. The opportunity to be part of the appraisal process conducted by the Trust and our Service Manager has also been of huge value, as it has allowed me to continually reflect on my practice, areas in which I can continue to develop, and gives me the opportunity to request further support should I wish to.

The University also has various levels of support in place. The Programme Lead and other University staff members have all been supportive throughout my studies and are all very approachable. Each staff member has always been happy to offer further guidance, advice and teaching if requested. Furthermore, in the final year, in particular, plenty of one to one sessions are available for personalised learning. There are also various departments and teams that are readily accessible for support such as; the University Library Team, Study Skills Team, Careers and Employability and Finance Team to name a few.

How did you find going back into education as a mature student on a Degree Apprenticeship?

As a returning student, I had a very clear career pathway in mind and was very determined to succeed in transferring across to this. This meant that I was extremely dedicated to achieving the best I could in every element of my training. At times, returning as a postgraduate was a little challenging, as there were financial and qualification barriers that I had to overcome. I found it particularly disheartening initially that there was very little financial support for mature students wishing to re-train for a different career. This is where the Degree Apprenticeship was ideal, as it suited my circumstances perfectly. I did have to reassess my view of taking what, at times, felt like steps backwards and remind myself that I was doing this in order to secure a role that I know I will enjoy for the rest of my career.

Do you have any advice for future Degree Apprentices interested in the Healthcare Science Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship?

My first piece of advice to anyone wishing to undertake a Degree Apprenticeship is to make sure that you know exactly what the day to day life in that role looks like. You have to be sure that it is something that you would enjoy doing every single day. I’m a huge advocate of finding a job you love, as your career will be a long one, so you have to enjoy it. I would also say if there are any barriers in your way, but you know that this is definitely the route you want to take, work hard to overcome them. Even though knock-backs and challenges may feel unfair at the time, working through and overcoming them certainly shows strength of character and helps you to build new desirable skills.

If you want to be successful in the Healthcare Science Practitioner Degree Apprenticeship, make sure to do your research. Know and understand what the discipline involves, show that you’re keen and if you can get relevant work experience or volunteering placements it will be a huge help.

MY MANAGER SAYS…

“I feel quite emotional, reflecting on Melfield and Emma’s journey and what they have achieved three years on. It’s amazing to be able to take two individuals from very different routes and see them achieve outstanding results on the Degree Apprenticeship programme!”

Caroline Finnegan, Neurophysiology Service Manager