Backing up experience with theory

I’ve worked in the NHS for my whole career, starting as a band 2 and working my way up to Transformation Delivery Manager. I’ve gained a lot of experience along the way and have always been a big advocate for grassroots input – that the people doing the job know the job. But as I’ve progressed, the opportunity to back up my experience with theory through the degree apprenticeship really appealed to me. I knew that earning a degree alongside working would open up more opportunities for me, so when the chance came to enrol on the Chartered Manager Health and Social Care Degree Apprenticeship, I jumped at it.

Supporting my development

Before undertaking the degree apprenticeship, I would not have felt confident enough to approach senior leaders for project buy-in. The leadership theory I’ve learned on the course has taught me different ways of thinking, and different ways of applying that thinking. I’ve learned so much about different leadership styles and all of that enabled me to approach senior leaders in a completely different way. With the extent of learning that you undertake on the degree apprenticeship, I can’t see how it wouldn’t change your whole professional approach for the better. It has been a game-changer for me. I have had the equivalent of two promotions during the programme, moving up two bands due to my newly learned ability to connect the operational with the strategic.

Delivering meaningful change

The degree apprenticeship has helped me to understand how to deliver a project effectively, how to support my ideas and approaches with theory and evidence, and how to think critically about what I want to achieve. This has allowed me to better structure and deliver meaningful change through my work. More than anything, it’s helped me realise what it takes to be a good leader in the NHS, and to reflect on the leadership qualities that are important to me and how I embody those qualities moving forward.

Ensuring high-quality care in my city

My ambition is to be a senior leader in the NHS so that I can positively contribute to and influence effective, safe, and high-quality health care services for my city. This is where I was born. I was born in a hospital that’s under my Trust. My family and I access all our healthcare under this Trust. So, I want it to be as good as it can be. I want to be able to contribute to that bigger system and undertaking this degree apprenticeship has been a foundation stone for me. Not just for my professional development, but also, this is what I want to do with my life and without the degree apprenticeship I wouldn’t have known how. I’m keen to continue that learning, and with the support of my managers and the fantastic team at Manchester Met, I am pleased to be enrolled on Manchester Met’s Senior Leader Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship to gain my PgDip and Masters Degree in Senior Leadership.