A West Sussex care worker has been recognised as the Clinical Apprentice of the Year for Surrey, Sussex and Kent.
Linda Wooding, a rotational Heath and Social Care Apprentice, took a placement at St. Richards Hospital in Chichester while earning her Level 2 Health & Social Care Diploma.
She has since started at The Judith Adams Centre, where she will continue to work permanently after her apprenticeship finishes.
Linda’s conscientious approach and dedication to her work ensured she was a worthy winner, and she was delighted to accept the award on behalf of other apprentices, young and old.
“It’s great that there is an award that recognises all the hard work apprentices put in to achieve their qualification,” she said.
“An apprenticeship allowed me to work, earn a wage and get the qualification, without incurring any debt.
“I think older people with life experience can offer so much to the job market. Apprenticeships are a good way of retraining and gaining recognised qualifications for the next phase in your life.
“Opportunities to develop skills are out there if we are prepared to put the work in.”
Ahead of starting her permanent role at The Judith Adams Centre, Chichester, which provides a day service for people with dementia, Linda revealed there was a personal reason behind her move into care.
“When my father developed dementia I wanted to understand the disease, but at that time there was limited support or knowledge around it. That began my interest in the area,” she said.
“I had worked as a Classroom Assistant, helping children who were struggling and supporting them in accessing the lessons, but I wanted to become more involved in supporting people and to gain a recognised qualification.
“I had hoped to train within health or social care, but after looking at various courses, the costing involved made me shelve those plans. I took a number of temporary retail positions and although I enjoyed them, it didn’t stop my desire to work within health and social care.
“I knew I had to do something, particularly as I was getting older, my children were now grown-up, and I had more time on my hands.
“Yes, caring can be a hard role to fulfil, but there are many benefits. We can make a difference in someone’s life – how rewarding is that?
“There are so many different avenues to progress in within the care sector.”
Moving forward into her permanent role, Linda is confident that the skills she learned while earning her qualification will stand her in good stead for the challenges ahead.
“The knowledge and insight I gained from doing my diploma was fantastic,” she said.
“I gained a greater insight into the role of a support worker. It’s far more than giving basic personal care.
We get a better understanding of the needs of those we care for, such as their emotional and social needs, resulting in a more holistic approach. All this results in a more rewarding experience for those we care for, which is a lovely thing to be a part of.
“If we focus on the person we are caring for, we can learn so much about them, they are not merely defined by their illness. I have met people who have led very fulfilling and interesting lives, and conversations with them have been so inspiring.
“Seeing how someone is maintaining a positive outlook despite their struggles is a good way for us to put our own difficulties into perspective.”