Susan Millard - A Learning Mentor Apprenticeship Journey
Susan Millard, a dedicated healthcare assistant (HCA) in the Eye Clinic at Aintree University Hospital, has embarked on a transformative journey in her professional development at Hugh Baird College.
Susan is familiar with the college after attending as a teenager, when she studied Display and Design. She now works in the healthcare sector, having spent the last eight years providing crucial support to patients and assisting medical staff at the hospital. In her current role, Susan is passionate about helping others and guiding trainees, especially those in the nursing field.
The Learning Mentor Apprenticeship at Hugh Baird College
Susan's professional growth has recently been complemented by a fully funded opportunity to study for the Learning Mentor Apprenticeship (Level 4) at Hugh Baird College. The course was suggested to her by her employer as part of her role, and she has found it to be both engaging and highly relevant to her daily work. The apprenticeship focuses on developing skills in mentoring, a role that is becoming increasingly vital within the NHS.
The Learning Mentor Apprenticeship has been particularly valuable for Susan as she frequently mentor's trainee nurses in the Eye Clinic. The course material offers insights and practical approaches to mentoring, which Susan has been able to directly apply in her workplace such as implementing training plans and documenting mentee progress. She believes that effective mentoring is a key factor in improving staff retention, especially in the NHS, and is keen to further develop her skills in this area.
Balancing Work and Study
Susan said that “the course fits around my busy work schedule”. She attends classes just one day a week at Broadgreen Hospital, which allows her to continue working full-time at Aintree Hospital without compromising her professional responsibilities. This flexibility has been essential for Susan, enabling her to maintain her career while pursuing further education and enhancing her mentoring capabilities.
The course's modular approach has been particularly helpful for Susan, as it breaks down the material into manageable, "bitesize" pieces. Susan praised her tutor, Marian Fitzgerald, for the way she delivers the course content; making complex concepts easier to understand. For Susan, who had been out of education for several years prior to starting the apprenticeship, this method of instruction has made a significant difference in her ability to grasp new ideas and apply them in a practical setting.
Support from Hugh Baird College
Susan said that Marian Fitzgerald who is the course tutor for the apprenticeship, has been extremely supportive throughout the course:
“Marian makes it really easy for me to understand some of the more complex aspects of the course and gives us practical examples of how we implement new concepts in our job roles”.
Looking ahead, Susan is hopeful that completing the Learning Mentor Apprenticeship will open doors for career advancement. With her newfound skills and qualification, she aims to expand her role within the Eye Clinic and contribute to mentoring future generations of nurses and nursing staff.
Susan said:
“I hope to put in place a more structured and comprehensive mentoring program, which will allow me to help develop the next cohort of healthcare professionals and give them the tools to thrive in their chosen career”.
Susan is passionate about mentoring, and her ambition is to foster an environment in which trainees feel supported and encouraged. By advancing her own qualifications, she believes she can make a lasting impact on the lives of the nurses she mentors and, by extension, improve patient care within the NHS.
Want to learn more about studying the Learning Mentor Apprenticeship at Hugh Baird College? Simply follow the link below:
https://www.hughbaird.ac.uk/details/apprenticeships/ucd:APPMENTOR .
Interested in learning more about our apprenticeship courses, please follow the link below: https://www.hughbaird.ac.uk/apprenticeships .
