After Ryan completed his GCSEs, he decided the Level 2 Traineeship in Health and Social Care at SERC’s Newtownards Campus was the right next step for him. He completed the one-year traineeship course and progressed onto the Level 3, with his ultimate goal being to gain a degree in Nursing. Ryan felt this pathway was the best option for him, rather than going down the traditional A–Level route. Not only has he gained practical advice from tutors with different backgrounds within the industry, he has also been able to get an insight into various roles within the Health and Social Care sector.
Ryan says, “Progressing from the Level 2 traineeship to the Level 3 extended diploma at SERC has been a really positive experience for me. One of the best parts of the traineeship was my placement with Croft Communities. It gave me a real insight into what it’s like working in a care environment and helped me develop my communication and teamwork skills. I got to support individuals in day-to-day activities, and it made me feel more comfortable and confident working with individuals in need of care. I felt much more prepared starting the Level 3 course because of that experience; I already understood the basics, which made it easier to build upon my knowledge in class.
“On the Level 3 course, the tutors have been really supportive, and I’ve been able to develop a deeper understanding of health and social care while also continuing to grow in confidence. We cover a range of topics such as human lifespan development, anatomy and physiology, working in health and social care, and physiological disorders and their care. We also look at areas like nutritional health, meeting individual care and support needs, principles of safe practice, and complementary therapies. As well as all those areas, there’s a work experience unit which helps us apply what we learn in class to a real care setting. I’ve really been enjoying the course so far. It’s more in-depth than Level 2 and has helped me build on my knowledge a lot.”
On his long-term plans, Ryan comments, “I’m interested in becoming a nurse. After completing Level 3, I’m considering going to university to study nursing, as I feel this course is preparing me well for that next step.”
Ryan concludes, “Overall, my time at SERC has helped me become more confident in myself and has confirmed that this is the career path I want to follow. The combination of support from tutors and real placement experience has made a big difference for me.”
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