6 March 2017

Lisa Robinson of Home Instead is our Star Apprentice!

Lisa Robinson, age 44, from Burton on Trent, is proof that apprentices aren’t just for school leavers who are just starting their career.

 

Lisa had worked as a carer for many years before joining Burton-based Home Instead Senior Care and starting her Apprenticeship. She works primarily in a day care centre where she supports elderly clients with dementia. Her role involves providing stimulating activities, care and companionship to ensure that clients have an enjoyable and interesting day. Lisa also works as a domiciliary caregiver for Home Instead visiting her clients in their own homes.

 

Lisa is completing a level 3 Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care with Acacia Training and has been nominated by her assessor for an Apprentice Star award.

 

Home Instead Senior Care owner John Winfieldale commends her approach. He says: “Lisa is very dependable, patient, willing to do anything and accommodating. She will always notice if a client is not engaging in an activity, and she will spend time with them to involve them and make sure they feel part of the group – she’s a good team player. Completing her apprenticeship has been hard at times, but Lisa has worked very hard and shown dogged determination.”

 

Home Instead Burton-on-Trent asks all the company’s employees to complete Apprenticeships. John explains: “Apprenticeships really work for us because we are able to recruit people who have a genuine passion for caring and develop them. Some of our employees have worked in care before, while others previously worked as accountants, shop keepers and metal shop body workers. The Apprenticeships give us that reassurance that our staff members will develop every aspect of their skills and knowledge to a high standard. No matter where else a staff member has worked before, or how long they have worked as a carer, we have a certain standard of competency that we know each staff member will hit in all areas of current health and social care practice. This ensures the highest possible standards of care for our clients.”

He adds: “Apprenticeships also help to ‘professionalise’ the care sector. Many care workers in the UK struggle to feel valued as skilled professionals and take pride in their work. They feel they are not viewed with the same esteem as doctors and nurses, yet they really make a difference in people’s lives. The Apprenticeship programmes help make our staff feel they do a valuable job, with all the underpinning knowledge they develop and the competencies they have to evidence.”

 

Lisa comments: “My apprenticeship has made me feel really motivated and confident of my professional standards. It has helped me reflect and categorise my knowledge.”

 

Congratulations on being today’s Star Apprentice Lisa!

 

Are you already working in the care or childcare sector and interested in completing an Apprenticeship to validate and enhance your existing skills and knowledge, leading to a professional qualification?

 

Acacia Training provides Apprenticeships, work-based training and short courses for new employees or those already working in the care, childcare and health and social care sectors. Contact us to find out how.

 

New to the sector and looking for an Apprentice role? We are teaming up with HC-One to recruit to a host of new apprenticeship vacancies across the East and West Midlands.

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