Children and young people in east Suffolk and north Essex, who dream of a career in healthcare, are being given the opportunity to start their career paths.
The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) has launched new health and care facilities at the Lift Academy in Clacton, for year 10, 11 and sixth form students.
Haylie Talbot, talent for care lead, with a Colchester Academy health and social care student
Year 10 and 11 students will also benefit from similar new facilities based at Colchester Academy, Chantry Academy in Ipswich and Ipswich Academy.
Each school has been kitted out with different teaching aids – such as hospital beds and equipment – that will teach practical skills in the health and care curriculum.
Peter Cook, Associate Director of Innovation and Education at ESNEFT, said: “These facilities are truly transformational for the schools and, importantly, their students.
“Hopefully, longer term, a good number of these students will want to work for the NHS and perhaps ESNEFT.”
Karin Shimmon is a Talent for Care apprenticeship facilitator for ESNEFT. Karin said: “We wanted to invest in local provision and encourage youngsters to become a new generation of health and social care workers.
“It’s beneficial to have practical ‘hands on’ experience to develop the skills needed for health careers. This investment and the partnership with the school and college will help bring exciting careers in health and social care to life.
“This is the beginning of an ongoing collaboration between the four schools, ESNEFT and other stakeholders, such as local further education providers.
Louise Bull, Head of year 11 at Colchester Academy, demonstrates on a former pupil.
“Plans include student visits to ESNEFT facilities, invitations to specialist careers events, volunteering opportunities, and teaching support from some of ESNEFT’s Health Ambassadors.”
The NHS has invested around £20,000 in each of the four schools to set up new health and social care programmes or enrich existing provision, with facilities such as mock hospital wards now open at each site
Discussing the launches at the Lift Academy and Colchester Academy, Karin Shimmon said: “The students were extremely proud and enthusiastic when demonstrating the equipment to guests at the events – they really made the launch events the success that they were.”
Representatives from ESNEFT, Ipswich Academy, The Paradigm Trust and Suffolk New College – as well as councillor Liz Harsant at the launch of new health facilities in Ipswich.