Rotherham College Apprentice Succeeds in Care Home

Annmarie Lynam chose to go to Rotherham College after completing her GCSEs at Dinnington Comprehensive. She chose to study Childcare but found it wasn’t to her liking and decided to make a change to the Health and Social Care Level 1 course before going on to an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care with Rotherham College.

Her Apprenticeship was with Parkside Care Home in Barnsley, learning the hands-on skills she would need to excel in her new career choice. She already had some experience with care as she had helped look after her Grandmother so she knew what was involved.

Annmarie wanted to learn in a different environment to the one she was in previously, and she loved her Apprenticeship. Although her childcare course didn’t work out she was glad to have done it as she learnt about vulnerable adults and information that helped her get ahead in her Apprenticeship.

“It’s completely different to the childcare course, it’s more real-world, you get to know everything working with experienced people,” said Annmarie.

Annmarie is passionate about care and proved her skills to her employer and is now in a permanent full-time position and due to complete her Apprenticeship in a few months’ time. Annmarie was assessed in the workplace during her Apprenticeship and so didn’t need to attend College. She worked hard to complete her coursework in her spare time.

One of the many advantages of an Apprenticeship is getting paid while learning on the job and the flexibility of the coursework around your job. Annmarie commented “The assessors were good and I’d recommend it to others, definitely.”

Annmarie loves looking after people and gets a great sense of satisfaction from her job. She intends to complete her Intermediate Apprenticeship and go on to a Level 3 Health and Social Care course and progress further in her career.

Annmarie’s Team Leader, Trina commented “She’s built her confidence up since starting. The residents love her, although she doesn’t make many drinks she’ll get stuck in and is a good worker and also works well in a team.”