Placements ready Forth Valley students for next steps into health and social care
Pictured: Partnership mentors, who have supported Forth Valley students to complete placements within local health and social care services.
A cohort of Forth Valley College students studying qualifications in health and social care have graduated following the completion of their course and work placements.
The courses are supported by Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership, which helps students to match into a work placement within Falkirk Council.
Over the past year, students have been placed within a range of services, covering dementia, learning disability support, care homes, and housing with care complexes.
Once matched with a placement, students are assigned a staff mentor within their service. The mentors ensure the smooth running of the placement and support students to complete a reflective piece of writing.
Students get hands on experience, and are provided access to care plans, polices, and procedures to ensure they are well-informed about best practices and can reference up-to-date examples within their coursework.
The Partnership’s placement programme offers an excellent foundation for students pursuing careers in social care, and for services to develop staff mentoring and leadership skills.
This year, the placements have supported 8 students to complete an HNC in Social Services and 2 to complete a level 6 pathway to health and social care qualification.
Shirley, a social worker and student mentor at Dollar Park, believes in the value of student placements: “I think every team should have a student in their service. It’s a pleasure to help the next generation start their career, and it also helps us reflect and develop too. If you want to encourage people to join social care, show them the positive side. Placements are the best way to bring people in and demonstrate the rewarding nature of the job.”
Moving on to positive destinations
All students in the cohort are now moving on to employment within health and social care or further study at HNC or undergraduate level. All three graduates going on to employment will continue to work in a Falkirk Council service in Housing with Care or one of Falkirk’s residential care homes.
The Forth Valley courses have opened a range of career options for the students, with those embarking on further study choosing a range of qualifications including social work, nursing, and psychology.
Ezekiel’s Story
Ezekiel first learned about the HNC in Social Services at a Skills Scotland event. With aspirations to become a social worker, he was looking for the best path to university or a career in social care.
Lucy’s Story
After more than 3 years working as an agency worker and within a local reablement service, Lucy is taking the next step in her career with an HNC in Social Services.
Supporting the next generation
Local services are being encouraged to consider supporting the next generation of students through offering a work placement. Placement opportunities are supported by Forth Valley College and Falkirk Council’s Training and Workforce Development Team.
Student placement opportunities are supported by Forth Valley College and Falkirk Council’s own Training and Workforce Development team. Contact Andrew Clydesdale, SVQ and Career Pathways Manager, to learn about the support and training available to take on a placement.
To learn more about health and social care courses and qualifications, visit the Forth Valley College website.