About this event

Thanks for your interest! Below you'll find information about this event, and information about the guest speakers who will be speaking. We really hope you join us to learn more about the many routes into nursing.

What will happen in this event?

You will learn more about the many routes into nursing, what skills or qualifications are needed (if any), and how to get involved. While this is hosted by The Prince's Trust, you will hear from a panel of people who are currently training or have trained to become a nurse through the apprenticeship route

You'll also hear about how The Prince's Trust can help you get through the door, even if you haven't had prior experience in the area you're interested in.*

At the end, you'll have the opportunity to ask questions to the panel and to representatives from The Prince's Trust.

*Please note, The Prince's Trust can only support those who are 16-30 years old with the right to work in the UK.

Routes into Nursing

Until recently, the routes into nursing were limited and a university degree education was seen as the primary way to train a registered nurse. However, the introduction of the nurse degree apprenticeship, the development of the nursing associate role and other initiatives are providing employers with alternative opportunities. Come along to the session to find out how you can take your first steps into a career in Nursing.

Meet our panel:

Name: Carley Kane

Employer: County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Job Title: Trainee Nurse

Career Overview:

I left school with one GCSE and was a young carer for my sister growing up. Since starting my journey in our wonderful NHS, my life has changed in ways that I never thought possible. I joined the NHS as a HCA, I adored that role and it was then that I knew nursing would be my life. I completed the nursing associate foundation degree apprenticeship, that gave me so many rich experiences, it was also a gentle introduction back in to learning. Prior to this, I didn't have the confidence or the belief in myself that I could achieve anything in life, but this gave me a sense of purpose and pride. I then went on to apply for the registered nurse degree apprenticeship, and it has been the best experience of my life. I am one of the Council of Deans 150 leaders, have been awarded a sigma global nursing excellence award, a nursing ambassador and will be the founder of a national piece of work for primary schools. I make it my personal and professional mission to do as much good as humanly possible, I am passionate about mentoring others. My experiences have been so precious, and I will hold them dear in my heart forever. I hope I can help young people have the confidence in themselves to reach their goals, because they can and with the right support, they will.

Name- Jodie Bird

Employer – Sirona care and health

Job Title – Assistant Practitioner / Student Nurse

Career overview:

I left school with no qualifications, I was told I wasn’t academic due to having dyslexia and ADHD and I believed that for a very long time, so I just did a call centre job. I was made redundant when I closed and found a job in a residential home they then put me forward to my level 3 in health and social care, I then found another job as a rehabilitation worker as a band 3 and thought why not try and I got the job after a year another job came up to become a band 4 going to university and working in the nursing field, I was lucky enough to get accept and after 2 years I graduated. A year later an opportunity came up to do an apprenticeship to become a registered nurse and was accepted, this is what I am now currently doing.

Name: Aaron Tebano

Job Title: Community Learning Disability Associate Practitioner

Employer: Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

Career overview:

I completed a degree in Photography and Media Arts in 2009 and moved to London.

I started working in retail to help pay the bills. I worked in retail for about 2 years and then really needed a change, I found a Support Worker role in a local residential care home for adults with physical disabilities. I fell in love with care and progressed to Senior Support Worker. In 2016 I moved to Southampton and took on a role as Senior Support Worker in a residential care home for adults with learning disabilities.

I progressed to Team Leader in this service and at one point, I worked with a community learning disability nurse (CLDN) to support an individual who lived at the service.

When the community nursing team created a band 4 role, I was contacted by the CLDN again and asked to apply for the role. I have been working in my current role since August 2021 and absolutely loving it. I plan to apply for the Nursing apprenticeship and will hopefully start the course in September 2022.

Name: Tracey Hartley-Smith

Role: Clinical Lead Children and Young People’s Learning Disability Services Wirral

Employer: Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Career Overview:

On graduating in 1987 I started working in the NHS as a care assistant for young adults with learning disabilities. I felt I was helping to make a real difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities whom I was working. In 2005 I went back to University - The University of Cumbria as a widening access student to train as a Learning Disability Nurse, qualifying in 2008.

I then commenced my first CAMHS post, as a Complex Needs Practitioner and then Senior Practitioner within the Learning Disability/Complex Needs Service I undertook my PG Dip as Community Nurse Specialist – Learning Disabilities, and shortly afterwards became Integrated Service Lead for the Learning Disability/Complex needs Service in Central and West Lancashire.

In February 2019 I started in my role at Clinical Lead in the Wirral CAMHS Learning Disability service.

Name: Kirsty Shanley

Employer: The De Parys Group GP Surgery, Bedford and Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Training Hub

Job Title: Practice Nurse, De Parys Group/Care Home Clinical Lead, De Parys Group

Career Overview:

I started in Health Care in Primary Care 20 years ago at the very beginning as a cleaner after having already had careers in hairdressing and accounting & payroll. From doing that, I was fortunate enough to be asked if I would like to become a phlebotomist which I loved. This gave me an insight into healthcare and a passion for it which made me push myself further. I did an NVQ L3 in health and social care to become a Health Care Assistant and then became an assessor for NVQs and a trainer for phlebotomy.

From there I did a foundation degree as an Assistant Practitioner and finally the full degree to become a Registered Nurse. I feel this route into Nursing gave me a fantastic grounding to be able to understand the different roles and appreciate the team work that goes into making healthcare successful. Since qualifying I now also work in training, education & leadership in my roles within the training hub. I continue to be an advocate for Primary Care supporting our Nurses, Nursing Associates, Health Care Assistants, and all other professions to access the training and education they want and need to be able to deliver the best care possible to our patients.

Name: Jess Harrison

Employer: Wye Valley NHS Trust

Job Title: Trainee Nurse Associate.

Career Overview:

I started my career in the NHS at 18 going to the University of Worcester to study paramedic science which I loved but after some time there I knew my passion was in fact in nursing. I left university after 20 months to start a job working as a Healthcare assistant on a Cardiology and Gastro ward at the hospital. After being there 7 months, I applied for the role as a Trainee Nurse associate apprenticeship within the trust, I have now been doing this role for three months, studying with the open university online whilst working and still earning my full-time wage as well as having great learning opportunities within the work setting.

What next?

Register now and join us live on 10th March at 6.00pm! This event will be held on Microsoft Teams; download it for free here.

On the day use this link to access the webinar via Microsoft Teams - We'll also email you an hour before with a link to remind you.

We looking forward to seeing you there!

The Prince's Trust team