Mental health services at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust are hosting an open day on Tuesday (3 March) to help people kick-start a career in the NHS through an apprenticeship.

This will be the third year the Trust has held an event for people interested in healthcare, therapy and administration apprenticeships – and they will be showcasing apprentice roles in both inpatient and community services.

On offer is a 14-month programme with a mix of college studies and on-the-job learning on mental health wards or out in the community, where they will have the chance to learn practical skills through observation and learning. Apprentices are also given regular supervision and pastoral support.

Staff from the wards and community teams will be on hand at the Glenfield Education Centre (near the Bradgate Mental Health Unit) between 3.30pm and 6pm to outline details of new apprentice roles.

The open day will offer prospective applicants the chance to take part in interactive activities, such as CPR and bed-making, and to chat to serving apprentices like Bijal Valand, above, who took up her apprenticeship after attending last year’s open day and Mia Foulkes, pictured on the ward, who started an 18-month level three apprenticeship with LPT in September after applying through NHS Jobs. Both joined the Trust last year on healthcare support worker apprenticeships on the wards at the Bradgate Mental Health Unit.

Bijal said: “I love working on the ward. The team have been so welcoming and encouraging and because of this I have gained in confidence and learned a lot of skills. I can’t wait to progress and hope to train to become a nursing associate.”

And Mia added: “I going home every day feeling like I’ve made a difference to somebody’s recovery.”

Louise Short, who manages inpatient services at the unit, said: “We’re proud of our apprentices who are valued members of our teams. Apprenticeships give us a unique opportunity to bring new talent into our services and equip individuals with the skills and experience they need to help us build a strong and compassionate workforce now and into the future.

“At the same time they are a great way to join a team, earn money, gain work experience and achieve nationally recognised qualifications.”

  • The Glenfield Education Centre is on the Glenfield Hospital site on Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9EJ.